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Homesteader shooting hawks with a Krag-Jørgensen bolt-action rifle, 1940

Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman. Shooting can take place in a shooting range or in the field in hunting, in shooting sports or in combat.

Technique and safety considerations[link]

This section requires expansion.

This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (September 2011)

Shooting technique differs depending on factors like the type of firearm used (from a handgun to a sniper rifle), the distance to and nature of the target, the required precision and the available time. Breathing and position play an important role when handling a handgun or a rifle. Some shooting sports, such as IPSC shooting, make a sport of combat style shooting. The prone position, the kneeling position and the standing position offer different amounts of support for the shooter. Holding the gun sideways, as is sometimes seen in movies and on television, is poor gun handling; it makes the weapon likely to jam as any ejected case may fail to leave the weapon completely.

The utmost consideration for many shooters is gun safety. Like many activities such as mountain climbing, skiing, or sky-diving, there is an element of danger involved. And especially here, this danger demands a sober understanding and respect for firearms and the specific rules for the safe handling of them. This is compounded by the fact that the danger can easily extend beyond the participants—a stray bullet can injure or kill people other than those actually firing or handling the arms involved. At public ranges, the safety of all participants depends on the knowledge of everyone at the range.

Practical uses[link]

This section requires expansion.

Shooting is used for hunting upland game birds such as grouse or pheasant, rabbits, culling, deer hunting or other wild game animals, or shooting pest animals. Sometimes "shooting" refers to the hunting activity itself.

Shooting is also used in warfare, self-defense, crime, and law enforcement. Duels were sometimes held using guns. Shooting without a target has applications such as celebratory gunfire, 21-gun salute or firing starting pistols, incapable of releasing bullets.

Entertainment shooting[link]

Because shooting is an activity enjoyed not only by enthusiasts that do not own their own equipment or live in areas where firearms use is heavily regulated, an emerging solution is the entertainment shooting industry. For many years clay shooting with shotguns has been the primary entertainment shooting offering. Now, some shooting ranges in large cities, like The Gun Store in Las Vegas, rent machine guns to customers. Jackson Hole Shooting Experience in Wyoming is a pioneer in the luxury entertainment shooting industry offering their Multi-Gun Shooting Experience in Wyoming (shootinjh.com in which a shooting instructor provides personal coaching as clients shoot dozens of rifles and handguns. Other luxury offerings are available in New York and Dubai. The NRA has a facility in Raton NM (Whittington Center) that offers introductory shooting opportunities.

Competitive shooting[link]

Marksmanship has inspired competition, and in several countries rifle clubs started to form in the 19th century. Soon international shooting events evolved, including shooting at the Summer Olympics (from 1896) and World Championships (from 1897). The International Shooting Sport Federation still administers Olympic and non-Olympic rifle, pistol, shotgun and running target shooting competitions, although there is also a large number of national and international shooting sports controlled by unrelated organizations.

Shooting supplies[link]

Government legislation in most countries requires shooters to have some form of shooting licence, and firearms are typically only available from registered firearms dealers.

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shooting

• Gun politics
• History of Firearms
• Wikibooks:Marksmanship
• Clay Pigeon Shooting

Red Jacket from an 1835 lithograph by Henry Corbould, after a painting by Charles Bird King, printed by Charles Joseph Hullmandel. Published in History of the Indian Tribes of North America.

Red Jacket (known as Otetiani in his youth and Sagoyewatha Sa-go-ye-wa-tha after 1780) (c. 1750–January 20, 1830) was a Native American Seneca orator and chief of the Wolf clan.^[1] He negotiated on behalf of his nation with the new United States after the American Revolutionary War, when the Seneca as British allies were forced to cede much land, and signed the Treaty of Canandaigua. He helped secure some Seneca territory in New York state. His talk on "Religion for the White Man and the Red" (1805) has been preserved as an example of his great oratorical style.

Life[link]

Red Jacket's birthplace has long been a matter of debate. Some historians claim he was born at the Old Seneca Castle near present-day Geneva, New York, near the foot of Seneca Lake.^[2] Others believe he was born near Cayuga Lake and present-day Canoga,^[3] while others place his birth south of Branchport, on Keuka Lake near the mouth of Basswood Creek.^[4][5] It is known that he spent much of his youth at Basswood Creek, and his mother was buried there after her death.

Red Jacket lived much of his adult life in Seneca territory in the Genesee River Valley. He and the Mohawk chief Joseph Brant were bitter enemies and rivals, although they often met together at the Iroquois Confederacy's Longhouse. During the American Revolutionary War, when both Iroquois nations were allies of the British, Brant contemptuously referred to Red Jacket as "cow killer", alleging that at the Battle of Newtown in 1779, Red Jacket killed a cow and used the blood to claim he had killed an American rebel.^[6]

President's House, Philadelphia. Red Jacket met with George Washington, and later John Adams, in the presidential mansion in Philadelphia, then the temporary national capital.

Red Jacket became famous as an orator, speaking for the rights of his people. He played a prominent role in negotiations with the new United States federal government after the war. In 1792 he led a delegation of 50 people to Philadelphia. The US president George Washington presented him with a special "peace medal", a large oval of silver plate engraved with an image of Washington on the right-hand side shaking Red Jacket's hand; below was inscribed "George Washington", "Red Jacket", and "1792". Red Jacket wore this medal on his chest in every portrait painted of him. (Today the medal is held in the collection of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.^[7]) In 1794, Red Jacket was a signatory, along with Cornplanter and fifty other Iroquois leaders, of the Treaty of Canandaigua by which they were forced to cede much of their land.^[8] It confirmed peace with the United States, as well as the boundaries of the postwar the Phelps and Gorham Purchase (1788) of most of the Seneca land east of the Genesee River in western New York.

The Publick Universal Friend and her Philadelphia Society of Friends were the first settlers region in 1790. Despite the pillaging of the Native River-Settlement in Ah-Wa-Ga Owego, New York, by generals Clinton & Sullivan, the Society made peace with the then wary Seneca tribe of the Iroquois. Most of the Seneca tribe, including Red Jacket, recognised the universal FRIEND as Chieftain. The Seneca Tribe made peace within the Finger Lakes but experienced hardship in the Genesee Region and other parts of Western New York.^[9]

In 1797, by the Treaty of Big Tree, Robert Morris purchased rights from the Seneca for $100,000 to some lands west of Genesee River. (This area is present-day Geneseo in Livingston County). Red Jacket had tried to prevent the sale but, not able to convince the other chiefs, he gave up his opposition. As often occurred, Morris used gifts of liquor to the Seneca men and trinkets to the women to "grease" the sale.^{[citation needed]} Morris had previously purchased the land from Massachusetts, subject to the Indian title, then sold it to the Holland Land Company for speculative development. He retained only the Morris Reserve, an estate near present-day Rochester. During the negotiations, Brant told an insulting story about Red Jacket, but Cornplanter intervened and prevented the leader from attacking and killing Brant.^[10]

Monument at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Red Jacket took his name, one of several he used, for a highly favored embroidered coat given to him by the British for his wartime services.^[11] The Seneca were allied with the British Crown during the American Revolution, both because of long trading relationships and in the hope they could limit colonial encroachment on their territory. After their ally lost, the Seneca were forced to cede much of their territory. In the War of 1812, Red Jacket supported the American side.^[12]

His later adult name, Segoyewatha, which roughly translates as "he keeps them awake", was given by the Seneca about 1780 in recognition of his oratory skill. When in 1805 Mr. Cram, a New England missionary, asked to do mission work among the Seneca, Red Jacket responded expressing how the Seneca had suffered at the hands of Europeans. His "Religion for the White Man and the Red" further expressed his profound belief that Native American religion was fitting and sufficient for Seneca and Native American culture. It has been documented and preserved as one of the best examples of oratory.^[13]

Red Jacket developed a problem with alcohol and deeply regretted having taken his first drink (see following quote). Asked if he had children, Red Jacket, who had lost most of his offspring to illness, said:

"Red Jacket was once a great man, and in favor with the Great Spirit. He was a lofty pine among the smaller trees of the forest. But, after years of glory, he degraded himself by drinking the firewater of the white man. The Great Spirit has looked upon him in anger, and his lightning has stripped the pine of its branches."^[14]

In his later years, Segoyewatha lived in Buffalo, New York. On his death, his remains were buried in an Indian cemetery. In 1876, William C. Bryant presented a plan to the Council of the Seneca Nation to rebury Red Jacket's remains in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo.^[15] This was carried out on October 9, 1884. The proceedings, with papers by Horatio Hale, General Ely S. Parker, and others, were published (Buffalo, 1884).^[12]

According to Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, "Several portraits were made of him. George Catlin painted him twice, Henry Inman once, and Robert W. Weir did his portrait in 1828, when Red Jacket was on a visit to New York City. Fitz-Greene Halleck has celebrated him in song."^[12]

Speech to the U.S. Senate[link]

This famous speech, also known as his talk on “Religion for the White Man and the Red”, is one example of his great skill as an orator. This speech came about in 1805 as a response to Jacob Cram, a New England missionary. On this day, the two differing sides met in Buffalo Creek, New York, to further discuss their religious beliefs. After meeting with the leaders of the Seneca delegation, Red Jacket provided a thought-out response representing his people as a whole. His address took the words of Cram, “There is but one religion, and but one way to serve God, and if you do not embrace the right way, you cannot be happy hereafter”, and peacefully argued each side should have the right to worship the religion that suits them best.

Clashing cultures[link]

Red Jacket’s “Speech to the U.S. Senate,” came about at a trying time for the Iroquois of present-day New York State. They were coping with the loss of their forefathers’ lands, as a result of the constant increase of European immigrants. As their numbers grew, the two peoples' opposing cultures became more and more apparent. This speech provides clear examples of how these cultures clashed on the subject of religious beliefs.

From the beginning Red Jacket made it clear that he and his people would not change their religious stance based on the white man’s word. He began, “It was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet together this day. He orders all things, and has given us a fine day for our Council.” He proceeded to count all the blessings on the day, attributing them to the Great Spirit. “For all these favors we thank the Great Spirit, and Him only.”

Red Jacket’s response argued that his peoples’ beliefs were very like those of the missionary, differing only in the names of their omnipresent and almighty creator. Their creation stories were the same. “There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. Their seats extended from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food .... He had caused the earth to produce corn for bread. All this He had done for his red children, because He loved them.” The difference between the faiths involved not whether an almighty creator existed, but which faith was the truth and deserved to be followed.

Red Jacket's oration raised questions as to the legitimacy of the white man’s beliefs. “You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to his mind, and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right and we are lost.” Iroquois "separatist" belief held that there is not necessarily one true religion for all people. Red Jacket acknowledged that the Americans’ religious beliefs are based on a sacred text, but stated, “If it was intended for us as well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given to us, and not only to us, but why did he not give to our forefathers, the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly?”

In conclusion he urged the Senators to accept the existence of different forms of belief. “The Great Spirit has made us all, but He has made a great difference between his white and red children ... to you He has given the arts. To these He has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since He has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that he has given us a different religion according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for his children; we are satisfied.” “We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own.”

Civility[link]

In his “Speech to the U.S. Senate”, Red Jacket was respectful and open-minded, though skeptical, regarding his visitors’ beliefs, hoping that his audience would respond similarly. “We have listened with attention to what you have said. You requested us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy; for we now consider that we stand upright before you, and can speak what we think.” He went on to reassure his audience he understood they were far from home, and would waste no time in giving them his answer.

On the relations between his people and the first white settlers to come to their land, he said, “They found friends and not enemies ... they asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, granted their request; and they sat amongst us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison." He argued that it was wrong to portray his people as savages, when they had shown kindness but received in return only "poison" (hard liquor). Further, “Yet we did not fear them. We took them to be friends. They called us brothers. We believed them and gave them a larger seat ... they wanted more land; they wanted our country. Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy.” “You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us.” The white settlers' actions did not encourage belief in their religion. “How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people?”

Red Jacket recognized that the white settlors' religion was beset with divisive controversies, unlike his peoples' own faith. “We also have a religion, which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us their children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion.”

He concluded with cordial well-wishes for his visitors. “You have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you safe to your friends.”

Rhetoric[link]

Red Jacket's "Speech to the U.S. Senate" narrates his ability to use a distinct form of rhetoric that distinguishes the difference in religious tolerance between the Indians and United States citizens. Red Jacket's emotional appeal to the members of Senate, who he feels are neglecting the Indians right of religious freedom, is an example of his attempt to persuade his audience to recognize their fallacies. One of the most important attributes to this speech is the recurring mention of Great Spirit, who oversees both red and white man according to Red Jacket, and he proceeds to recognize those attributes.

The beginning of the speech states,"But we will first look back a little, and tell you what our fathers have told us, and what we have heard from the white people". Red Jacket is speaking here to the history of the relations which the white man have treated the red man on their native soil. A common occurrence from the white man in this day was to push the ways of Western society on to those who he deemed less fortunate. Red Jacket goes on to speak more specifically about the way religion has been forced upon the Indian people from the Americans. One of the predominant center pieces of this time period was the negative relationships between the two cultures, and religion was and still to this day is considered a sacred personal choice one individual makes. Although Red Jacket recognizes that religion is an individual right, he explains that the Indian belief system has been inherited just in the same way the Americans have been handed down the Bible and Christianity. His point is summarized in statement he makes regarding how both people come from a similar Great Spirit, yet it is just up to the beholder how he accepts religion. The forced inducement of Christianity on the Indians by the American people violated the liberties of both people. Red Jacket states, "You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us". One recognizes the sense that the Indians have already lost so much, their religion is the last part of their identity in this land.

Red Jacket continues to identify the religious continuities that exist between both people with his elaboration on the Great Spirit. He states, "You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the book?". Red Jacket distinguishes the fallacies that exist between the Americans speech and their actions. If the Indians are being secularized for their religious beliefs, yet they believe in one ultimate Creator, just like the Americans, how can they be viewed as a lesser body? Red Jacket says they do not understand the Americans mission to eradicate the Indians based on religion, but Red Jacket sees the Americans as divided in their beliefs. However, he goes on to say that the Great Spirit is not one that can tear the two people apart but ultimately unite them in their ability to peacefully coexist.

Red Jacket's ability to distinguish this form of religious discussion was very favorable to his legacy in history. He argues the injustices of the cultural system in the time period but does not back away from recognizing their common cultural and religious beliefs.

Honors and legacy[link]

A variety of structures, ships and places were named in his honor, especially in the Finger Lakes region and Buffalo:

• A complex of dormitory buildings at the University at Buffalo
• Red Jacket Dining Hall at SUNY Geneseo.
• The Red Jacket Building, an apartment and commercial building in Buffalo.
• A memorial statue and Red Jacket Park are in Penn Yan, New York near Keuka Lake. The statue was sculpted by Michael Soles.
• Red Jacket Yacht Club, which lies on the western shores of Cayuga Lake.
• The Red Jacket clipper ship, which set the unbroken speed record from New York to Liverpool.^[1]
• A public school system, Red Jacket Central, which serves the communities of Manchester and Shortsville in Ontario County, New York.
• The Red Jacket Volunteer Fire Department, which serves the Town of Seneca Falls.
• A section of land on the Buffalo River (New York) is named "Red Jacket Peninsula". On the eastern bank of the river is the plaque containing a brief bio of Red Jacket and river history.
• Red Jacket Parkway in South Buffalo
• The Boy Scouts of America had a Red Jacket Council that included west of Rochester and Orleans County, New York, until 1943; it became part of Otetiana Council. In 2010 it merged with Finger Lakes Council to form Seneca Waterways Council.
• The community of Red Jacket in southern West Virginia, although the leader was not known to have had any connection to that region.^[16]

• 

  Red Jacket wearing the "Peace Medal" given to him by George Washington. Portrait by Charles Bird King, ca. 1828, Colby College Museum of Art.

• 

  The Trial of Red Jacket, by John Mix Stanley, 1869.

See also[link]

U.S. Constitution, Native American influence

Further reading[link]

• Graymont, Barbara, The Iroquois in the American Revolution, 1972, ISBN 0-8156-0083-6
• Robert G. Koch, "Red Jacket: Seneca Orator", Crooked Lake Review, March 1992

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Baym, Nina, Robert S. Levine, and Arnold Krupat. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Vol. A. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2007. Print.
• Stone, William L. Life and times of Red-Jacket, Or, Sa-go-ye-wat-ha: Being the Sequel to the History of the Six Nations. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1841. Print.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Red Jacket

• An Account of Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha, or Red Jacket, and His People at Project Gutenberg by John Niles Hubbard
• Red Jacket on Religion for the White Man and Red, Audio from Greatest Speeches in History Podcast
• "Red Jacket on Religion for the White Man and the Red", Bartleby Website, text online
• "Red Jacket, noted Indian orator, colorful character", Wisconsin History
• Red Jacket at Find a Grave

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–)

v t e Presidium members of the Central Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea First Secretary 1. Kim Jong-un (Supreme leader) Other members 2. Kim Yong-nam (Assembly chairman) 3. Choe Yong-rim (Premier) 4. Choe Ryong-hae (CMC vice chairman) 5. Ri Yong-ho (CMC vice chairman)

v t e Family of Kim Jong-il Parents Kim Il-sung Kim Jong-suk Wives/mistresses Kim Young-sook Song Hye-rim Ko Young-hee Kim Ok Siblings Kim Kyong-hui (sister) Kim Pyong-il (brother) Kim "Shura" Man-il (brother) Kim Kyong-jin (sister) Children With Kim Young-sook Kim Sul-song (daughter b. 1974) With Seong Hye-rim Kim Jong-nam (son b. 1971) With Ko Young-hee Kim Jong-chul (son b. 1981) Kim Jong-un (son b. 1983/1984) Grandparents Kim Hyŏng-jik (paternal grandfather) Others Jang Sung-taek (brother-in-law) Kim Song-ae (stepmother) Commons Wikibooks Wikinews Wikiquote Wikisource Wiktionary