For years, North Korea has been known for its oppressive regimes and strings of dictators, but the Kims have not always been in charge. Before the rise of the current North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea was under the rule of the late Kim Il Sung, who was his grandfather. The Kim family has been in power since the founding of the nation and the implementation of the communist state following World War II.
To understand who ruled North Korea before the Kims, we must first look at the nation’s history. During the Japanese occupation in 1910, Koreans were banned from speaking their own language and forced to embrace Japanese culture. The nation remained occupied for 35 years before the end of World War II and the Allied victory, which saw Korea liberated from Japanese control and officially divided in 1948, creating two separate entities.
North of the 38th parallel the northern half of the peninsula was occupied by the Soviets, who promptly remodeled the nation into the communist-controlled Democratic Republic of North Korea, installing in its leader Kim Il Sung. These events set the stage for the Kim family takeover, marking the beginning of a strict, authoritarian rule of North Korea by a succession of Kims.
Since 1948 North Korea has been a closed-off country ruled by the Kim family, a clan with a royal-like status in the Communist country. In 1994, the death of Kim Il Sung catapulted his son Kim Jong Il, into power. Although he was a totalitarian ruler, he seemed relatively progressive when compared to his son, Kim Jong Un.
When discussing the topic of who ruled North Korea before the Kims, we must remember that North Korea’s modern government was founded shortly after World War II, with Kim Il Sung as the country’s first leader. He was the leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea and established a one-party state. He consolidated power and firmly established the country as a communist state. He also initiated strikes and purges that cracked down on his opposition, a tradition his family has continued for generations.
Kim Il Sung’s son and successor, Kim Jong Il, carried on his father’s legacy of harsh rule. Kim Jong Il came to power in 1994 and served as North Korea’s leader until his death in 2011. Throughout his time in office, he tightened North Korea’s grip on the nation, while increasing human rights abuses and expanding the secret police forces.
Upon his father’s death, third-generation Kim, Kim Jong Un assumed power. Since his rise to power in 2012, Kim Jong Un has solidified the country’s stance on nuclear weapons, further suppressed dissent, and pushed the country into further isolation from the rest of the world. His oppressive tactics have earned him negative attention from the media and even human rights groups.
North Korea Under Japanese Occupation
Japan has a long and complex history with North Korea. From 1910 to the end of World War II, the Japanese occupation held the country in their grip. During this period, the Japanese government occupied North Korea and introduced their culture, language, and ways of life to the Korean people. Although the Japanese colonial government had some positive effects, such as improved transportation and development of the country’s infrastructure, they also suppressed the Korean culture and language and took away many of the people’s rights.
The occupation ended with the Allied victory in 1945, but during that time, North Korea saw the installation of a pro-Japanese government and the adoption of military-style government policies. Numerous Koreans were killed, tortured, or forced into labor, creating a lasting animosity between the two countries.
U.S. Influence Over North Korea
Although North Korea was occupied by the Soviets, the United States also had a hand in creating the nation as we know it today. Following World War II, the US was a major player in the Korean War (1950-53). The war pitted North and South Korea against each other, with the North supported by China and the Soviets, and the South supported by the UN, led by the US. The war resulted in an armistice, with the 38th parallel remaining the boundary between the two Koreas to this day.
The war affected the country greatly, driving a wedge between North and South Koreans and deepening feelings of hatred toward the US. It left North Korea an isolated nation, heavily reliant on its allies, the Soviet Union and China, for military and economic support. This reliance on its allies began a cycle of government control over the economy which still persists to this day.
North Korea Under International Sanctions
Due to its isolation, North Korea has been subjected to numerous international sanctions over the years. These sanctions have mainly been in response to the country’s continued development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles which conflict with certain international laws and agreements. International powers have imposed economic sanctions and restrictions on North Korea in an effort to pressure the country’s leaders to end their nuclear ambitions.
However, despite the sanctions, North Korea has still managed to stay afloat, sustaining its economy through foreign investment and illegal activities such as arms trade and drug smuggling. In addition, China has provided the country with economic assistance, allowing it to survive, albeit in a weakened state.
The international community’s response to the Kim Regime
Since the foundation of the country, North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family, who have become internationally famous for their oppressive rule and nuclear ambitions. Despite international efforts to pressure the country’s leaders to change their ways, the brutal Kim regime has remained in power for over 70 years, with no signs of giving way to democracy or a more open society.
The international community has taken many steps to try to pressure North Korea into making positive changes, including the implementation of economic sanctions and political pressure. Unfortunately, these efforts have been largely unsuccessful, and the international community has had to settle for a strategy of containment and deterrence in the face of what appears to be an intractable situation.
The Influence of China on North Korea
Another major factor in North Korea’s rise is the influence of its largest neighbor and ally, China. During its post-WWII occupation, North Korea was heavily reliant on its allies China and the Soviet Union for military and economic support. This dependence has only deepened over the years, to the point where North Korea has become highly reliant on Chinese aid.
This dependence has translated into political benefits for the Chinese government, who have been able to use their economic and military power to influence North Korea’s leaders and gain concessions from them. China continues to be one of the few countries that has been able to maintain any kind of diplomatic ties with North Korea, and it continues to be a major player in regional politics.
Criticism of North Korea’s Human Rights Violations
The fourth-generation North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, is widely known in the West for his oppressive rule and human rights violations. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have accused him of crimes against humanity, including harassment, torture, arbitrary detention, forced labor and even the execution of political opponents.
The international community has long been critical of North Korea’s human rights record, but these criticisms often fall on deaf ears. North Korea has refused to cooperate with international organizations and has rejected calls to reform its policies and make concessions to the international community.
