Kaesong 개성
—  Municipal City with special status  —
개성특급시
Korean transcription(s)
• Hangul	개성특급시
• Hanja	開城特級市
• McCune-Reischauer	Kaesŏng-T'ŭkkŭpsi
• Revised Romanization	Gaeseong-Teukgeupsi
Kaesong city center.
Nickname(s): Songdo (송도/松都)  (Korean) " City of Pines "
Note: Map shows boundaries of former Kaesŏng Directly Governed City.
Country	North Korea
Region	Haesŏ
Settled	c. 700 AD
Administrative divisions	24 dong, 3 ri
Area
• Total	1,309 km2 (505 sq mi)
Population (2008)
• Total	308,440
• Dialect	Seoul
Flower
Tree
Bird

Kaesŏng (Gaeseong; Korean pronunciation: [kɛsɔŋ]) is a city in North Hwanghae Province, southern North Korea (DPRK), a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty. The city is near Kaesŏng Industrial Region and it contains the remains of the Manwoldae palace. It was formally named Songdo while it was the ancient capital of Koryo. It prospered as a trade center that produced Korean ginseng, which is famous internationally. It is now the DPRK's light industry centre. It has a population of 308,440 as of 2008.^[1]

History[link]

The earliest archaeological signs of habitation in the Kaesong area date from the Neolithic Age. Artifacts such as Jeulmun pottery, stone ware, and stone axes have been excavated from Mount Osong and Kaesong Nasong (double-walled fortress of Kaesong). As Kaesong has been occupied by various states throughout centuries, its name has changed as well. It was realm of Mahan confederacy, and was referred to as Busogap during the rule of Goguryeo. Before the strength of Baekje was retreated to the southwest of Jungnyeong, Joryeong, and Asan Bay in 475, the area had been a part of Baekje for about 100 years. However, it became a territory of Silla since 555, the 16th year of King Jinheung and its name was changed to "Songak-gun" during the period. According to Samguk Sagi, when a castle was built in the site in 694, the third year of King Hyoso's reign, Kaesong was referred to as "Songak (송악; 松嶽)". Therefore, it is assumed that the name Songak had been used at least before the time.^[2]

Silla began to decline in late 9th century, and a period of rival warlords ensued. In 898, Kaesong fell under the hand of Gung Ye, the founder of his short-lived state, Later Goguryeo, and than subsequently became a part of Goryeo in 919 by its founder, Wang Geon. Wang Geon established the capital in the south of Songak, and incorporated Kaesong County into Songak under the name of "Gaeju". In 919, Kaesong became the national capital. In 960, the 11th year of King Gwangjong's reign, the city was renamed as Gaegyeong, and in 995, the 14th year of King Seongjong's reign, it was elevated as "Gaesong-bu". The Gaeseong-bu is a combined term of Songak-gun, and Gaesong-gun, which is different from the region of the pre-1945 Gaesong-ri, Seo-myeon, Kaepung-gun. In 1010, the first year of King Hyeonjong's reign, the palace and houses were almost burnt down during the Second Goryeo–Khitan War, so in 1018, Gaesong-bu was relegated for the "bu" system, and became to govern the three hyeon unites of Jeongju, Deoksu, and Gangeum.^[2] In the late 12th century, there was a period of instability in both the government and the countryside. A slave named Manjǒk (or spelled as Manjeok) (만적; 萬積) led a group of slaves who gathered outside Kaesong in 1198. The revolt plot was suppressed by Choe Chung-heon.^[3] When Yi Songgye overthrew the Koryo Dynasty in 1392 and established the Joseon Dynasty, he moved the Korean capital from Kaesŏng to Hanyang (modern-day Seoul) in 1394.^[2]

Kaesŏng remained a part of Gyonggi Province until the Korean War. In 1951, the city (which had been part of South Korea) came under North Korean control, and the part of Kyonggi Province that came to be occupied was organized into "Kaesŏng Region" (Kaesŏng Chigu; 개성 지구; 開城 地區). In 1955, Kaesŏng became a "Directly Governed City" (Kaesŏng Chikhalsi; 개성 직할시; 開城 直轄市). In 2002, Kaesŏng Industrial Region was formed from part of Kaesŏng. In 2003, the remaining part of Kaesŏng (excluding the Industrial Region) became part of North Hwanghae Province. The city is close to the Demilitarized Zone that divides North and South Korea. When Korea was partitioned at the 38th parallel after World War Two, Kaesong was on the southern side of the line (within the Republic of Korea). Thus Kaesong was the only city to change control from South to North Korea after the Korean War.^[2]

Geography[link]

Mountains of Kaesong

Located in the center of Korea, Kaesong is the southernmost city of North Korea. It is bordered by Kaepung, Changpung, Panmun, and Kumchon counties. Kanghwa Island of Incheon Municipality lies just south, beyond a narrow channel. It covers an area of 1,309 km², the urban district is surrounded by Mts. Songak (Songak-san; 송악산; 松嶽山) (489 m) and Pongmyong. The city center surrounds the much smaller Mt. Janam (103 m), on which is located the city's iconic Kim Il Sung statue.

In the northern part of Kaesong, the end of the Ahobiryŏng range creates the northernmost border of Kaesong City. This range consists of Mts. Chŏnma (757 m), Sŏnggŏ, Myoji (764 m), Suryong (716 m), Chesŏk (749 m), Hwajang (558 m), and Ogwan. With the exception of the mountainous northeastern region, however, most areas of Kaesong consist of low hills with the height less than 100 meters.^[4]

The Imjin River flows along the northeastern border line of the city and the Ryesong River (禮成江) (Ryeseong-gang; 례성강) (spelled in South Korea as Yeseong-gang; 예성강) runs along the western border to the mouth of the Han River. In addition to the two rivers, small and large rivers and streams such as Samich'ŏn, Wŏlamch'ŏn,, Chukbaech'ŏn, Kŭmsŏngch'ŏn and Sach'ŏn rivers drain into the Han. The river basin located in the southwest of Kaesong has spacious alluvial plains such as P'ungdŏkbŏl, Singwangbŏl, and Samsŏngbŏl.^[4]

The geology consists of the Proterozoic, Cenozoic, and Paleozoic strata and Mesozoic intrusive granite. The underground resources include gold, zinc, copper, fluorspar, limestone, granite, and kaolin. The soil comprises generally brown forest soil while the areas drained by Yesŏng, Imjin, and Han rivers consist of mostly alluvial and saline soil. The climate is generally warm and moderate, so the average annual temperature is around 10 ℃. The coldest month is January, with an average temperature of ―5.9℃ while the hottest month is August, with the average temperature of 24.7℃. The average annual rainfall is 1,300~1,400 millimeters. The duration of frost-free period is 180 days which is the longest in North Korea. The forest area takes up about 55 percentage of Kaesong, among which forests of pine trees form the 80 percentage. Various types of species inhabit in Kaesong, with 40 different species of mammal, and 250 birds.^[4]

Administrative divisions[link]

Before 2002, Kaesŏng Directly Governed City was divided into one city (Kaesŏng itself) and three counties; Changp'ung-gun, Kaep'ung-gun and P'anmun-gun. In 2003, P'anmun-gun and part of Kaesŏng-si were separated from Kaesŏng Directly Governed City and merged to form Kaesŏng Industrial Region. The remaining part of Kaesŏng joined North Hwanghae in 2002. Kaesong is currently divided into 24 administrative districts known as Dong, as wells as three villages ("ri").^[5]

Culture[link]

Landmarks[link]

The Koryo Museum

Koryo Songgyungwan University (Light Industry), Communist University and Art College are located in Kaesŏng. The Koryo Museum, housed in the city's old Confucian academy, contains many priceless Koryo arts and cultural relics (although many are copies, with the originals held in the vaults of the Korean Central History Museum in Pyongyang. As the former capital of the Koryo dynasty, the tombs of almost all of the Koryo kings are located in the area, though most are not accessible; the heavily reconstructed Hyollung Royal Tomb, belonging to the dynasty's founder, Taejo, is located to the west of the city in Kaepung-gun. Other notable tombs include those of kings Hyejong (the Sollung Royal Tomb), Kyongjong (Yongrung), Songjong (Kangrung), Hyonjong (Sollung), Munjong (Kyongrung), and Kongmin (Hyonjongrung). Kaesong also contains north Korea's only two royal tombs dating to the Joseon dynasty; the Hurung Royal Tomb, belonging to the dynasty's second king, Jongjong, and the Cherung Royal Tomb, containing the remains of Queen Sinui, wife of the dynasty's founder, Yi Songgye. The two final tombs, despite belonging to members of the Joseon royal family, were excluded from the World Heritage listed "Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty because of their location in North Korea.

Cuisine[link]

A meal for visitors at Tongil restaurant, Kaesong.

As Kaesong was the capital of Goryeo with almost 500 years of rule, its culinary culture was highly developed. The luxurious style of Kaesong cuisine is frequently compared with those of Seoul cuisine and Jeolla cuisine.^[6] Kaesong cuisine was traditionally treated as part of Gyeonggi cuisine, since Kaesong belonged to Gyeonggi province until 1950. However, it has been incorporated into the administration of North Korea after the Korean War while Gyeonggi province is administered by South Korea. Bossam kimchi (wrapped kimchi), pyeonsu (summer mandu in square shape),^[7] sinseollo (royal casserole), seolleongtang (beef tripe soup), chueotang (mudfish soup), joraengi tteokguk (rice cake soup), umegi (tteok covered with syrup), and gyeongdan (ball-shaped tteok) are representative Kaesong dishes. Umegi, also called Kaesong juak is a holiday food of Kaesong, and known for the delicate style with the sweet and nutty taste. The dish is made by kneading a mixture of rice flour and glutinous rice flour with warm water, by shaping the dough into balls with either one pine nut or jujube, by frying and coating them with syrup.^[6][8]

Economy[link]

With its topography, climate, soil conditions, Kaesong has advantageous natural conditions for agricultural productions. The water supply system is established with 18 reservoirs including Songdo Reservoir built for agricultural advances and about 150 pumping stations as well as hundreds of dammed pools. The cultivated land accounts for the 27 percentage of Kaesong, and rice, maize, soybeans, wheat, and barley are the main crops. Among them, rice production accounts for the 60 percentage of the whole grain production, and Kaepung and Panmun are the two primary regions, producing more than 70 percentage of the rice production. In addition, vegetable and fruit cultivation including peach, apple and persimmon, livestock farming, and sericulture are active. Peach is a local specialty of Kaesong, and especially white peach is famous, so the production of the latter accounts for more than 25 percentage of the gross fruit production. The counties of Kaepung-gun and Panmun-gun are also known for the good quality of Korean ginseng called Goryeo Insam, and the active ginseng cultivation. The processing and exporting the product take place around the counties.^[9]

Kaesŏng is DPRK’s light industry centre. The urban district is equipped with a jewel processing factory, ginseng processing factory and an embroidery factory.^{[citation needed]} Since the Goryeo period, Kaesong had been a center of handcrafts such as Goryeo porcelain, and commerce while the textile industry has been the primary business along with the production of grocery goods, daily general goods, and ginseng products after the division into the two states. The food processing industry ranks the right next to the textile business, mainly producing jang (soybean-based condiments), oil, canned foods, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and others. In addition, resin, timber, handicrafts, pottery, shoes, school supplies, musical instruments, and glass are produced. Kaesong has factories for producing agricultural machines and tractor repair. As of 2002, the city had the headquarters of the Central Bank of North Korea and branches in Kapung and Panmun counties as financial institutions.^[9]

Tourism[link]

A side street in Kaesong

Kaesong is a major tourist destination for foreign visitors to North Korea, and one of only two locations in North Korea accessible from the south. Many Koryo-era sites are located in Kaesong, including the Kaesong Namdaemun gate, the Songgyungwan Confucian Academy, now the Koryo Museum, and the Sonjuk Bride and Pyochung Pavilion. Less-known sites include Kwandok Pavilion, the ruined Koryo-era Manwoldae Palace, Anhwa Temple, Sungyang Hall, Mokchong Hall, and the Kaesong Chomsongdae (개성 첨성대; 開城 瞻星臺) observatory. Located to the west of the city are the tombs of Kings Kongmin and Wanggon; twenty-four km north of Kaesong is Taehungsan Fortress, a Koguryo satellite fortress built to protect Pyongyang. This castle contains the Kwanum and Taehung Temples. The famous Pakyon Falls are located in the area, as well as a large, recently discovered Koryo-dynasty Buddha carved into the stone on Mt. Chonma. Most tourists to Kaesong are put in the traditional Kaesong Folk Hotel, housed in 19 traditional hanok courtyard houses.

Education[link]

Seonggyungwan, one kilometer north of Seonjukgyo bridge is a representative traditional educational institution in Kaesong. It was founded in the neighborhood of Gukja-dong with the name of "Gukjagam (국자감; 國子監)" in 992 during the reign of King Seongjong of Goryeo, which ignited Confucian studies in Korea. Its name was changed to Gukhak (국학; 國學) in the reign of King Chungnyeol, and was referred to as Seonggyungwan. In 1367, the 16th year of King Gongmin's reign, the structure was revamped and Yi Saek, and Jeong Mong-ju, Confucian scholars of the time taught there as professors. In 1592, the 25th year of King Seonjo's reign during the Joseon Dynasty, Kim Yuk reconstructed the institution which was burned down by the Japanese during the Imjin War.^[2]

The first modern school that appeared in Kaesong was Hanyeong Seowon (한영서원; 韓英書院), or Anglo-Korean School established by Yun Chi-ho in 1906, with the help of American missionary Mr. Wasson, and Mr. Candler. It obtained authorization as Songdo High School from Governor-General of Korea in 1917, and expanded to the Songdo School Foundation in 1950 with the accreditation for the establishment of Songdo Middle School and Songdo College of Pharmacy, the latter of which produced 40 graduates. However, when the Korean War occurred, the foundation was moved to Incheon, and reconstructed Songdo Middle and High Schools in 1953 which still exist to the present.^[2]

As of 2002, Kaesong had 80 each public elementary schools which scattered in each unit of ri (village), 60 middle-high schools, 3 colleges and 3 universities such as Songdo University of Politics, Kaesong University of Education, and Kaesong Communist University.^[10]

Transportation[link]

Kaesŏng is connected to Pyongyang and other cities by rail and highways. The city's main railway station is Kaesong Station, which is on the Pyongbu Line.

Sister Cities[link]

•  Peru (Cusco) (1990)
•  Nepal (Kathmandu) (1992)

People born in Kaesong[link]

• Uichon (1055–1191), founder of the Chontae Buddhist sect
• Choe Chung-hon (1149–1219), a military ruler of Korea during the Koryo Dynasty
• Choe U (died 1249), general of the Koryo Dynasty, son of Choe Chung-Hon
• Hwang Hui (1363–1452), prime minister of the Choson Dynasty
• Hwang Jin-i (1515–1550), famous Kisaeng and poet
• K. W. Lee (1928-), American journalist
• Won Pyong Oh (1929-), zoologist

References[link]

External links[link]

Korea portal

• Kaesong travel guide from Wikitravel
• German website about the City of Kaesong
• BBC News North Korea opens hidden city to tourists

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gaeseong

Coordinates: 37°58′N 126°33′E / 37.967°N 126.55°E / 37.967; 126.55

Kim Jong-un 김정은 金正恩
Supreme Leader of North Korea
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 December 2011
Premier	Choe Yong-rim
Preceded by	Kim Jong-il
First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 April 2012
Deputy	Kim Yong-nam Choe Yong-rim Choe Ryong-hae Ri Yong-ho
Preceded by	Kim Jong-il (General Secretary)
First Chairman of the National Defence Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office 13 April 2012
Deputy	Kim Yong-Chun Ri Yong-mu Jang Song-thaek O Kuk-ryol
Preceded by	Kim Jong-il (Chairman)
Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 December 2011[1]
Preceded by	Kim Jong-il
Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 April 2012 Acting: 17 December 2011 – 11 April 2012
Deputy	Choe Ryong-hae Ri Yong-ho
Preceded by	Kim Jong-il
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
In office 28 September 2010 – 11 April 2012 Serving with Ri Yong-ho
Leader	Kim Jong-il
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Choe Ryong-hae Ri Yong-ho
Personal details
Born	8 January 1983 or 1984[2] Pyongyang, North Korea
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
Alma mater	Kim Il-sung University Kim Il-sung Military University
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	North Korea
Years of service	2010–present
Rank	General
Commands	Supreme Commander

Kim Jong-un^[4] also romanised as Kim Jong-eun or Kim Jung-eun,^[5] (born 8 January 1983 or 1984),^[6] is the current supreme leader of North Korea. He has held the titles of the First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, and also a presidium member of the Central Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He was officially declared the supreme leader following the state funeral for his father, Kim Jong-il on 28 December 2011.^[7] He is the third and youngest son of his deceased predecessor Kim Jong-il and his consort Ko Young-hee.^[8] From late 2010, Kim Jong-un was viewed as heir apparent to the leadership of the nation, and following his father's death, he was announced as the "Great Successor" by North Korean state television.^[9] At Kim Jong-il's memorial service, North Korean Chairman of Congress Kim Yong-nam declared that "Respected Comrade Kim Jong-un is our party, military and country’s supreme leader who inherits great comrade Kim Jong-il’s ideology, leadership, character, virtues, grit and courage".^[10] On 30 December 2011 the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea formally appointed Kim as the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.^[1] On 11 April 2012, the 4th Party Conference elected him to the newly-created post of First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

He is a Daejang in the Korean People's Army, a military rank equivalent to that of a general.^[11] Kim is said to have studied computer science privately in North Korea.^[12] He obtained two degrees, one in physics at Kim Il Sung University and another at the Kim Il Sung Military Academy.^[13][14] At 28 years of age, he is the world's youngest head of state.

Early life[link]

Jong-un is thought to have been born in 1983 or early 1984.^[6] Intelligence sources give his date of birth as 8 January 1983.^[15]

According to reports first published in Japanese newspapers, he went to school in Switzerland near Bern. First reports claimed he attended the private English-language “International School” in Gümligen near Bern under the name “Chol-pak” or “Pak-chol” from 1993 until 1998.^[16][17][18] He was described as shy, a good student who got along well with his classmates and was a basketball fan.^[19] He was chaperoned by an older student who was thought to be his bodyguard.^[20]

Later it was reported that Kim Jong-un attended the public school “Liebefeld Steinhölzli” in Köniz near Bern under the name “Pak-un” or “Un-pak” from 1998 until 2000 as the son of an employee of the Embassy of North Korea. Authorities of Köniz confirmed that a student from North Korea, registered as the son of a member of the Embassy attended the school from August 1998 till fall 2000, but were unable to give details about his identity. Pak-un first attended a special class for foreign language children and later attended the regular classes of the 6th, 7th, 8th and part of the final 9th year, leaving the school abruptly in fall 2000. He was described as a well integrated good and ambitious student who liked to play basketball.^[21] However, his grades and attendance rating are reported to have been poor.^[22][23] The ambassador of North Korea in Switzerland, Ri Tcheul, had a close relationship with him and acted as a mentor.^[24] One of Pak-un's classmates told reporters that he had told him that he was the son of the leader of North Korea.^[25][26] According to some reports, Jong-un was described by classmates as a shy child who was awkward with girls, indifferent to political issues but distinguished himself in sports, and had a fascination with the American National Basketball Association and Michael Jordan. One friend claimed that he had been shown pictures of Pak-un with Kobe Bryant and Toni Kukoč taken at an unknown location.^[27]

In April 2012, new documents came to light indicating that Kim Jong-un had lived in Switzerland since 1991 or 1992, earlier than previously thought.^[28]

The Laboratory of Anatomic Anthropology at the University of Lyon, France, after comparing the picture of the boy Pak-un, taken at the school “Liebefeld Steinhölzli” in 1999 with a picture of Kim Jong-un from 2012 came to the conclusion that the two faces show a conformity of 95 percent. The head of the institute, Raoul Perrot, a forensic anthropologist, considers it most likely that the two pictures show the same person.^[29][30]

It is believed that the student at the Gümligen “International School” was not Kim Jong-un but his elder brother Kim Jong-chol. It is not known whether the student known as Pak-un in “Liebefeld Steinhölzli” lived in Switzerland prior to 1998.^[31] All the children of Kim Jong-il are said to have lived in Switzerland, as well as the mother of the two youngest sons, who lived in Geneva for some time. The Kim clan is also said to organise family meetings in Switzerland at Lake Geneva and Interlaken.^[24]

Most analysts agree that Kim Jong-un attended Kim Il-sung University, a leading officer-training school in Pyongyang from 2002 to 2007.^[32]

For many years, only one confirmed photograph of him was known outside North Korea, apparently taken in the mid-1990s, when he was eleven.^[33] Occasional other supposed images of him surfaced but were often disputed.^{[34][35][36][37]} It was only in June 2010, shortly before he was given official posts and publicly introduced to the North Korean people, that more pictures were released of Kim, taken when he was attending school in Switzerland.^[38][39] The first official image of him as an adult was a group photograph released on 30 September 2010, at the end of the party conference that effectively anointed him, in which he is seated in the front row, two places from his father. This was followed by newsreel footage of him attending the conference.^[40]

Succession[link]

Pre-2010 Party Conference speculation[link]

His eldest half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, had been the favourite to succeed, but reportedly fell out of favour after 2001, when he was caught attempting to enter Japan on a fake passport to visit Tokyo Disneyland.^[41]

Kim Jong-il's former personal chef, Kenji Fujimoto, revealed details regarding Kim Jong-un, with whom he shared a good relationship,^[42] stating that he was favoured to be his father's successor. Fujimoto also claimed that Jong-un was favored by his father over his elder brother, Kim Jong-chul, reasoning that Jong-chul is too feminine in character, while Jong-un is "exactly like his father".^[43] Furthermore Fujimoto stated that "If power is to be handed over then Jong-un is the best for it. He has superb physical gifts, is a big drinker and never admits defeat." Also according to Fujimoto, Jong-un smokes Yves Saint Laurent cigarettes and loves Johnnie Walker whiskey and has a Mercedes 600 Sedan.^[44] When Jong-un was 18, Fujimoto described an episode where Jong-un questioned his lavish lifestyle and asked, "We are here, playing basketball, riding horses, riding Jet Skis, having fun together. But what of the lives of the average people?"^[43] On 15 January 2009 the South Korean news agency, Yonhap, reported that Kim Jong-il appointed Kim Jong-un to be his successor.^[41][45]

On 8 March 2009, the BBC reported rumors that Kim Jong-un appeared on the ballot for elections to the Supreme People's Assembly, the rubber stamp parliament of North Korea.^[46] Subsequent reports indicate that his name did not appear on the list of lawmakers,^[47] however he was later elevated to a mid-level position in the National Defense Commission, which is a branch of the North Korean military.^[48] Reports have also suggested that he is a diabetic and suffers from hypertension.^[49][50]

From 2009, it was understood by foreign diplomatic services that Kim was to succeed his father Kim Jong-il as the head of the Korean Workers' Party and de-facto leader of North Korea.^[51] He has been named "Yŏngmyŏng-han Tongji" (영명한 동지), which loosely translates to "Brilliant Comrade".^[52] His father had also asked embassy staff abroad to pledge loyalty to his son.^[50] There have also been reports that citizens in North Korea have been encouraged to sing a newly composed "song of praise" to Kim Jong-un, in a similar fashion to that of praise songs relating to Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung.^[53] Later in June, Kim was reported to have visited China secretly to "present himself" to the Chinese leadership, who later warned against North Korea conducting another nuclear test.^[54] The Chinese Foreign Ministry has strongly denied that this visit occurred.^[55][56]

North Korea was later reported to have backed the succession plan, after Kim Jong-il suspended a propaganda campaign to promote his youngest son.^[57] His birthday has since become a national holiday, celebrated on 8 January, according to a report by a South Korean website.^[58] He was expected to be named on 28 September 2010 as successor to his father as leader of North Korea.^[59][60][61]

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter visited China in early September 2010, and discussed the issue of North Korean leadership succession with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. According to Carter, Kim Jong-il had said to Wen that Kim Jong-un's prospective promotion to paramount leader of North Korea was "a false rumor from the West".^[62]

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission[link]

Kim Jong-un was made a Daejang, the equivalent of General in the United States,^[11] on 27 September 2010, a day ahead of a rare Workers' Party of Korea conference in Pyongyang, the first time North Korean media had mentioned him by name and despite his having no previous military experience.^[63][64][65] Despite the promotion, no further details, including verifiable portraits of Kim, were released.^[66] On 28 September 2010 he was named vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and appointed to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, in an apparent nod to become the successor to Kim Jong-il.^[67]

On 10 October 2010, alongside his father the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un attended the ruling Workers' Party's 65th anniversary celebration. This was seen as fully confirming his position as the next leader of the Workers' Party. Unprecedented international press access was granted to the event, further indicating the importance of Kim Jong-un's presence.^[68] In January 2011, the regime began purging around 200 proteges of both Jong-un's uncle-in-law Jang Sung-taek and O Kuk-ryol, the vice chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, by either detention or execution to further prevent either man from rivaling Jong-un.^[69] In the following months, Kim Jong-un was given more and more prominence as he accompanied Kim Jong-il during several "guidance tours" and received gifts from foreign delegations and personages, an honour traditionally awarded only to the living supreme leader. He was also listed second only to Kim Jong-il himself in the funeral committee for Jo Myong-rok.

After Kim Jong-il's death[link]

On 17 December 2011, Kim Jong-il died. Despite the elder Kim's plans, it was not immediately clear after his death whether Jong-un would in fact take full power, and what his exact role in a new government would be.^[70] Some analysts had predicted that when Kim Jong-il died, Jang Sung-taek would act as regent, as Jong-un is too inexperienced to immediately lead the country.^[71] On 25 December 2011, North Korean television showed Jang Sung-taek in the uniform of a general in a sign of his growing sway after the death of Kim Jong-il. A Seoul official familiar with North Korea affairs said it was the first time Jang has been shown on state television in a military uniform. His appearance suggests that Jang has secured a key role in the North's powerful military, which has pledged its allegiance to Kim Jong-un.^[72]

The cult of personality around Kim Jong-un has been stepped up following his father's death. He was hailed as the "great successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche", "outstanding leader of the party, army and people",^[73] "respected comrade who is identical to Supreme Commander Kim Jong-il",^[74] and chairman of the Kim Jong-il funeral committee. The Korean Central News Agency described Kim Jong-un as "a great person born of heaven", a propaganda term only his father and grandfather had enjoyed,^[75] while the ruling Workers' Party said in an editorial: "We vow with bleeding tears to call Kim Jong-un our supreme commander, our leader."^[76]

He was publicly declared Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army on 24 December 2011^[77] and formally appointed to the position on 30 December when the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party "courteously proclaimed that the dear respected Kim Jong Un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, assumed the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army".^[1]

On 26 December 2011, the leading North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun announced that Kim Jong-un has been acting as chairman of the Central Military Commission,^[78] and supreme leader of the country, following his father's demise.^[79]

On 9 January, a large rally was held by Armed Forces in front of Kumsusan Memorial Palace to honor Kim Jong-un and demonstrate loyalty.^[80]

On 27 March, Kim was elected to the Fourth Conference of the Workers' Party of Korea, that elected him First Secretary, a newly-made position, on 11 April. This position replaced the post of General Secretary, which was awarded "eternally" to Kim Jong-il. At the conference, Kim Jong-un also took his father's seats as Politburo Presidium member and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.^[81] In a speech made prior to the Conference, Kim Jong-un declared that "Imbuing the whole society with Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism is the highest programme of our Party".

On 13 April, the 5th Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly appointed him First Chairman of the National Defence Commission.

On 15 April, during a military parade to commemorate Kim Il-sung's centenary, he made his first public speech.^[82]

Officially, Kim Jong-un is part of a triumvirate heading the executive branch of the North Korean government along with Premier Choe Yong-rim and parliament chairman Kim Yong-nam (no relation). Each nominally holds powers equivalent to a third of a president's powers in most other presidential systems. Kim Jong-un commands the armed forces, Choe Yong-rim heads the government and Kim Yong-nam handles foreign relations. In practice, however, it is generally understood that Kim Jong-un, like his father before him, exercises absolute control over the government and the country.

Responsibility for human rights violations[link]

Many reports indicate that the human rights violations under the leadership of Kim Jong-il^[83] are continued by Kim Jong-un,^[84] ordering to kill defectors,^[85] conducting public executions^[86] and sending people to political prison camps.^[87] It is assumed that he was involved in the bombardment of Yeonpyeong^[88] and the Cheonan sinking^[89] to strengthen his military credentials and facilitate a successful transition of power from his father.^[90]

Name[link]

Kim was formerly known as Kim Jong-woon or Kim Jung-woon.^[49] His name was first reported as 김정운 (Hanja: 金正雲; lit. righteous cloud), possibly an error in transliterating the name from Japanese to Korean, as the Japanese language does not distinguish between 운 (un) and 은 (eun). The initial source of his name was Kim Jong-il's former personal chef, known by the pen name Kenji Fujimoto, who was among the few who had access to information about Kim's household from inside the government. Chinese media, however, have named him as 김정은 (Hanja: 金正恩; lit. righteous benevolence).

Ancestry[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• People in DPRK news
• North Korea's Young Leader on Show – video report by The New York Times
• NSA Archive Kim Jong-Il: The “Great Successor”

v t e Heads of the Workers' Party of Korea Chairmen Kim Tu-bong (1946–1949) Kim Il-sung (1949–1966) General Secretaries Kim Il-sung (1966–1994) vacant (1994–1997) Kim Jong-il (1997–2011) First Secretary Kim Jong-un (2012–)