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Kim Jong-un Height, Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

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Age: 42 Years
Wife: Ri Sol-ju
Hometown: Pyongyang

Kim Jong-un

Bio/Wiki
Korean Name(s)• 김정은 (in Hangul)
• 金正恩 (in Hancha)
• Gim Jeong-eun (in the Revised Romanization of Korean)
• Kim Chŏngŭn (in McCune–Reischauer romanization)
Nickname(s)• Pang (The Fat One)
• Little Rocket Man
• Rocket Man
• Smart Cookie
• Kim Fatty III
• Yŏngmyŏng-han Tongji
• Young General
• Lil Kim
Titles• Brilliant Comrade
• Marshal
• Father Marshal
• Supreme Leader
• Beloved Father
• Banner of all victory and glory
• Sun of Juche Korea
Profession(s)Politician, Military Personnel
Famous forBeing the dictator of North Korea
Physical Stats & More
[1]Daily Mail Height5' 7" (170 cm)
Eye ColourDark Brown
Hair ColourBlack
Politics
Political PartyWorkers' Party of Korea
Symbol of the Workers' Party of Korea
Positions/Posts HeldParty
• General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (10 January 2021 - present)
• Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (9 May 2016 - 10 January 2021)
• Member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea (11 April 2012 - present)
• Member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea (11 April 2012 - present)
• Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (11 April 2012 - present)
• First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (11 April 2012 - 9 May 2016)
• Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (28 September 2010 - 11 April 2012)
• Elected to the Fourth Conference of the Workers' Party of Korea (27 March 2012)
• Member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (28 September 2010 - present)

State
• President of the State Affairs of the DPRK (lit. Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK) (29 June 2016 - present)
• Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (18 July 2012 - present)
• First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK (13 April 2012 - 29 June 2016)

Military
• Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (30 December 2011 - present)
• General of the Korean People's Army (27 September 2010 - 18 July 2012)
Military Service
Service/BranchKorean People's Army
RankMarshal (Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army)
Service Years2010–present
Awards, Honours• Honourary doctorate in Economics by HELP University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2013)
• Global Statesperson Award from Indonesia’s Sukarno Center (October 2015)
• Jubilee Medal for 75 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945 from Russia (2020)
• A memorial medal from Putin (2020)
Personal Life
Date of Birth8 January 1982 (Friday)
Age (as of 2024)42 Years
BirthplacePyongyang, North Korea
Zodiac signCapricorn
SignatureKim Jong-un's singature
NationalityNorth Korean
HometownPyongyang, North Korea
School• International School of Berne, Switzerland
• Liebefeld Steinhölzli Oberstufe, Switzerland
College/University• Kim Il Sung University, Pyongyang
• Kim Il Sung Military University, Pyongyang
Educational Qualification(s)• A degree in Computer Science and Physics at Kim Il Sung University
• A degree in military education at Kim Il Sung Military University
Religious ViewsAtheist
Food HabitNon-vegetarian
AddressResidence No. 55, Ryongsong Residence, Pyongyang
Kim Jong-un's residence
HobbiesPlaying basketball, Watching action films, Horse riding
ControversiesKim has often received criticism for his actions such as conducting nuclear blast tests, indulgence in human rights violation, isolating North Korean citizens, not addressing poverty in the country, whereas, he himself live a very lavish lifestyle. Kim has also been criticized for executing the citizens for small errors.
Relationships & More
Marital StatusMarried
Affairs/GirlfriendsHyon Song-wol (rumoured; North Korean singer)
Hyon with Kim
Marriage DateYear, 2009
Family
Wife/SpouseRi Sol-ju (First Lady of North Korea)
Kim Jong-un with Ri Sol-ju
ChildrenSon(s)- 2 (unconfirmed)
Daughter- 1
• Kim Ju-ae
Kim Ju-ae with Kim Jong-un
ParentsFather- Kim Jong-il (Former Supreme Leader of North Korea)
Kim Jong-il
Mother- Ko Yong-hui
Ko Yong-hui
SiblingsBrother(s)- 2
• Kim Jong-nam (half-brother) (died in 2017; whistleblower)
Kim Jong nam
• Kim Jong-chul (half-brother; high-ranking Workers' Party official)
Kim Jong-chul
Sister(s)- 3
• Kim Yo-jong (politician)
Kim Jong-un with Kim Yo-jong
• Kim Hye-kyo'ng

• Kim Sol-song (half-sister; politician)
Kim Sol-song (right(
Other RelativesGreat Grandfather- Kim Hyong-jik (1894-1926) (Korean independence activist during Imperial Japan's occupation)
Kim Hyong-jik's photo
Great Grandmother- Kang Pan-sok (1892-1932) (Great Mother of Korea)
Kang Pan-sok's picture
Grandfather- Kim Il Sung (1912-1994) (founder of the DPRK, first Supreme Commander of the DPRK)
Kim Il Sung's photo
Grandmother- Kim Jong Suk (1917-1949) (Communist activist, Mother of DPRK)
Photo of Kim Jong Suk
Step Grandmother- Kim Song Ae (1924-2018) (political activist)
Kim Song Ae's photo
Grandfather's Brother(s)- 2
• Kim Yong-ju (1920-2021) (politician)
Kim Yong-ju's picture
• Kim Chul Joo (1916-1935) (activist)
A picture of Kim Chul Joo
Stepmother- Kim Ok (former Workers' Party member)
Kim Ok's photo
Uncle(s)- 5
• Kim Pyong Il (Kim Song Ae and Kim Il Sung's son; diplomat)
Kim Pyong Il's photo
• Kim Yong-il (politician, former Premiere of DPRK)
Kim Yong-il's picture
• Kim Man-il (1944-1947) (Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Suk's son)
Kim Man-il with his father Kim Il Sung
• Kim Hyun

• Jang Song-thaek (1946-2013) (politician)
Jang Song-thaek's photo
Aunt(s)- 4
• Kim Kyong-hui (wife of Jang Song-thaek, secretary of the Workers' Party)
Kim Kyong-hui
• Kim Baek-yeon

• Ko Young-sook
Ko Young-sook
• Kim Kyong-Jin (daughter of Kim Il Sung)

Cousin(s)-
• Jang Kum-song (1977-2006) (Jang Song-thaek's daughter)

• Kim In-kang (Kim Pyong Il's daughter)

• Kim Eun-song (Kim Pyong Il's daughter)

Nephew(s)- 2
• Kim Han-sol (eldest son of Kim Jong-nam)
Kim Han-sol
• Kim Geum-sol (younger son of Kim Jong-nam)

Niece(s)- 2
• Kim Sol Hui (daughter of Kim Jong-nam)

• Kim Yi-soon (daughter of Kim Jong-nam)
Family TreeKim Family Tree
Favourites
FoodSwiss Emmental cheese, Prawns, Fried Chicken, McDonald's Big Mac, Sushi, Parma ham, Kobe steak
ActorJackie Chan
BeverageBrazilian coffee
Alcoholic BeverageRussian vodka, Hennessey Cognac, Champagne
Champagne BrandCristal
NBA TeamChicago Bulls
NBA PlayerMichael Jordon, Dennis Rodman
Cognac BrandHennessy
Whisky BrandBlack label
Cigarette BrandYves Saint Laurent, Marlboro
SoupShark fin soup
Style Quotient
Car Collection• Mercedes-Benz Maybach S650

• Maybach-Benz S62

• Mercedes-Benz Maybach S600 Pullman Guard
Kim's Mercedes-Benz Maybach
• Aurus Senat limousine
Vladimir Putin's limousine that was gited to Kim
• Caddilac SUV

• Rolls-Royce Phantom
Expensive ThingsA yacht worth $7 million
Money Factor
Net Worth (approx.)$5 billion (as of 2021)

Kim Jong-un

Some Lesser Known Facts About Kim Jong-un

  • His year of birth has always been a matter of debate. Many sources claim that his year of birth was changed to 1982 for propaganda purposes as 1982 marked Kim Il Sung’s birth anniversary.
  • Kim became the first Supreme Leader of the Democratic Republic of North Korea (DPRK) who was born in North Korea as his grandfather was born in Soviet Russia, and his father in Unified Kora (during Imperial Japan’s occupation).
  • His grooming as the future dictator of North Korea began at an early age. His father got him a three-star general’s uniform stitched when he was six and asked senior military officers to salute him whenever they saw him.

    A collage of childhood photos of Kim Jong-un

    A collage of childhood photos of Kim Jong-un

  • At the age of 11, he started carrying a firearm with himself and was reportedly well-versed in firing all types of pistols and assault rifles used by the North Korean military.
  • Kim Jong-un has often been spotted smoking a cigarette during public meetings. According to his cook, Kenji, who worked for Kim when he was a teenager, Kim began smoking in his early teens and had a liking for the Yves Saint Laurent menthol cigarettes.

    Kim Jong-un sitting with a cigarette in his hand during an event

    Kim Jong-un sitting with a cigarette in his hand during an event

  • He also developed a liking for McDonald’s Big Mac at a very young age, and he often asked Kenji to get him some from China on a private aeroplane.

    Kim enjoying a McDonald's burger while he was in Singapore in 2019 to meet President Trump

    Kim enjoying a McDonald’s burger while he was in Singapore in 2019 to meet President Trump

  • Kim loves Italian food. His father, in 1997, hired a chef from Italy to prepare pizza for him.
  • He began driving a car at the age of 7. His father gifted him his first Mercedes when he was just 10 years old.
  • Kim Jong-un is an equestrian. He learned horseriding at an early age.

    A photo of Kim taken while he was riding a horse

    A photo of Kim taken while he was riding a horse

  • He drinks alcohol. Several reports suggest that he has alcohol and nicotine dependency. He reportedly spends $30 million per year on importing exotic liquor in North Korea.

    Kim Jong-un at an event with a champagne glass in his hand

    Kim Jong-un at an event with a champagne glass in his hand

  • Kim Jong-un secretly attended the school in Switzerland.
  • At the International School of Berne in Switzerland, he took up the name Chol-pak or Pak-chol.

    A photograph of Kim that was reportedly taken while he was attending school in Switzerland

    A photograph of Kim that was reportedly taken while he was attending school in Switzerland

  • He developed a liking for basketball there and became a fan of the American NBA team Chicago Bulls. Many of his classmates claim that he used to spend hours sketching the players of the team. He also developed a passion for computers.
  • He once again changed his name to Pak-un or Un-pak after he shifted to the Liebefeld Steinhölzli State School in Switzerland. He studied there as the child of a North Korean diplomat serving in the embassy.
  • Even though he was outside North Korea, Kim was well protected. It is claimed that his bodyguards were present as students in the school where he studied.
  • Kim’s mother never forced him to study to get good marks. According to his classmates in Switzerland, teachers did not force Kim to improve his grades. A school friend of his talked about it, in an interview, and said,

    We weren’t the dimmest kids in the class but neither were we the cleverest. We were always in the second tier … The teachers would see him struggling ashamedly and then move on. They left him in peace.”

    Kim with his classmates in Switzerland

    Kim with his classmates in Switzerland

  • While some sources claim that Kim was very reserved as a child, some claim that he was very aggressive and used to boss other kids around him. A few of his friends claim that he was peace-loving and many times stopped kids from entering a fistfight in school.
  • Kim was rumoured to be in a relationship with a girl while he was in school. The relationship ended after the girl asked Kim to quit smoking as it was too early for him to smoke.
  • He did not perform well academically and barely managed to complete his schooling. In the final year of schooling, he failed in Natural Sciences and received poor grades in mathematics. However, he did score well in music and technical studies.
  • He has also studied English, Swiss, and German languages. Reportedly, since he could not understand German, Kim lashed out at anyone who spoke the language.
  • In Switzerland, he used to stay in a luxurious rented apartment that was guarded round the clock. Only a few people were allowed to visit him in the apartment.
  • During school vacations, Kim Jong-il used to call him back to North Korea and never allowed him to spend vacations in Switzerland. Even when he went out to shop, he was always accompanied by the then-North Korean Ambassador.
  • In school, Kim used to wear a black and red coloured Nike top with Nike shorts and Air Jordans.
  • Kim developed a liking for the well-known Swiss cheese during his time in the country. He spends a lot of money to import cheese from Switzerland on a private jet.

    Kim Jong-un at a cheese factory in North Korea during an inspection

    Kim Jong-un at a cheese factory in North Korea during an inspection

  • According to his chef, Fujimoto, Kim was concerned about a common North Korean citizen and used to ask about their lives when he was very young. In an interview, he said,

    We are here, playing basketball, riding horses, riding Jet Skis, and having fun together. But what of the lives of the average people?”

  • He started consuming alcohol heavily after the passing of his mother in 2004. This led to him gaining a lot of weight.

    A photo of Kim, circulated by intelligence agencies, taken while he had begun gaining weight

    A photo of Kim, circulated by intelligence agencies, taken while he had begun gaining weight

  • After completing his formal education, he underwent a short military training module at the Kim Il Sung Military University.

    Kim Jong-un's photo taken with Army Marshal Hyon Chol-hae while he was studying at the Kim Il Sung Military University

    Kim Jong-un’s photo taken with Army Marshal Hyon Chol-hae while he was studying at the Kim Il Sung Military University

  • He underwent cosmetic surgery numerous times to resemble his Eternal Leader Grandfather Kim Il-Sung.

    A photo of Kim Il-sung (left) and Kim Jong-un

    A photo of Kim Il-sung (left) and Kim Jong-un

  • It is reported that Kim Jong-un had a fake passport in which his name was Josef Pwag, a Brazillian citizen. Kim and his father used such fake passports to visit foreign countries as many countries do not give visas to the North Koreans.

    A photo of Kim Jong-un's fake Brazilian passport

    A photo of Kim Jong-un’s fake Brazilian passport

  • There are many photos of his childhood on the internet but only a few have been confirmed to be his actual photos while others have been debunked. His first official image was released by the authorities in 2010.
  • It is claimed that Kim Jong Nam, Kim’s elder half-brother, was in the line to take over as the supreme leader of North Korea. However, in 2001, after Nam illegally tried to go to Japan, he fell out of favour.
  • Another elder brother, Jong-Chol, who was next in line to succeed Sung after Nam, fell out of favour due to being “too feminine.”
  • Kim Jong-il began showing more favouritism towards Kim Jong-un because they both shared similar traits and qualities.
  • His name was revealed to the public for the first time during a political meeting in Pyongyang in 2010.
  • In 2006, Jong-il ordered the circulation of badges with Kim Jong-un’s photo on it among the North Korean politicians and diplomats.

    A badge smuggled out of North Korea with Kim Jong-un's photo on it

    A badge smuggled out of North Korea with Kim Jong-un’s photo on it

  • In June 2009, Kim Jong-il appointed Kim Jong-un as his successor and the President of the Korean Workers’ Party.
  • According to the BBC, he contested his first Supreme People’s Assembly election in the same year. However, according to the North Korean Election Commission’s list of candidates, Kim Jong-un did not contest the elections.
  • In May 2009, he was appointed to the Korean People’s Army’s National Defense Commission.

    Kim's photo taken while he was addressing the generals of the North Korean Army during an NDC meeting

    Kim’s photo taken while he was addressing the generals of the North Korean Army during an NDC meeting

  • The news of his selection as the successor of Kim Jong-il began circulating in the mid-2009 following which many countries’ intelligence agencies began gathering information about him.
  • Soon after, the Korean Workers Party composed a propaganda song praising Kim and passed a law making it mandatory for the DPRK citizens to sing the song in public gatherings.
  • In June 2009, he visited China, where he met Hu Jintao, the then President of China. However, China denied having hosted Kim Jong-un and other senior politicians of the DPRK.
  • To showcase his power as the next leader of North Korea, he is claimed to have masterminded the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan, a South Korean Navy vessel, and the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong, in 2010.
  • The world was divided over the claims of a DPRK submarine to have sunk ROKS Cheonan. While some experts claimed that Kim’s navy could not destroy a very advanced ship, some others claimed that the RDX powder found on the vessel’s hull contained a mixture that was used in torpedos by the DPRK submarines.

    ROKS Cheonan's photo taken while the inspectors visited the ship to determine the cause of the sinking

    ROKS Cheonan’s photo taken while the inspectors visited the ship to determine the cause of the sinking

  • In September of the same year, Kim was made a four-star general, known as Daejang in Korea, despite having no political or military handling capabilities due to a lack of experience. Thus, becoming the only general in the world without any experience.

    Kim Jong-un in a four-star general's uniform

    Kim Jong-un in a four-star general’s uniform

  • He later was appointed to the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party and the Central Military Commission.
  • He was introduced to the world when he attended the 65th-anniversary celebration of the Workers’ Party with his father on 10 October 2010. For the first time, the DPRK authorities allowed foreign media to cover the event.

    The first time Kim was sighted publicly in 2010 with his father

    The first time Kim was sighted publicly in 2010 with his father

  • When his father died, he made sure that the whole country grieved his father’s death wholeheartedly. Those who failed to cry were punished and sent to concentration camps for six months. Kim is also reported to have asked the citizens to “cry him a river.”
    Kim escorting the casket of his father in 2011

    Kim escorting the casket of his father in 2011

    North Korean citizens weeping on Kim Jong ill's death

    North Korean citizens weeping on Kim Jong Ill’s death

  • In December 2011, he came to power in North Korea.

    A photo of Kim taken while he was attending an event after he took over the reign of North Korea

    A photo of Kim taken while he was attending an event after he took over the reign of North Korea

  • Before taking over from his father in 2011, many sources claimed he would be a more liberal ruler than his predecessors, having studied outside of the DPRK. It was also said that Kim would initially work under the guidance of Jang Song Thaek for some time due to a lack of administrative and political experience.
  • Kim later passed a law according to which citizens staying outside of Pyongyang needed a pass to enter the city and only upper-class business families and high-ranking politicians and military officials were allowed to stay in it.
  • When he was 29 years old, the Onion newspaper announced him as the “Sexiest Man Alive” for the year 2012.
  • In the same year, Kim signed a Leap Day deal with the U.S. according to which North Korea would temporarily halt its missile development program in return for food. Kim, however, violated the deal after he launched a satellite into space on an intercontinental ballistic missile.
  • Kim has played a vital role in the reorganisation of North Korea’s National Aerospace Development Administration. In 2012, under his leadership, the country launched a satellite.

    A photo of a satellite launch released by the DPRK authorities

    A photo of a satellite launch released by the DPRK authorities

  • Following his election to the 4th Conference of the Workers’ Party of Korea in 2012, the Party received a notification from Kim to declare his father, Kim Jong-Il, as the Eternal General Secretary. The party appointed him as the First Secretary.
  • Security officials found a loaded AK-47 buried under a tree near the route from where Kim Jong-un’s convoy was to pass in 2012. The DPRK media showed this as an attempt to assassinate him.
  • According to sources, Kim spent $645.8m in the same year on purchasing luxurious goods such as pets, perfumes, alcohol, saunas, and exotic watches. He also has a liquor stock worth $30 million.
  • The North Korean security agencies, in 2012, executed and detained more than 200 high-ranking officials to eliminate any chances of anyone challenging Kim’s ascension. Many, including Kim Jong-il’s brother-in-law, were also killed.
  • Kim promoted many generals and politicians to solidify support for his regime, seeking their loyalty to him. The general working committee of the Workers’ Party was quoted saying “We vow with bleeding tears to call Kim Jong Un our supreme commander, our leader.”

    A photo of Kim taken while he was attending an address event organised by the Workers' Party of Korea

    A photo of Kim taken while he was attending an address event organised by the Workers’ Party of Korea

  • He is considered to have brought some modernisation to the idea of Juche (a political ideology seeking economic and military self-reliance). He has also uplifted the tourism sector by allowing foreigners to visit DPRK and by constructing many hotels and resorts for travellers to stay.
  • Kim has a liking for K-pop songs. He created an all-girl pop band named Moranbong Band in 2012. He brought his wife into public for the first time during a concert of the band.

    Kim with the members of the North Korean K-pop band

    Kim with the members of the North Korean K-pop band

  • Thereafter, Kim was appointed the Central Military Commission’s chairman. He started sitting in his father’s seat in the Korean parliament.
  • After coming to power, Kim founded a cyber warfare unit with 6,000 soldiers in it. This unit is based in Russia and the People’s Republic of China to conduct hacking operations from there as North Korea lacks the resources to sustain such work.

    A photo of Kim taken while he was inspecting the North Korean Army's Cyberwarfare Unit

    A photo of Kim taken while he was inspecting the North Korean Army’s Cyberwarfare Unit

  • He combined the principles of Kimilsungism and Kimjongilism as Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism and replaced old terms like Juche and Songun (the military-first policy of DPRK) in April 2012. These amends were also made in the constitution, making him the first Korean dictator to be named in the constitution.
  • In July 2012, Kim Jong-un was promoted and made a Wonsu, the highest military rank in North Korea.

    Kim in the uniform of a Wonsu during a military event

    Kim in the uniform of a Wonsu during a military event

  • His first speech, Let Us March Forward Dynamically Towards Final Victory, Holding Higher the Banner of Songun, was adapted into a patriotic song titled Onwards Toward the Final Victory in 2012.

    Onwards Toward the Final Victory's poster

    Onwards Toward the Final Victory’s poster

  • After coming to power, he worked on reducing the power of the military and began allocating more powers into the hands of the politicians.
  • In 2012, under Kim’s leadership, the regime, for the first time, revealed a rocket failure. Earlier the regime used to hide its missile and rocket failures.

    Kim Jong-un inspecting a nuclear warhead of a missile before its launch

    Kim Jong-un inspecting a nuclear warhead of a missile before its launch

  • The North Korean agencies tested their first thermonuclear warhead on an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in 2013 under Kim Jong-un’s leadership. After the testing, Kim said,

    The days are gone forever when our enemies could blackmail us with nuclear bombs.”

  • After the testing, the relations between DPRK and China worsened and Kim received a letter from Xi Jinping, who expressed his dissatisfaction over it. China even banned the import of coal from North Korea in 2017 owing to the nuclear tests.
  • In the same year, Kim passed a law approving a set of haircuts for males and females; 10 for men and 18 for women.

    A photo of the male and female haircuts approved by the state led by Kim Jong-un

    A photo of the male and female haircuts approved by the state led by Kim Jong-un

  • In 2014, Kim reportedly ordered North Korean hackers to attack Sony’s mainframe over the release of The Interview, a comedy film that parodied him. The hackers demanded an apology, but cybersecurity experts questioned North Korea’s ability to do such an attack.

    A photo of the message sent by the hackers after they hacked Sony

    A photo of the message sent by the hackers after they hacked Sony

  • On 10 December 2015, Kim Jong-un claimed that his country had developed a hydrogen bomb and he also threatened the USA to attack it with a Hydrogen Bomb. The first test of the bomb was conducted in January 2016.

    Kim inspecting what experts claim to be a capsule that carries the Hydrogen bomb

    Kim inspecting what experts claim to be a capsule that carries the Hydrogen bomb

  • In 2015, Kim had his Defence Minister executed by a firing squad after he was caught sleeping in a meeting with Kim.

    Hyon Yong Chol, the North Korean Defence Minister killed by Kim

    Hyon Yong Chol, the North Korean Defence Minister killed by Kim

  • As per a 2015 report, Kim had put on 30 kgs of weight in the five years of ruling due to thyroid.
  • In 2016, Kim ordered the destruction of Western music and films to control dissent against him.
  • On 29 June 2016, Kim took over the State Affairs Commission (SAC) as its first chairman after abolishing the National Defence Commission (NDC).
  • In June 2016, the United States put personal sanctions against Kim for the first time for his involvement in crimes against humanity.
  • In the same year, an American citizen named Otto Warmbier was arrested. Otto died due to a brain injury that he received while he was in the custody of North Korean law enforcement agencies. After his death, the relations between the DPRK and the US government worsened. Donald Trump raised the issue with Kim when they met in 2018.

    North Korean soldiers escorting Otto Warmbier to a prison

    North Korean soldiers escorting Otto Warmbier to a prison

  • In 2016, he had two politicians executed publically with anti-aircraft guns for reportedly speaking against Kim Jong-un’s succession to power.
  • In the same year, Kim reportedly jailed his stepmother out of fear of starting a revolt against Kim Jong-un’s reign.
  • Many Chinese users of local social media websites like Baidu and Sina Weibo started a trend of referring to Kim as “Kim Fatty III” in 2016. The trend was later stopped by the Chinese government after the North Korean authorities objected to it.
  • Kim ordered over 340 executions between 2011 to 2016.
  • In 2017, he oversaw the testing of a nuclear bomb that had a nuclear yield of 100 to 150 kilotons. Ten times stronger than the bombs dropped by the US in Japan in 1945.
  • On 13 February 2017, Kim reportedly ordered the assassination of his half-brother Kim Jong Nam who was exiled in 2003. He was killed by North Korean agents with the help of a neurotoxin that was rubbed on his face while he was about to board a flight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

  • Nam was eliminated because he was believed to have provided valuable information to the American and South Korean intelligence agencies about the Kim Dynasty. He had also turned into a critic of the DPRK regime since his exile.
  • In the same year, DPRK accused the United States and South Korea of plotting his assassination with the assistance of a North Korean worker whom they hired to kill Kim with a biochemical weapon.
  • In 2017-2018, Trump and Kim Jong-un exchanged heated words over North Korea’s missile and nuclear program. While Trump called Kim Rocket Man, Smart Cookie, and Little Rocket Man, Kim called Trump a “mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire.”

  • In 2018, Kim met the then-President of the US Donald Trump in Singapore. They discussed the removal of the economic blockade on North Korea in return for stopping its nuclear program. The meeting failed.

    President Donald Trump with Kim Jong-un during a bilateral meeting in Singapore

    President Donald Trump with Kim Jong-un during a bilateral meeting in Singapore

  • In the same year, the relations between North and South Korea began showing some signs of improvement. For the first time, Kim sent a delegation led by his sister to South Korea for bilateral discussions. Kim also proposed establishing a joint ice hockey team to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

    The mixed North and South Korean ice hockey team at the Winter Olympics

    The mixed North and South Korean ice hockey team at the Winter Olympics

  • In April 2018, Kim visited South Korea and met President Moon Jae-in at the Inter-Korea Summit. In it, they agreed on converting the Korean Armistice Treaty (a ceasefire treaty signed between the Allies and North Korea in 1953) into a peace treaty to officially end the Korean War. However, the plan to do so failed.

    Kim with President Moon at the DMZ

    Kim with President Moon at the DMZ

  • Following a summit, a survey was conducted in South Korea in which 78% of the people voted in favour of trusting Kim.
  • He went on an official trip to China in the same year to work on uplifting the strained ties with China.
  • Kim was placed at the 36th rank in the 2018 Forbes list of Powerful People. He was the only from the Korean peninsula to be ranked in the list.
  • In 2019, Kim decided not to contest the parliamentary elections. By doing so, he became the first Korean ruler to not contest the elections.
  • In the same year, Kim again met Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. The second round of the talks also failed. Reportedly, Kim had agreed to stop its nuclear development program and dismantle some of its nuclear facilities; however, the US wanted Kim to destroy all of its facilities including the Yongbyon nuclear facility, considered to be leading the DPRK’s nuclear program.

    Kim Jong-un with his team meeting with President Donald Trump and his team

    Kim Jong-un with his team meeting with President Donald Trump and his team

  • Kim met Trump at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the same year. The meeting failed to conclude.

    Kim and Trump at the North Korean side of the DMZ

    Kim and Trump at the North Korean side of the DMZ

  • North Korea’s relationship with Russia under Kim’s rule has improved significantly. In 2019, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang and later Kim met Putin in Moscow. In the meeting, Putin agreed to help Kim build satellites. Kim stated,

    Now Russia has risen to the sacred fight to protect its sovereignty and security against the hegemonic forces that oppose Russia. And now we want to further develop the relationship. We will support Russia’s sacred fight against the West.”

    A photo of Kim Jong-un with President Putin

    A photo of Kim Jong-un with President Putin

  • In 2021, the Worker’s Party made him the General Secretary of the party, a position that was given “eternally” to his father, Kim Jong-il, in 2012.
  • In the 8th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in 2021, Kim is said to have presented a 9-hour-long speech in which he criticised the functioning of the party and blamed the party for DPRK’s economic downfall.
  • In the same year, Chinese Premiere Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang on a two-day visit on Kim’s insistence.

    Xi Jinping with Kim in Pyongyang

    Xi Jinping with Kim in Pyongyang

  • Under his leadership, the authorities have renamed many government buildings and organisations to more modern names to keep up with the world.
  • His haircut is pretty popular in the country and has a name- “Ambitious!,” and it was reported that male university students in North Korea were asked to copy the haircut. However, later, the government passed a law according to which no one was allowed to copy Kim’s hairstyle.

    A photo of the hairstyle of Kim Jong-un

    A photo of the hairstyle of Kim Jong-un

  • In 2020, a report was published which stated that after Kim’s ascension to power the total number of concentration camps and political prisons had increased manifold in North Korea and that there were more than 43,000 prisoners in total serving their sentences in such camps.

    A photo released by the CIA pointing out the places where such camps are situated in DPRK

    A photo released by the CIA pointing out the places where such camps are situated in DPRK

  • He has made a law according to which in case of an emergency or a war, the prisoners who had committed serious crimes would be shot dead to preserve resources.
  • After he came to power, he ordered the closing of the prison camps 15 and 18. Many sources claim that he did so to increase his likeness among the public. He later reversed his orders and asked the authorities to expand the camps to accommodate more prisoners.
  • In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim was presumed to have passed away after he was not seen for almost a month. During that time, he had given his powers to his sister and asked her to discharge his responsibilities.

    Kim Yo-Jong attending an event in Kim Jong-un's absence

    Kim Yo-Jong attending an event in Kim Jong-un’s absence

  • It was later revealed by his sister, during a televised gathering of the Workers Party, that Kim was suffering from several post-coronavirus complications.
  • Kim ordered the North Korean citizens in Pyongyang not to keep pets. This order came at a time when North Korea was undergoing a food shortage in 2020.
  • Many international human rights observation groups have criticised the North Korean government for indulging in human rights violations, such as sexual assault, torture, and starvation, in the prison camps. Inside sources from DPRK also claim that not only the offenders but also their three generations are sent to prison for “political re-education” and “forced labour.”
  • In 2021, Kim lost approximately 20 kilograms of weight. Some sources claimed that he lost weight due to an illness, while others claimed that he underwent a Bariatric surgery to tackle obesity. However, he later again gained weight.

    A before and after weight loss photo of Kim Jong-un

    A before and after weight loss photo of Kim Jong-un

  • In February 2022, after the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, the DPRK expressed its support for Russia and said that Russia had to invade Ukraine because of the interference of the US in Eastern Europe.
  • As per the North Korean government, the country recorded only 168 cases of the COVID-19 pandemic up till 2024 with only 74 deaths. This, however, has been claimed to be factually incorrect by many global medicare agencies.
  • On 21 November 2023, North Korea launched its first spy satellite.
  • The GDP of North Korea when Kim took over was estimated to be $15,907 million. However, after years of liberalisation of the economy, the GPD increased to $24.5 billion in 2023.
  • As per a 2024 report, Kim has tested around 90 ballistic missiles, capable of hitting Washington, D.C., and has accumulated over 60 nuclear warheads, including hydrogen, thermonuclear, and multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV).
  • He loves skiing and owns many private skiing resorts in the snowy mountainous regions of the DRPK.
  • Kim has been accredited with uplifting the living standards of the citizens living in the capital city of Pyongyang. However, many sources claim that the situation outside the capital city is the same as it was during his grandfather’s reign.
  • In March 2024, the North Korean government claimed that it had operationalised a “miniature” of the hydrogen bomb that it tested in 2015.

    Kim Jong-un discussing about the miniaturised hydrogen bomb's model with scientists

    Kim Jong-un discussing about the miniaturised hydrogen bomb’s model with scientists

  • As of April 2024, North Korea has reportedly sent 7,000 shipping containers with ammunition, clothes, spare parts, and other types of heavy weapons to Russia ever since its war with Ukraine began in 2022. However, DPRK has denied selling weapons to Russia.

    Artillery shells, with markings in Korean, seized by the Ukrainian Army from the Russians

    Artillery shells, with markings in Korean, seized by the Ukrainian Army from the Russians

  • To maintain his image of being an advisor, Kim is often seen surrounded by military and political officials taking notes as he guides. Many experts also claim that Kim does this to maintain the cult image of the “Kim Dynasty” that his predecessors created.

    Senior military officers stand around Kim taking notes as he passes instructions

    Senior military officers stand around Kim taking notes as he passes instructions

  • Kim has implemented various economic policies such as allowing interference-free operation of small-scale businesses, implementing SERMS, and amending the banking policy. One amendment was the distribution of credit cards, leading to increased revenue.
  • Kim is considered to be a close friend of the former NBA superstar Dennis Rodman. He has met him many times in North Korea. It is said that Dennis played a vital role in securing Otto Warmbier’s release from DPRK.
  • Kim’s friendship with Dennis began in 2013 when the latter visited North Korea to conduct basketball workshops in Pyongyang. He then visited Kim in 2015 and 2017 as well.

    NBA superstar Dennis Rodman with Kim Jong-un in North Korea during a sporting event

    NBA superstar Dennis Rodman with Kim Jong-un in North Korea during a sporting event

  • He is also known for his liking towards technology and has allowed the residents of Pyongyang to own cars and mobile phones. He has also introduced four new channels instead of just the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Some of the channels offer entertainment programs, which were earlier banned in the country.

    A North Korean news presenter giving news to the audience

    A North Korean news presenter giving news to the audience

  • In the last few years, Kim has been spotted with his daughter at various events. This has led to speculations that Kim is preparing her as the next dictator of DPRK.
  • Kim has allowed the stores in the country to be stocked with foreign products from China and Russia, which was earlier banned in the country.
  • In January 2024, Kim called for amending the constitution to designate South Korea as its “number one enemy.” Kim also said that the Korean Reunification was no longer possible due to the hostile intent of the South towards the DPRK.
  • In the same year, President Vladimir Putin presented Kim Jong-un with a luxurious Russian-made Aurus Senat limousine.

    Kim exiting from the limousine which was later gifted to him by Putin

    Kim exiting from the limousine which was later gifted to him by Putin

  • Kim enjoys a very luxurious lifestyle. According to sources, he has more than 17 luxurious villas and more than 100 European-made cars. He likes to party in his villas and drinks a lot of alcohol. He also has an imported sauna worth thousands of dollars in each of his mansions.
  • Kim was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension before he took over the control over North Korea.
  • He never met his other half-brothers as according to a law, half-brothers can not meet each other until one is appointed as “heir apparent.”
  • Some sources claim that he is so sceptical about the discharge of his biological waste that he carries his portable toilet wherever he goes. This is done to not let intelligence agencies determine the illnesses that he has from the waste.
  • His likeness for the NBA superstar Michael Jordan is well-known. The US government once gifted him a basketball signed by him.

    The basketball which was signed by Michael Jordan and was presented to Kim Jong-un

    The basketball which was signed by Michael Jordan and was presented to Kim Jong-un

  • According to various sources, the violence in the prison camps under Kim Jong-un’s rule has increased manifolds.
  • Kim is reported to consume Snake wine, known for increasing masculinity among men by decreasing the possibility of impotency.
  • Due to a high dependency on intoxicants, Kim has reportedly developed insomnia. He has collected a lot of American-made zolpidem medicines to cure insomnia.
  • Kim is scared of getting a haircut.
  • In North Korea, it is claimed that Kim Jong-un has made scripts for more than 20,000 films and has published around 1,600 books on filmmaking.
  • He knows how to play the piano and owns an expensive collection of pianos.
  • Kim owns 17 palaces and many islands in North Korea.

    Kim posing for a photo in front of a palace that he owns

    Kim posing for a photo in front of a palace that he owns

  • Kim Jong-un travels inside and outside North Korea by train that contains 91 bulletproof carriages, painted olive green with yellow lining. It runs with three more trains containing his bodyguards and other resources. The train also has many anti-aircraft guns on it to protect Kim. Its top speed is 59.5 km per hour.

    Kim Jong-un waving from his bulletproof train before departing

    Kim Jong-un waving from his bulletproof train before departing

  • When travelling on his special train, Kim Jong-un uses the Soviet-era Ilyushin Il-62M.
  • Kim reportedly owns a harem in which he keeps North Korean females as young as 13. He once spent millions of dollars to purchase clothes and other cosmetic items for them. The girls, before joining the harem, have to undergo a virginity test.

References/Sources:[+]