Accidental Tyrant: The Life of Kim Il-sung

by Fyodor Tertitskiy

Kim Il-sung was the enigmatic architect of North Korea. His life is an extraordinary tale of improbable once a barely educated guerrilla fighter, he rose to lead the nation at the young age of 33. Against all odds, he established a horrifyingly stable dictatorial regime, one that still struggles to provide for its people, yet could obliterate Hollywood, Silicon Valley and much of East Asia in nuclear strikes. 

Based on extensive new sources in Korean, Russian, Chinese and Japanese, Fyodor Tertitskiy tells the unlikely story of one of the twentieth century's most brutal but little-known dictators, from his early life in Japanese Korea to the lasting repercussions of his autocratic rule today. Tertitskiy showcases Kim's political prowess in gaining autonomy from the USSR; explores how his inept economic policy led to catastrophic famine; and highlights how he implemented a system of hereditary rule, paving the way for today's 'Supreme Leader', Kim Jong-un, to assume power and continue his grandfather's vision. 

Accidental Tyrant serves as a stark cautionary tale, underscoring that the triumph of liberty is never guaranteed. Met with insufficient resistance, even the most unlikely leader can build a regime of repression and privation that long outlives its founder.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Politics, Asia

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2025

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book. It is a biography behind the myth of Kim Il-sung. It is very readable. I purchased the hard copy. The first 233 pages are the text. This is followed by a chronology and many pages of endnotes. The heavily referenced text allows the reader to compare the information sources to the official and changing mythology put out by the North Korean government.

If you are interested in how the Korean peninsula was split, this book explains the North Korean politics and personalities involved. It fills a void in the literature about the first leader of the Hermit Kingdom.

[Yong · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good primer for beginners.

[Chad Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good intro book on Kim Il-Sung! More about what he did rather than why he did. It gives as much insight where it can on ‘why’ he did things, but so tough to actually know why he made the decisions that he did. Good overview of creation of North Korea as well. Still wandering how his mindset evolved to create a state like that…

[John Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tertitskiy, who speaks Korean, has done a vast amount of research in uncovering the truth about the Kim family dynasty that has been in power in North Korea for 80 years. The nation remains a brutal closed society, with residents required to maintain a portrait of Kim or his successor son or grandson in the home, unable to read books unless approved by the state, and forbidden to access the internet.
The author notes that Kim Il-sung's ascension was hardly preordained. Only a sequence of improbable coincidences allowed him to leverage his political acumen and become the unopposed leader. Decades of a suffering populace ensued.
Using his linguist skills, Tertitskiy reports that Kim's family fled to China to escape repressive Japanese occupation when Il-sung was 7. The boy attended Chinese schools and learned Leninist ideology. Chinese, Japanese, and Russians dominated his early life. He fled to the Soviet Union and served in the Russian army in World War II. At the end of the war, Korea, which had been a single, unified nation for 1,000 years, divided at the 38th Parallel. At the same time, the Soviets tabbed propelled Kim il-Sung from a simple battalion commander to leader of an embryonic nation, a position he held for 48 years with ever-increasing independence.
The idea to invade South Korea in 1950 was Kim's, although both Russia and China backed him. When Stalin died in 1953, Kim, no longer under Soviet control, amped up repression on North Koreans. He executed opponents and gave himself titles to lead the Communist Party, the military, and the nation itself. Purges further strengthened Kim's control and weakened Soviets. He focused on building up the military even as the masses starved from malnutrition. Kim emulated Stalin militarily, economically, and politically--with disastrous results.
Kim managed to create a cult of personality that surpassed anything the Russians or Chinese ever pulled off. All foreign media and literature is still banned. Secret police are authorized to murder anyone for uttering words that might be interpreted as disrespectful to the Great Leader.
Kim put relatives in all sorts of important government positions. He took the novel approach of naming his son as his successor, the very notion of which is contrary to communist ideology.
While leading North Korea, Kim adroitly managed to curry favor alternately with Russia and China, until both countries tired of dispensing economic assistance.
Nevertheless, Kim il-Sung proved to be a genius at preserving power through tyranny. His son and now grandson have followed suit. Tertitskiy points out that "North Korea has neither any real friends nor any trustworthy allies."
Sadly, it could have been a much different story. If Japan had surrendered before Russia declared war at the end of World War II, all of Korea would have been under control of the U.S., sparing millions from generations of tragedy.

[Vitalijus Sostak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The impressive part of the story - how to seize a rare opportunity amid turmoil, became a leader of a newly-found state and govern it for three generations (and counting) not being a monarchy. Kim Il-sung - the founder of North Korea - was a heck of a talented dictator and a darkest figure in Korean history, as is expertly laid out in this book.

The fun part - as with many historical figures, luck played a major role. Being the rare (maybe the only) high-ranking surviving commander in NAJUA (Northeast Anti-Japanese Army). Surviving Stalin's terror years. Being present in a narrow window when communist Korean leader was chosen. Soviets not having much choice when picking North Korean leader (only Kim Il-sung was sufficiently native but also sufficiently Soviet). Being approved by Beria and Stalin. Being assisted by Chinese in a bloody Korean war (that otherwise would be lost and led to his dismissal). Not being stripped of power by Soviets in late 1950ies. Politically out-maneuvering Soviets and local challengers in the quest for power. Surviving assassination attempts (by luck) etc. etc.

The surprising part - I was not aware that North Korea was a Soviet political project at the beginning. Soviet Union has acquired many occupied territories after WW2, few of them in Asia: Manchuria, Kuril archipelago, Sakhalin Islands and, of course, Korea. After being contained by US, it got the North Korea and installed local loyal communists in power. Kim Il-sung spoke Russian well, his first two sons had Jura and Shura (Russian) names. He was second only to Soviet ambassador.
Eventually, in mid 1950ies Soviets sought to replace him to diffuse his power, but due to political scheming and continuous repressions he managed to solidify his grip, weaken Soviets control and eventually took over the rule of the country.

The sad (and most important!) part - terrifying monster state that was born out of it: North Korea. At first modelled by the Stalinist regime - purges, repressions, propaganda, absolute cult of personality etc. - it got stuck in it ever since, only more cruel many aspects. In fact, after Stalin's death, USSR sent a delegation hinting that "old methods no longer work" - but to no avail. The tyranny only got more entrenched, society more oppressed and totalitarian (labor camps, classification of people) and economy weaker (e.g. collectivism, mass famine in 1990ies). Terrifying.

This book loudly reminded me that it does immensely matter where person happens to be born.
North Korean fate was not set in stone. It's current form was executed by one man in the quest of absolute power (and enjoying some fruits as well - he had a 77 women harem, had many exclusive residencies and lived lavishly, e.g.).
For those not living under iron fist of tyranny - let's appreciate that.

[Christopher Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent biography on Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea. I wish I could award it a half star, or even a quarter star, to inch it up to 4.5 or 4.75 stars. The research for this biography is impeccable and Tertitskiy does not play into myth or hearsay. Using a variety of Korean, Chinese, English, Russian, and archival sources, Tertitskiy presents a compelling portrait of the man who redefined totalitarianism and took it to new heights, exceeding even that of his mentor Joseph Stalin. I went into this book not expecting to learn much new information, but I did -- for instance, about Kim Il-sung's actual first wife (not Kim Jong-suk). What is really great about this book is that Kim Il-sung was a skilled, if not unremarkable, politician. His rise to power was not because of his own cunning genius and duplicity, but because of a carefully orchestrated Soviet campaign that wanted to install a leader that would be sympathetic to Soviet interests in the region. Circumstance and happenstance made Kim Il-sung -- not Kim Il-sung. If I had to sum up Kim Il-sung in a word or phrase, it would be a totalitarian artist -- on par with Michelangelo or da Vinci. There is, sickly, some degree of admiration when you read about a man who created a truly totalitarian state, one that could only exist because he willed it, a totalitarian state that hasn't existed before or since. Kim perfected totalitarianism as a method of governance and terror and, despite all odds and the bets of the oddsmakers heralding North Korea's imminent collapse, has managed to produce a totalitarian dynasty that continues on with his grandson Kim Jong-un to this day. If there is one disappointment in this book, it's that there is no deep psychological or personal analysis of Kim Il-sung. We focus on him as a totalitarian leader and his exploits in running North Korea, but we do not really "know" Kim Il-sung after reading this book. That being said, this also speaks to this book's professional tone and cross referencing. The author could have easily taken the easy way out and engaged in rumor, myth, and hearsay, but they instead decided to rely only on facts as revealed in the sources.

In sum, this is an excellent book for anyone looking to understand how North Korea functions, how it came to be, and the fascinating psychology behind one of the most totalitarian regimes of all time.

My rating: 4.75

[Scott Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audiobook) Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of the 21st century is that we still have a practical monarchy where the crown holder has absolute power, not just ceremonial. Blend in some classic cult of personality action from a "communist" totalitarian regime and welcome to North Korea (aka DPRK). In particular, the central figure of this saga is Kim Il-Sung (aka Kim Song Ju). This Korean born to Presbyterians somehow managed to finagle his way into becoming one of the more successful autocrats that created a whole mythology where his every scripted word and action is taken as literal religious gospel. Yet, much about his life is shadowed in mystery, especially the non-sanctioned truth. As best he could, Tertitskiy manages to provide an account that offers some balance into the accounts of this man. Manipulative and also quite lucky, Kim Il-Sung managed to survive to become the focal point of a nation, one where the people are isolated, the country wrecked, but also one that holds some rather dangerous international cards (read: Nukes). That his line now has two generations of rules and likely another on the way, this work offers some understanding of the creator of it all. Hardly admirable, but yet one that somehow managed to make it work. Worth the read regardless of format.

[W M · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Three Tigers, One Mountain, I wanted to know more about the specifics found on the Korean Peninsula and the origins of the Kim dynasty, Accidental Tyrant is the perfect place to start. An informative, but chilling look at creation of this Stalinist totalitarian state, complete with the creation of Kim Il Sung myth and the elevation of his son Kim Jong Il. The author manages to weave a complex narrative that also contains an entirely fabricated story within, relying on Soviet and CCP archival evidence.

[Kelly Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Search and Rescue is a gripping and insightful account of life on the edge. Dr. Van Tilburg combines technical expertise with deep humanity, reflecting on risk, responsibility, and the stakes of real-life mountain rescues. What truly stands out is his personal reflection after his own accident. it transforms the narrative from thrilling adventure into a profound meditation on courage, ethics, and the human spirit.

[Alexander Stemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Educational and insightful. However, the title - albeit playful - is a bit misleading. Nothing about the rise of Kim Il-sung comes of as “accidental”. Sure, forces or history had to align in a way to make the advent of North Korea happen. But, once begun, it was executed with iron-stamped precision. “Coincidental” or “unexpected” are more accurate descriptors.

[Jack Greenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressive use of Soviet archival sources. I found the first half more engaging, as the second half covered material that felt more familiar.

[Gabriella Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, had me invested!