WebKim Il Sung [d] [e] ( / kɪm ɪlˈsʌŋ, - ˈsʊŋ /; [4] Korean : 김일성, Korean pronunciation: [kimils͈ʌŋ]; born Kim Sung Ju; [f] [5] 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as Supreme Leader from the country's establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994.