He was born to the most patriotic and revolutionary family who had struggled against the foreign aggressors and for the independence of the country, people's freedom and emancipation and the accomplishment of the cause of socialism and communism through generations..
He finished his common education from September 1950 to August 1960 and higher education at Kim Il Sung University from September 1960 to March 1964.
After starting his work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in June 1964, he was elected secretary of the C.C., the WPK in September 1973 and member of its political bureau in February 1974.
He was elected presidium member of the political bureau and secretary of the WPK Central Committee and member of the Central Military Commission of the WPK at the 6th Congress of the WPK held in October Juche 79 (1980).
He was elected deputy to the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Supreme People's Assembly from February 1982. He was elected first vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK in May 1990, its chairman in April 1993 and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army in December 1991.
In October 1997 he was elected General Secretary of the WPK.
He was reelected Chairman of the NDC of the DPRK, the highest post in the DPRK, in September 1998.
The title of Marshal of the DPRK was awarded to him in April 1992.
Kim Jong Il has wisely led socialist construction in the DPRK through his outstanding ideological and theoretical activities and with his unique political mode for scores of years and achieved the single-hearted unity of the whole society with his benevolent politics, an all-embracing politics. He has also performed immortal feats for the movement for the rebuilding of socialism and the human cause of independence.
Progressive humankind is now highly praising him as great leader for his lofty political idea of "believing in the people as in heaven," the outstanding leadership ability and noble personality.
Kim Jong Il was awarded the title of Hero of the DPRK and Kim Il Sung Order several times for his contribution to the strengthening and development of the Korean and the world revolution and the international communist movement.
He also received many orders of the DPRK and foreign countries and honorary titles of doctor of universities in different countries.
