On July 8, 1994, Kim Il-sung, the founding leader of North Korea, known officially as the “Great Leader,” died of a heart attack. His death ended nearly half a century of his authoritarian rule, during which he established a pervasive personality cult and a highly centralized, totalitarian regime that has continued under his successors. Kim Il-sung’s leadership left a lasting impact on North Korea’s political landscape and his legacy continues to influence the country’s domestic and international relations.
