New Leader: Kim Jong Un
Early Life and Background
Kim Jong Un as a child.
There remains many concerns or uncertainties in regards to the new leadership of a state that has always had shaky relationships with the west. However, a look into Kim Jung Un's past may provide an understanding into his way of thinking.
Kim Jung Un is the third son of his late father. He is said to have been born in January of 1983 or 84 (Beck). The brothers that came before him were Kim Jung Nam and Kim Jung Chol. The first brother was born to Kim Jung Il's first wife. The last two, including Kim Jung Un, were born to their father's mistress, Ko Young Hui, who died of breast cancer in 2004, according to Jay Newton Small et al, contributor to the article, "Meet Kim Jong Un." What most regular people in North Korea may not know, however, is that Kim Jong Un's mother, Ko Young Hui, was born in Osaka, Japan. According to Ken Kato, a human rights advocate who found documents in a Japanese archive relating to World War II, Ko Young Hui's father worked making uniforms for the Japanese army during the same war. Since Japan is considered to be an enemy of North Korea, due largely to Japan's occupation of the nation before WWII, people like Ko's father and their descendants are normally described as criminals in North Korea (Asian News International). Also, the fact Un's mother was born in Japan is widely kept out of the state media. This may raise questions as to the legitimacy under North Korean law of Kim Jung Un's rule. Even descendants of "traitors" in North Korea aren't allowed top positions in the nation.
However, according to Kim Jung Il, his third son is the most qualified. His first son, Kim Jung Nam, fell out of favor for the succession in 2001 when he tried to use a fake passport to escape to Japan. His goal was to reach Disneyland Tokyo, but he ended up being arrested. Today he resides in Macao China, completely estranged from his family. According to Kim Jung Il's Japanese sushi chef Kenji Fujimoto, a person who was close to the Kims before his escape, Kim Jung Il simply did not like his second son, Kim Jung Chol. Apparently Chol is much too lazy and girly for his father's tastes, but he views his third son as being like him.
In addition to the favor he eventually experienced, Kim Jung Un has lived somewhat of an opposite existence to his average North Korean counterpart. For example, as a child, Un was sent to go to school in Switzerland. He was assigned a pseudonym, host family, and lived there a few years. According to Jay Newton Small, who reports on the accounts of his Swiss classmates, Un and his friends had interests such as playing basketball, video games, watching Jackie Chan movies, rollerblading, jet-skiing, admiring figures such as Dennis Rodman, and Michael Jordan. The fact that Un has a history with liking these generally western things may play into why he is currently allowing prominently western figures such as Disney characters to participate in musical performances for the public (Kirk). Although Disney never signed off on the usage of their characters, the fact that western things are being allowed at all may signify a slight change in leadership styles. In a state where the influence of the west is largely hated, and in some cases, illegal, the question remains as to how Un's western education will influence his leadership.
Kim Jung Un is the third son of his late father. He is said to have been born in January of 1983 or 84 (Beck). The brothers that came before him were Kim Jung Nam and Kim Jung Chol. The first brother was born to Kim Jung Il's first wife. The last two, including Kim Jung Un, were born to their father's mistress, Ko Young Hui, who died of breast cancer in 2004, according to Jay Newton Small et al, contributor to the article, "Meet Kim Jong Un." What most regular people in North Korea may not know, however, is that Kim Jong Un's mother, Ko Young Hui, was born in Osaka, Japan. According to Ken Kato, a human rights advocate who found documents in a Japanese archive relating to World War II, Ko Young Hui's father worked making uniforms for the Japanese army during the same war. Since Japan is considered to be an enemy of North Korea, due largely to Japan's occupation of the nation before WWII, people like Ko's father and their descendants are normally described as criminals in North Korea (Asian News International). Also, the fact Un's mother was born in Japan is widely kept out of the state media. This may raise questions as to the legitimacy under North Korean law of Kim Jung Un's rule. Even descendants of "traitors" in North Korea aren't allowed top positions in the nation.
However, according to Kim Jung Il, his third son is the most qualified. His first son, Kim Jung Nam, fell out of favor for the succession in 2001 when he tried to use a fake passport to escape to Japan. His goal was to reach Disneyland Tokyo, but he ended up being arrested. Today he resides in Macao China, completely estranged from his family. According to Kim Jung Il's Japanese sushi chef Kenji Fujimoto, a person who was close to the Kims before his escape, Kim Jung Il simply did not like his second son, Kim Jung Chol. Apparently Chol is much too lazy and girly for his father's tastes, but he views his third son as being like him.
In addition to the favor he eventually experienced, Kim Jung Un has lived somewhat of an opposite existence to his average North Korean counterpart. For example, as a child, Un was sent to go to school in Switzerland. He was assigned a pseudonym, host family, and lived there a few years. According to Jay Newton Small, who reports on the accounts of his Swiss classmates, Un and his friends had interests such as playing basketball, video games, watching Jackie Chan movies, rollerblading, jet-skiing, admiring figures such as Dennis Rodman, and Michael Jordan. The fact that Un has a history with liking these generally western things may play into why he is currently allowing prominently western figures such as Disney characters to participate in musical performances for the public (Kirk). Although Disney never signed off on the usage of their characters, the fact that western things are being allowed at all may signify a slight change in leadership styles. In a state where the influence of the west is largely hated, and in some cases, illegal, the question remains as to how Un's western education will influence his leadership.
Below: Al Jazeera interviews one of Kim Jong Un's Swiss schoolmates: video of Un as a boy.
Adult Life
When Kim Jong Il suffered a heart attack and other health problems in 2008, he realized he would not be living for much longer. Before his health issues, he insisted that he would be alive for a couple more decades, at least (Lim Soo-Ho). This is why he did not appoint a successor until 2009. Up until Kim Jong Un was selected as his father's successor, there was not much known about him. The leader's children were mostly kept out of the public eye, so after Kim Jong Un was in line for the succession, many efforts were taken to legitimize his future rule through media and position promotion (Beck).
According to Jae-Cheong Lim, Kim Jong Un majored in artillery at Kim Il Sung Military Academy (560). Before his father's death, Kim Jong Un reportedly introduced a firework display which was run by the Computer Numerical Control unit, which is largely in charge of technology used to also fire missiles. This contribution by Kim Jong Un is attributed by the state media to his time at the military academy and deemed "expertise" in the field of artillery (Jae).
In 2009, the building of many housing projects and power plants were attributed to Kim Jong Un's influence (Ahn). Kim Jong Il also initiated missile tests into the Sea of Japan in 2009. These tests were acclaimed by the state media to also be due to Kim Jong Un's assistance (Jae). These actions were most likely done to display the potential power, intelligence, and strength of the future leader.
According to Jae-Cheong Lim, Kim Jong Un majored in artillery at Kim Il Sung Military Academy (560). Before his father's death, Kim Jong Un reportedly introduced a firework display which was run by the Computer Numerical Control unit, which is largely in charge of technology used to also fire missiles. This contribution by Kim Jong Un is attributed by the state media to his time at the military academy and deemed "expertise" in the field of artillery (Jae).
In 2009, the building of many housing projects and power plants were attributed to Kim Jong Un's influence (Ahn). Kim Jong Il also initiated missile tests into the Sea of Japan in 2009. These tests were acclaimed by the state media to also be due to Kim Jong Un's assistance (Jae). These actions were most likely done to display the potential power, intelligence, and strength of the future leader.
Assuming Leadership
Un mourning his father's death.
Kim Jong Un became the next leader of the DPRK on December 28, 2011, days after his father's death. The young leader only had about three years of experience and training from his father before his passing, contrary to the 14 years Kim Jong Il had before his father's death. The Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, expressed great adoration for the new leader:
"Standing in the vonguard of the Korean revolution at present is Kim Jong Un, Great Successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche and outstanding leader of our party and people." (Isozaki).
"Standing in the vonguard of the Korean revolution at present is Kim Jong Un, Great Successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche and outstanding leader of our party and people." (Isozaki).
Below: News On ABC reports and offers commentary on the new leadership of Kim Jong Un. Interviews w/ South Koreans:
In July of 2012, Korean state media confirmed that a young lady who had been seen with the young leader at events was indeed his wife, Ri So Ju. She is reported to have been a singer before she married Kim Jong Un. There is controversy over whether the couple were newly wed in 2012, or if they had already been married in 2010 or 2011 (Ramstand). Ri So Ju has been seen on many public occasions with the young leader, for example, at the site of an amusement park they were visiting in July. There were rumors of pregnancy in August of the same year, but there is no confirmation of a baby Kim just yet. At the same time, in December of 2012, at the one year anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death, it is said that Ri So Ju had somewhat of a baby bump. At the same time, there is still no actual confirmation that she is pregnant. However, the western media has been very interested in the young couple ever since she was confirmed by the state media to be his wife. It is acceptable to say at this point that they have been elevated to celebrity status.
Below: Korean Central Television's Documentary on Kim Jong Un. It's in Korean, but you can visually see the admiration for the leader in the documentary. This is essentially what regular Koreans who own televisions are seeing in regards to the leader: