Kim Il Sung was a North Korean politician and communist revolutionary who founded North Korea, which he led as its first supreme leader from its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994.  He was the leader of North Korea while Rev. Moon was held for nearly three years in the North Korean prison camp in Heungnam.

Reverend Moon visited North Korea in 1991 where he met with Kim Il Sung at the president’s residence in Heungnam.  At the risk of his life, Rev. Moon delivered a very direct and powerful speech at the Mon Su Da congressional hall in North Korea, proclaiming that Kim Il Sung’s “Juche” ideology would fail because it omitted God.  He insisted that “Godism” must be at the center of their nation. Kim Il Sung later declared, “That’s what I call honesty. He’s got guts—a big man!” After spending time talking with Rev. Moon, Kim Il Sung scolded his people, "What do you mean Rev. Moon is bad? He is a good friend of mine. Why did you report lies to me?"

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