ABSTRACT
Upon Kim II Sun's death the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) entered into a self-proclaimed three-year period of state mourning, from 1994 to 1997, and with many normal public Party and government activities suspended it became difficult for outside observers to detect movements in policy and personnel matters. On 8 October 1997, Kim Jong II assumed the position of General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), a largely symbolic move since he had clearly exercised absolute authority over the country since his father's death. This chapter includes the major themes in promoting Kim Jong Il's personality cult. Kim Jong Il's lecture afforded a significant insight into the mindset of the DPRK leadership. The chapter then discusses foreign trade of the DPRK during 1990–1994 and major trading partners of the DPRK in this time. A noticeable development after Kim II Sung's death was the expanded public profile of the Korean People's Armed Forces.
