1. 1910 - 1994

2.  From 1910 to the end of WWII, Korea was a Japanese colony.  When the Japanese surrendered in WWII in 1945, Korea was divided into North and South Korea.  North Korea invaded the South in 1950, spurring the Korean War, which was fought until 1953, when an armistice was signed.  Before the Korean War, the North Korean economy was comprised mainly of agriculture, though some heavy industry was found.

3. Became Leader and made efforts to fix damages done by war. Set up 5 year nation economic plan Elimination of class hatred Side with the Soviets President Kim Il Sung! Beginning of large scale purges Sided with China during the Sino- Soviet Split Radical Stalin-ist Ideas Eliminated people against him

4.  Nation’s economy declined  Construction of work camps  People lived in fear  Leaders within the Korean Workers’ Party tried to overthrow Sung  Foreign connections was prohibited

5.  In July 1994, Kim Il Sung died of a sudden heart attack at the age of eighty-two, and his son and successor, Kim Jong-Il, announced a ten-day mourning period.  Since his death, Yeong Saeng – “eternal life” – monuments have been put up throughout the country, each dedicated to Kim Il Sung (The “Eternal Leader”).  After his death, Kim Il Sung was remembered in three ways: the grandfather, the Stalin-like ruler, and the man who defeated both Japan and the U.S.

6.  Kim Jong-Il was Kim Il Sung’s eldest son and successor and was named secretary of the Communist Party in 1997 and consolidated his power with the title of National Defense Commission chairman in 1998.  He held a meeting with Kim Dae-Jung, South Korea’s leader, in 2000. It was the first time the leaders of the North and South had met since the split of Korea in 1948.  In 2010, tensions increased as South Korea accused the North of sinking one of its warships with a torpedo.  Technologically and economically, they are quite far behind South Korea and rely much on heavy industry as an export.