Prime Minister of North Korea
Although original plans called for all-Korean elections sponsored by the United Nations, in May 1948 the South declared statehood as the Republic of Korea, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was proclaimed on 9 September, with Kim as premier. On 12 October, the Soviet Union recognized Kim's government as the only lawful government on the peninsula. The Communist Party merged with the New People's Party to form the Workers Party of North Korea (of which Kim was vice-chairman). In 1949, the Workers Party of North Korea merged with its southern counterpart to become the Workers Party of Korea (WPK) with Kim as party chairman.
By 1949, the communists had consolidated their authority in North Korea. All parties and mass organizations were members of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, a popular front but one which the Workers Party predominated. Around this time, the first statues of Kim appeared, and he began calling himself "Great Leader."
Read more about this topic: Kim Il-sung
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