Kim Jong-il (16 February 1941 or 1942 - 17 December 2011) was the supreme leader of North Korea (DPRK) from 1994 to 2011. He succeeded his father and founder of the DPRK Kim Il-sung following the elder Kim's death in 1994. Kim Jong-il was the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea; Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea; and the supreme commander of the Korean People's Army; the fourth-largest standing army in the world.

In April 2009; North Korea's constitution was amended to refer to him as the 'supreme leader'.He was also referred to as the 'Dear Leader'; 'our Father'; and 'the General'. His son Kim Jong-un was promoted to a senior position in the ruling Workers' Party and is his successor.