Kim Jong-il, born on February 16, 1941 or 1942, was the leader of North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011. He was the second Supreme Leader of North Korea, succeeding his father, Kim Il-sung, who was the country's first leader.
Kim Jong-il was born in Vyatskoye, Soviet Union, during his father's exile there. His official birthdate was later changed to align with the founding of the Korean People's Army. He was educated at Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang and later at the Revolutionary Institute. Kim Jong-il rose to prominence within the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in the late 1970s and was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980.
Kim Jong-il's rule was marked by a tense relationship with the West, particularly the United States and South Korea. However, he also engaged in summit diplomacy with South Korea, most notably the Inter-Korean Summit in 2000.
Kim Jong-il died on December 17, 2011, from a suspected heart attack. His death was followed by a period of intense mourning in North Korea. He was succeeded by his third son, Kim Jong-un, who was named as his successor in 2009.
His legacy is controversial, with views ranging from that of a stabilizing force in North Korea to a leader responsible for human rights abuses and the country's isolation. His policies have had long-lasting effects on North Korea's political, economic, and social structures.