Kim Jong-suk

Kim Jong-suk (; 24 December 1917 – 22 September 1949) was a North Korean revolutionary, anti-Japanese guerrilla, Communist activist, the first wife of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, the mother of former leader Kim Jong Il and grandmother of current leader Kim Jong Un.

Biography

Kim Jong-suk was born on 24 December 1917 in Hoeryong County, Kankyōhoku-dō, Empire of Japan (now in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea). Suh Dae-sook writes that she was "the elder of two daughters of a poor farmer."

Kim Jong-suk followed her mother to Manchuria to look for her father, but they discovered that he had already died there. Soon after that, her mother died and she became an orphan. Most sources agree that Kim Jong-suk then joined Kim Il Sung's guerrilla force in 1935 or 1936 as a kitchen helper.

Kim Jong-suk married Kim Il Sung in the Soviet Union, most likely in 1941. (or 1942, sources vary), In 1944, Kim Jong-suk had Kim Man-il, in Korean and "Alexander" or "Shura" in Russian. Major General N.G. Lebedev, an executive Soviet officer during the Soviet occupation of North Korea, recalled Kim Jong-suk as "a vivacious and generous lady who always cooked enormous amounts of food for the hungry Soviet generals when they visited Kim's home." According to Harrold, she died from "the hardships she had endured during the years as a guerrilla fighter."

Legacy After Kim Jong Il succeeded Kim Il Sung, he began to make his mother, Kim Jong-suk, into "a revolutionary immortal." This campaign created "a holy trinity known as the 'Three Generals' [of Paektu Mountain]".

Kim Jong-suk was recorded to have "conducted on-the-spot guidance sessions" and was a "great strategist". In her home town of Hoeryong, "a museum, a library, a statue, a square and the house in which she was born" are "devoted to the 'Mother of Korea'".

Many places in North Korea are named after her, including Kimjongsuk County, Kim Jong Suk Naval Academy, Kim Jong-suk Teacher Training College, Kim Jong-suk Rest Home, and Kim Jong-suk Pyongyang Silk Mill.

In North Korean News Kim Jong-suk is revered as the mother of Kim Jong Il in North Korea. Also pictured are Kim Il Sung and Kim Kyong-hui. In North Korean News the KCNA regularly reports on Kim Jong-suk, either honoring her memory or describing her revolutionary activities. The following are headlines from articles relating to Kim Jong-suk from 2012:

National Meeting on International Women's Day Held: "Kim Jong-suk, an anti-Japanese war hero, upheld the original idea and policy of Kim Il Sung and performed distinguished feats in the development of the movement for women's emancipation in Korea." (8 March 2012) Wax Replica of Kim Jong-suk Displayed: "A hall housing a wax replica of the anti-Japanese war hero, Kim Jong-suk, was opened at the International Friendship Exhibition House in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Tuesday." (26 April 2012) Wax sculpture dedicated to great woman: "She carried out secret political tasks assigned by Kim Il Sung" and "She brought up Kim Jong Il as the Shining Star of Mt. Paektu to maintain the lifeline of the Korean revolution." Government officials Kim Ki Nam, Secretary of WPK Choe Thea Bok, Yang Hyong Sop, and KPA General Pak Jae Gyong made statements at the dedication. Collection of Music Anecdotes "Mother and Song" Published: "The collection contains four parts of 95 anecdotes about anti-Japanese war hero Kim Jong-suk who struggled, regarding songs as a mighty treasured sword along with arms of the revolution and an appendix of music of relevant songs." (18 July 2012) Pujon Revolutionary Battle Site of DPRK Introduced by ITAR-TASS: The events of the Pujon Revolutionary Battle Site, "where Kim Jong-suk, a model of devotedly defending the leader, waged revolutionary activities." (7 August 2012) Kim Jong-suk's Life Lauded by Foreign Organizations: "A Brazilian organization and a regional body posted special write-ups on their Internet websites on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the passing of Kim Jong-suk, anti-Japanese war hero." (2 October 2012)

Awards