Top Ten Things You Need To Know About North Korea" s New Dictator, Kim Jong Un
#1: He looks spookily like his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, the "father" of North Korea. Most North Koreans revere the grandfather, though he was a tyrant who locked the country into its present miserable trajectory. But things seemed better during his reign -- before the famines and social confusion during the tenure of Kim Jong Un's dad (Kim Jong Il).
#2: He's an author whose popular works include: the "Children of Revolutionary Martyrs Should Become Dependable Backbone of Songun Revolution That Gives Steady Continuity to Bloodline of Mangyongdae, Bloodline of Mt. Paektu;" and "Our Social Sciences Should Actively Contribute to Accomplishing the Cause of Modeling Whole Society on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism."
Kim is also the subject of much writing, including a Russian poem praised by North Korean media for its artful turns of phrase about the leader, such as: "He will avenge all the victims who fell down at the point of bayonets of Yankees, Samurais and the South Korean traitors."
#3: He's more charismatic than his dad, Kim Jong Il. The elder Kim is said to have given just one major public speech in more than fifteen years of rule. At least some North Koreans must have had misgivings about his puffy hairdo, large sunglasses and short, pudgy physique, not to mention public appearances that at times appeared less than inspiring, even to his sycophants. Nobody's suggesting Kim Jong Un has "Gangnam"-level charisma, but the beefy and animated leader compares favorably with his predecessor.
#4: He knows something about the outside world. It's believed he went to school in Switzerland for years. Classmates said he enjoyed playing basketball and was a major NBA fan.
#5: He likes to show off his cute wife, Ri Sol Ju, reported to be a former singer. His dad generally kept his wives and consorts out of sight. The current Mrs is a North Korean Jackie O' in comparison with those before her.
#6: Kim is "a great statesman of literary and military accomplishments, who is possessed of outstanding wisdom, distinguished leadership ability, matchless pluck and noble revolutionary comradeship." Just ask the (North) Korean Central News Agency.
#7: He's making (relatively) friendly comments about his regime's arch-rival South Korea and declaring North Korea must focus not just on weapons but also the economy. In his New Year's 2013 speech he called for an "all-out struggle" to improve the country's standard of living.
#8: He may talk about improving the civilian economy, but Kim is continuing the "Songun," or "Military First," Policy, along with other principles passed down from his father. Kim Jong Un may understand the outside better than his father and many of his current advisors, but he realizes it's the loyalty of the KPA (Korean People's Army) that will keep him in power -- and alive.
#9: He's young and a middle child. He's under 30, though there's dispute about his actual birthday (not unusual in North Korea; the government lied about the birthplace of his father). This makes him the youngest-known national leader in the world and a child prodigy by North Korean standards (his grandfather took over in his late 30s.) Some observers think this means fresh ideas and rapid change should be expected. As noted above, that may make more theoretical than practical sense to Kim, especially because he and the elite around him depend on the maintenance of a giant lie -- that the people of North Korea are much better off than those in the South. If liberalized economic and social policies ever allow the North Korean people to realize South Korea's population is dramatically better off, support for the Kim regime could be shaken. Students of family structure claim middle children are good negotiators and communicators who can think "outside the box" and point to Lincoln and JFK as examples. That may be true, but more important may be that Kim is young while most of the powerful elite are old; he will gain greater latitude as the old guard die off, so long as he can keep himself alive and on top.
#10: He's important. Theres an understandable temptation to joke about Pyongyangs leaders due to their sometimes preposterous behavior. But this style of government has its own logic, proven by the fact the Kim family remains in charge. The new Kim literally has in the sights of his dug-in artillery and rockets more than 100,000 Americans living in South Korea and Japan. He rules a nation with well-stoked anger toward America over past bombings of civilians; a nation developing missiles -- and not long after, if nothing changes, nuclear weapons -- able to strike the U.S. homeland. Meantime, North Korea has assisted Iran's missile and nuclear programs, including, it's believed, helping build signature North Korean underground facilities, vast and resistant to American air power.
The decisions of this young man on a tightrope have the potential to impact the lives of far more people than his own hapless citizenry.
PS His name is also spelled Kim Jeong Un, Kim Jong Eun and other ways. We prefer Kim Jong Un because that's how the North Koreans spell it.
#2: He's an author whose popular works include: the "Children of Revolutionary Martyrs Should Become Dependable Backbone of Songun Revolution That Gives Steady Continuity to Bloodline of Mangyongdae, Bloodline of Mt. Paektu;" and "Our Social Sciences Should Actively Contribute to Accomplishing the Cause of Modeling Whole Society on Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism."
Kim is also the subject of much writing, including a Russian poem praised by North Korean media for its artful turns of phrase about the leader, such as: "He will avenge all the victims who fell down at the point of bayonets of Yankees, Samurais and the South Korean traitors."
#3: He's more charismatic than his dad, Kim Jong Il. The elder Kim is said to have given just one major public speech in more than fifteen years of rule. At least some North Koreans must have had misgivings about his puffy hairdo, large sunglasses and short, pudgy physique, not to mention public appearances that at times appeared less than inspiring, even to his sycophants. Nobody's suggesting Kim Jong Un has "Gangnam"-level charisma, but the beefy and animated leader compares favorably with his predecessor.
#4: He knows something about the outside world. It's believed he went to school in Switzerland for years. Classmates said he enjoyed playing basketball and was a major NBA fan.
#5: He likes to show off his cute wife, Ri Sol Ju, reported to be a former singer. His dad generally kept his wives and consorts out of sight. The current Mrs is a North Korean Jackie O' in comparison with those before her.
#6: Kim is "a great statesman of literary and military accomplishments, who is possessed of outstanding wisdom, distinguished leadership ability, matchless pluck and noble revolutionary comradeship." Just ask the (North) Korean Central News Agency.
#7: He's making (relatively) friendly comments about his regime's arch-rival South Korea and declaring North Korea must focus not just on weapons but also the economy. In his New Year's 2013 speech he called for an "all-out struggle" to improve the country's standard of living.
#8: He may talk about improving the civilian economy, but Kim is continuing the "Songun," or "Military First," Policy, along with other principles passed down from his father. Kim Jong Un may understand the outside better than his father and many of his current advisors, but he realizes it's the loyalty of the KPA (Korean People's Army) that will keep him in power -- and alive.
#9: He's young and a middle child. He's under 30, though there's dispute about his actual birthday (not unusual in North Korea; the government lied about the birthplace of his father). This makes him the youngest-known national leader in the world and a child prodigy by North Korean standards (his grandfather took over in his late 30s.) Some observers think this means fresh ideas and rapid change should be expected. As noted above, that may make more theoretical than practical sense to Kim, especially because he and the elite around him depend on the maintenance of a giant lie -- that the people of North Korea are much better off than those in the South. If liberalized economic and social policies ever allow the North Korean people to realize South Korea's population is dramatically better off, support for the Kim regime could be shaken. Students of family structure claim middle children are good negotiators and communicators who can think "outside the box" and point to Lincoln and JFK as examples. That may be true, but more important may be that Kim is young while most of the powerful elite are old; he will gain greater latitude as the old guard die off, so long as he can keep himself alive and on top.
#10: He's important. Theres an understandable temptation to joke about Pyongyangs leaders due to their sometimes preposterous behavior. But this style of government has its own logic, proven by the fact the Kim family remains in charge. The new Kim literally has in the sights of his dug-in artillery and rockets more than 100,000 Americans living in South Korea and Japan. He rules a nation with well-stoked anger toward America over past bombings of civilians; a nation developing missiles -- and not long after, if nothing changes, nuclear weapons -- able to strike the U.S. homeland. Meantime, North Korea has assisted Iran's missile and nuclear programs, including, it's believed, helping build signature North Korean underground facilities, vast and resistant to American air power.
The decisions of this young man on a tightrope have the potential to impact the lives of far more people than his own hapless citizenry.
PS His name is also spelled Kim Jeong Un, Kim Jong Eun and other ways. We prefer Kim Jong Un because that's how the North Koreans spell it.
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