When Was Kim Jong Il Born
Kim Jong Il was born on February 16, 1941, according to official North Korean records. Some external sources list 1942, but the country’s state media consistently uses 1941.
How Old Was Kim Jong Il When He Died
He died on December 17, 2011, at the age of 70. His death was announced by state television and marked the end of his long leadership of North Korea.
Why Age and Birth Year Matter for Understanding North Korea
Kim Jong Il’s age and birth year help place his political career in context. He rose through the Workers’ Party and Korean People’s Army before formally leading the country in the 1990s. For more background, see the Kim Jong Il biography on Britannica.
