金正日已於十月八日正式接掌朝鮮勞動黨總書記的職位，在此之前金正日已擔任朝鮮人軍最高司令官與國防委員會委員長，完全當握權與軍權，是名實相符的國家最高領導人，目前北韓已從後金日成時代正式邁入金正日時代。 金正日所面臨的挑戰主要來自三個方面：一是透過內部爟力的重組，以鞏固其統治基礎；二是挽救破敗的經濟與解決糧食危機，為新政權當前的主要課題；三是改善與美、日關並獲得美、日的經濟援助，是北韓外交當務之急。以上各題對北韓的未來發展都具有關鍵性的影響。

Kim Jong-assumed the position of General Secretary of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party on October 8, 1997. Prior to this, he was the commander of the Korean peoples Army and Chief of its Defense Committee. Therefore, it can be said that North Korea is under his control as–he has held the nation's top leadership posts. North Korea has thus passed from the Kim I1-song age into the Kim Jong-il age. In assuming power, Kim Jong-il must now face three challenges: First, political power regulations require that the new government be more stable, responsible, and predictable. Second, solving the nation's economic catastrophe and food crisis is of utmost importance. Third, it will be necessary to improve relations between North Korea and America and Japan in order to attain foreign investment and economic aid.

朝鮮勞動黨; 主體思想; 無產階級獨裁體制; 四大軍事路線; 國防委員會; 世界糧食組織

Korean Worker's Party; chuche idealogy; proletarian dictatorship system; 4point military line; Defense Committee; World Food Program