Kim Il Sung and the DPRK- USSR- PRC Triangle:The Creation of an Asian Dynasty in a Communist State

Abstract

This paper will analyze Kim Il Sung's consolidation of power during the Cold War era in the context of the relationship between Moscow and Beijing as it related to North Korea. I will show the consolidation of Kim Il Sung's power by examining the pattern of changes in the membership of the Central Committee of Workers' Party of Korea, also known as the Korean Workers' Party. In Chapters 1 to 4, I will look at four significant time periods in post-World War II Korean history and the membership in the corresponding Party Congresses that occurred during that time. The events are as follows: 1) the end of the World War II (1945-1950) and membership in the First and Second Congress in 1946 and 1948; 2) the Korean War (1950-1953) and membership in the Third Congress in 1956; 3) the Sino-Soviet Dispute (1950s, 60s, 70s) and membership in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Congresses in 1961, 1970, 1980 respectively and 4) the Seoul Olympics (1980s) and members in the Political Leadership.