December 28, 1972 (Thursday)
- At the age of 20, Prince Vajiralongkorn was designated as Crown Prince of Thailand by his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
- Kim Il-sung, who was already the (since 1948) Prime Minister of North Korea and General Secretary of its Workers' Party, became the nation's first President, when the office was created as part of a new Constitution.
- Born: Patrick Rafter, Australian tennis player, ranked No. 1 in the world 1999; U.S. Open champion 1997 and 1998; in Pembroke, Bermuda
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