How did Kim Jong Il take power after Kim Il-Sung’s death?

Following the death of Kim Il-Sung on July 8, 1994, Kim Jong Il did not immediately assume the titles of president or secretary-general of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP). Instead, he consolidated his authority over several years.12

Having been designated as heir apparent in 1980, Kim Jong Il had already been managing the day-to-day administration of the government prior to his father's death. His formal transition of power included the following milestones:13

• 1997: He officially became the head of the KWP.2
• 1998: The office of president was removed from the constitution, and Kim Il-Sung was posthumously named "eternal president." Kim Jong Il was then reelected as chairman of the National Defense Commission, which became the nation's highest office.12
• Policy: His regime implemented "military first politics" (sŏngun chŏngch’i) to maintain stability amidst economic hardship and the collapse of other communist regimes.2

In 2009, a constitutional revision further designated his position as "supreme leader".2