The only known picture of Kim Jong-un
With North Korea once again in the spotlight; the eyes of the world turn towards the introverted nation and try to gaze through the fog of secrecy that surrounds it. Fearing outside influence and interference; North Korea is careful to let as little information about itself be revealed as possible, and that goes doubly for information on the military and ruling family. Kim Jong-il, the ‘Dear Leader’, keeps his nation on a tight reign and even those within the country know little about his plans and ambitions. As he approaches seventy however, he has had a long life in which to be studied and so a lot of information has been gathered on him. Many different profiles of him have been built up and his ‘official biography’ reveals more of the secretive man’s life, even if you do have to read between the lines.
Though we know much about Kim Jong-il, very little is known about the man who is set to replace the ageing ruler, we do not even know what he looks like. It is commonly acknowledged that his youngest son, Kim Jong-un , has been his chosen heir ever since his elder son, Kim Jong-un’s half-brother, was found using a fake passport to try to visit Japan’s Disney Land. Kim Jong-un has also been reported as his fathers favourite son, and the one most alike to him, by a palace chef that escaped the country and wrote a book on the family.
Kim Jong-un’s life is so carefully guarded that we are unsure of even in which year he was born, although we are certain it was January 8th in either 1982 or 1983. His mother was Ko Young-hee (Ko Yong-hui), a dancer at Mansudae Art Troupe in Pyongyang and the second mistress of Kim Jong-il. She was said to be his fathers favourite consort and was much-loved by him, a love that she passed on to her son. She nicknamed him her young child the ‘Morning Star King’
He is said to have attended an international school in Switzerland, under a false identity, and so it is thought that he has a good grasp of English, German and French. Despite this he was carefully segregated from his classmates as much as was possible. His meals were taken with the North Korean ambassador to Switzerland and he was returned home during school breaks. Around this time the only known photograph of him was taken.
After his school life very little is heard of the young man, although rumours of ill-health and a liking for basketball have been leaked out, until he appears on the ballot for elections to the Peoples Assembly in 2009 and was given a position in the National Defence Commission. Later that year it became widely reported that he was going to be the next leader of North Korea. Songs were written in his honour, staff abroad were asked to pledge allegiance to him and his birthday became a national holiday.
Should Kim Jong-il’s health deteriorate further or faster, this unknown man may soon be the leader of the 4th largest military in the world, a military that may contain nuclear weapons. Kim Jong-un coming into power could have serious consequences on the whole region. It could mean civil war in North Korea as other factions try to assume power. His early European schooling could mean that North Korea becomes a more open country and opens itself up to the outside. It may cause further tensions between the North and South leading to another war. Possibly he may just continue like his father, keeping North Korea segregated from outside influences. Whatever his rule brings, the transference of power will have the world peering in, hoping to get a glimpse of this secretive and powerful nation, and the man who leads it.
