Kim Jong - un - wikipedia Kim Jong - un For other people named Kim Jong - un, see Kim Jong - un ( disambiguation ). This is a Korean name ; the family name is Kim. Kim Jong - un 김정은 Sketch of Kim Jong - un Chairman of the Workers ' Party of Korea Incumbent Assumed office 9 May 2016 First Secretary ( 11 April 2012 -- 9 May 2016 ) Hierarchy Members of Politburo Standing Committee 1. Himself 2. Kim Yong - nam 3. Hwang Pyong - so 4. Pak Pong - ju 5. Choe Ryong - hae Preceded by Kim Jong - il ( as General Secretary ) Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Incumbent Assumed office 30 June 2016 First Chairman ( 13 April 2012 -- 30 June 2016 ) Deputy Hwang Pyong - so Choe Ryong - hae Pak Pong - ju Preceded by Himself ( as Chairman of the National Defence Commission ) Supreme Commander of the Korean People 's Army Incumbent Assumed office 30 December 2011 Supreme leader since 28 December 2011 Preceded by Kim Jong - il Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers ' Party of Korea 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 Deputy to the 13th Supreme People 's Assembly Incumbent Assumed office 9 April 2014 Constituency 111th Paektusan First Chairman of the National Defence Commission In office 13 April 2012 -- 29 June 2016 Deputy Kim Yong - chun Ri Yong - mu O Kuk - ryol Preceded by Kim Jong - il ( as Chairman ) Succeeded by Himself ( as Chairman of the State Affairs Commission ) Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers ' Party of Korea 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 ( 1982 - 01 - 08 ) 8 January 1982 ( age 35 ) ( North Korean records ) ( 1983 - 01 - 08 ) 8 January 1983 ( age 34 ) ( South Korean records ) ( 1984 - 01 - 08 ) 8 January 1984 ( age 33 ) ( American records ) ( 1984 - 07 - 05 ) 5 July 1984 ( age 33 ) ( Swiss records ) Pyongyang, Democratic People 's Republic of Korea Nationality North Korean Spouse ( s ) Ri Sol - ju Children Speculative. See text for info. Parents Kim Jong - il Ko Yong - hui Alma mater Kim Il - sung University Kim Il - sung Military University Signature Military service Allegiance North Korea Years of service 2010 -- present Rank Marshal of the Republic Commands Supreme Commander Kim Jong - un Chosŏn'gŭl 김 정 은 Hancha 金 正 恩 Revised Romanization Gim Jeong ( - ) eun McCune -- Reischauer Kim Chŏng'ŭn This article contains Korean text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Hangul and Hanja. Kim Jong - un ( Chosŏn'gŭl : 김정은 ; Korean pronunciation : ( kim. dzʌŋ. ɯn ) or ( kim ) ( tsʌŋ. ɯn ) ; born 8 January 1982 -- 84 or 5 July 1984 ) is the Chairman of the Workers ' Party of Korea ( WPK ) and supreme leader of North Korea. Kim is the second child of Kim Jong - il ( 1941 -- 2011 ) and Ko Yong - hui. Before taking power, Kim was rarely seen in public, and many of the activities of Kim and his government remain unknown. Even details such as what year he was born, and whether he did indeed attend a Western school under a pseudonym, are difficult to confirm. Kim was declared the supreme leader following the state funeral of his father on 28 December 2011. Kim holds the titles of Chairman of the Workers ' Party of Korea, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, Supreme Commander of the Korean People 's Army, and presidium member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Workers ' Party of Korea. Kim was promoted to the rank of Marshal of North Korea in the Korean People 's Army on 18 July 2012, consolidating his position as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and is often referred to as Marshal Kim Jong - un or `` the Marshal '' by state media. Kim obtained two degrees, one in physics at Kim Il - sung University, and another as an Army officer at the Kim Il - sung Military University. On 12 December 2013, official North Korean news outlets released reports that due to alleged `` treachery, '' he had ordered the execution of his uncle Jang Song - thaek. On 9 March 2014, Kim Jong - un was elected unopposed to the Supreme People 's Assembly. He is the first North Korean leader to have been born after the country 's founding. Kim Jong - un is widely believed to have ordered the assassination of his half - brother, Kim Jong - nam in Malaysia in February 2017. Contents 1 Early life 2 Succession 2.1 Pre-2010 Party Conference speculation 2.2 Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission 3 Ruler of North Korea 3.1 Assuming official titles 3.2 Economic policies 3.3 Nuclear weapons 3.4 Purges and executions 3.5 Human rights violations 3.6 Alleged 2017 CIA assassination attempt 4 Personality 5 Health 6 Family 7 See also 8 Notes 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links Early life The Liebefeld - Steinhölzli public school in Köniz, Switzerland, which Kim Jong - un is reported to have attended. Scarce information on Kim Jong - un 's early life comes from North Korean defectors and people who have claimed to witness him abroad, such as during his school attendance in Switzerland. Some of the information has been conflicting and contradictory, perhaps confusing him with his brother, Kim Jong - chul, who also attended school in Switzerland around the same time. Nevertheless, there has been some consensus on information about his early life. North Korean authorities have stated that his birthdate is 8 January 1982, but South Korean intelligence officials believe the actual date is a year later. Former basketball star Dennis Rodman said that the birthdate is 8 January 1983 after meeting Kim in September 2013 in North Korea. Kim Jong - Un was the second of three children Ko Yong - hui bore to Kim Jong - il ; his elder brother Kim Jong - chul was born in 1981, while his younger sister, Kim Yo - jong, is believed to have been born in 1987. 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 under the name `` Chol - pak '' or `` Pak - chol '' from 1993 to 1998. He was described as shy, a good student who got along well with his classmates and was a basketball fan. He was chaperoned by an older student, who was thought to be his bodyguard. Later, it was reported that Kim Jong - un attended the Liebefeld Steinhölzli school in Köniz near Bern under the name `` Pak - un '' or `` Un-pak '' from 1998 until 2000 as the son of an employee of the North Korean embassy in Bern. 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 until the autumn of 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 the autumn of 2000. He was described as a well - integrated and ambitious student who liked to play basketball. However, his grades and attendance rating are reported to have been poor. The ambassador of North Korea in Switzerland, Ri Chol, had a close relationship with him and acted as a mentor. One of Pak - un 's classmates told reporters that he had told him that he was the son of the leader of North Korea. According to some reports, Jong - un was described by classmates as a shy child who was awkward with girls and indifferent to political issues, but who 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. 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. The Laboratory of Anatomic Anthropology at the University of Lyon, France, after comparing the picture of the boy Pak - un taken at the Liebefeld Steinhölzli school in 1999 with a picture of Kim Jong - un from 2012 came to the conclusion that the two faces show a conformity of 95 %. The head of the institute, Raoul Perrot, a forensic anthropologist, considers it most likely that the two pictures show the same person. It is believed that the student at the Gümligen International School may not have been Kim Jong - un, but his elder brother Kim Jong - chul. It is not known whether the student known as Pak - un in Liebefeld Steinhölzli lived in Switzerland prior to 1998. 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. Most analysts agree that Kim Jong - un attended Kim Il - sung University, a leading officer - training school in Pyongyang, from 2002 to 2007. For many years, only one confirmed photograph of him was known to exist outside North Korea, apparently taken in the mid-1990s, when he was eleven. Occasionally other supposed images of him surfaced but were often disputed. 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. 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. In 2013, Kim Jong - un was awarded an honorary doctorate in Economics by HELP University, a private Malaysian university. Succession Pre-2010 Party conference speculation Kim Jong - un 's eldest half - brother, Kim Jong - nam, had been the favorite to succeed, but reportedly fell out of favor after 2001, when he was caught attempting to enter Japan on a fake passport to visit Tokyo Disneyland. Kim Jong - nam was killed in Malaysia in 2017 by suspected North Korean agents. Kim Jong - il 's former personal chef, Kenji Fujimoto, revealed details regarding Kim Jong - un, with whom he had a good relationship, stating that he was favored to be his father 's successor. Fujimoto also said 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 ''. 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, loves Johnnie Walker whisky and has a Mercedes - Benz 600 luxury sedan. When Jong - un was 18, Fujimoto described an episode where Jong - un once 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 ? '' On 15 January 2009 the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that Kim Jong - il had appointed Kim Jong - un to be his successor. On 8 March 2009, BBC News reported that Kim Jong - un was on the ballot for elections to the Supreme People 's Assembly, the rubber stamp parliament of North Korea. Subsequent reports indicated that his name did not appear on the list of lawmakers, but he was later elevated to a mid-level position in the National Defense Commission, which is a branch of the North Korean military. People paying homage to the statues of Kim Il - sung and Kim Jong - il, April 2012 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. He has been named `` Yŏngmyŏng - han Tongji '' ( 영명 한 동지 ), which loosely translates to `` Brilliant Comrade ''. His father had also asked embassy staff abroad to pledge loyalty to his son. There have also been reports that citizens in North Korea were 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. 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. The Chinese foreign ministry has strongly denied that this visit occurred. In September 2009, it was reported that Kim Jong - il had secured support for the succession plan, after a propaganda campaign. It is believed by some that Kim Jong - un was involved in the Cheonan sinking and the bombardment of Yeonpyeong to strengthen his military credentials and facilitate a successful transition of power from his father. Vice chairman of the Central Military Commission Kim Jong - un was made a daejang, the equivalent of a four - star general in the United States, 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. Despite the promotion, no further details, including verifiable portraits of Kim, were released. 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. On 10 October 2010, alongside his father, Kim Jong - un attended the ruling Workers ' Party 's 65th anniversary celebration. This was seen as 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. In January 2011, the regime reportedly began purging around 200 protégés of both Jong - un 's uncle - in - law Jang Song - thaek and O Kuk - ryol, the vice chairman of the National Defence Commission, by either detention or execution to further prevent either man from rivaling Jong - un. Ruler of North Korea 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. Some analysts had predicted that when Kim Jong - il died, Jang Song - thaek would act as regent, as Jong - un was too inexperienced to immediately lead the country. Following his father 's death, Kim Jong - un was hailed as the `` great successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche '', `` outstanding leader of the party, army and people '' and `` respected comrade who is identical to Supreme Commander Kim Jong - il '', and was made 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. And the ruling Workers ' Party said in an editorial, `` We vow with bleeding tears to call Kim Jong - un our supreme commander, our leader. '' He was publicly declared Supreme Commander of the Korean People 's Army on 24 December 2011 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 ''. North Korean soldiers saluting at the Revolutionary Martyrs ' Cemetery in Pyongyang, 2012 On 26 December 2011, the leading North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that Kim Jong - un had been acting as chairman of the Central Military Commission, and supreme leader of the country, following his father 's demise. On 9 January 2012, a large rally was held by Korean People 's Army in front of Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to honor Kim Jong - un and demonstrate loyalty. In 2013, Forbes named Kim Jong - un the World 's 46th Most Powerful Person. Assuming official titles On 27 March 2012, Kim was elected to the Fourth Conference of the Workers ' Party of Korea. On 11 April, that conference elected him as leader of the party under the newly created title of First Secretary. 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 post as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, as well as his father 's old seat on the Politburo Standing Committee of the Workers ' Party of Korea. 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 2012, the 5th Session of the 12th Supreme People 's Assembly appointed Kim Jong - un Chairman of the National Defence Commission. On 15 April 2012, during a military parade to commemorate Kim Il - sung 's centenary, Kim Jong - un made his first public speech. That speech became the basis of `` Onwards Toward the Final Victory ''. In July 2012, Kim Jong - un was promoted to wonsu ( roughly translated to marshal ), the highest active rank in the military. The decision was jointly issued on by the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the Workers ' Party of Korea, the National Defence Commission, and the Presidium of the Supreme People 's Assembly, the Korean Central News Agency subsequently announced. The only higher rank is Dae Wonsu ( roughly translated as Grand Marshal or Generalissimo ) which was held by Kim 's grandfather, Kim Il - sung, and which was awarded posthumously to his father, Kim Jong - il, in February 2012. The promotion confirmed Kim 's role as top leader of the North Korean military and came days after the replacement of Chief of General Staff Ri Yong - ho by Hyon Yong - chol. External image Satellite imagery show the message `` Long Live General Kim Jong - un, the Shining Sun ! '' in Korean on a hillside. In November 2012, satellite photos revealed a half - kilometer - long ( 1,600 ft ) propaganda message carved into a hillside in Ryanggang Province, reading, `` Long Live General Kim Jong - un, the Shining Sun ! ''. Kim Jong - il 's personal chef Kenji Fujimoto stated, `` Stores in Pyongyang were brimming with products and people in the streets looked cheerful. North Korea has changed a lot since Kim Jong - un assumed power. All of this is because of leader Kim Jong - un. '' Officially, Kim Jong - un is part of a triumvirate heading the executive branch of the North Korean government along with Premier Pak Pong - ju 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, Pak Pong - ju heads the government, and Kim Yong - nam handles foreign relations. Nevertheless, it is generally understood that Kim Jong - un, like his father and grandfather before him, exercises absolute control over the government and the country. Indeed, a constitutional amendment enacted by his father explicitly named the NDC ( first ) chairman as `` the supreme leader of the Democratic People 's Republic of North Korea ''. On 30 November 2012, Kim met with Li Jianguo, who `` briefed Kim on the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China '', according to the state 's official news agency, the Korean Central News Agency. A letter from Xi Jinping was hand - delivered during the discussion. In 2013, Kim re-established his grandfather 's style when he made his first New Year 's address, a break from the approach of his father. Kim Jong - il never made televised addresses during his 17 years in power. In lieu of delivering a speech, Kim Jong - il contributed to and approved a New Year 's Day editorial, jointly published by Rodong Sinmun ( the daily newspaper of the Korean Workers ' Party ), Joson Inmingun ( the newspaper of the Korean People 's Army ), and Chongnyon Jonwi ( the newspaper of the Kimilsungist - Kimjongilist Youth League ). At the extraordinary meeting with his top defense and security officials on 26 January 2013, Kim issued orders on preparations for a new nuclear test and introduced martial law in North Korea effective from 29 January. On 9 March 2014, Kim Jong - un was elected to a seat in the Supreme People 's Assembly, the country 's unicameral legislature. He ran unopposed, but voters had the choice of voting yes or no. There was a record turnout of voters and, according to government officials, all voted `` yes '' in his home district of Mount Paekdu. The Supreme People 's Assembly subsequently elected him first chairman of the National Defense Commission. People in Pyongyang watch Kim Jong - un on North Korean TV, 2015 In May 2014, following the collapse of an apartment building in Pyongyang, Kim Jong - un was said to be very upset at the loss of life that resulted. A statement issued by the country 's official news agency the Korean Central News Agency used the rare expression `` profound consolation and apology ''. An unnamed government official was quoted by the BBC as saying Kim Jong - un had `` sat up all night, feeling painful ''. While the height of the building and the number of casualties was not released, media reports described it is a 23 - story building and indicated that more than a hundred people may have died in the collapse. Economic policies In August 2012, Kim Jong - un announced economics reforms similar to China 's. Kim began to be mentioned by the North Korean state media as `` supreme leader '' ( chego ryongdoja ) at this time. A set of comprehensive economic measures, the `` Socialist Corporate Responsible Management System '', were introduced in 2013. The measures increase the autonomy of enterprises by granting them `` certain rights to engage in business activities autonomously and elevate the will to labor through appropriately implementing the socialist distribution system ''. Another priority of economic policies that year was agriculture, where the pojon ( vegetable garden ) responsibility system was implemented. The system reportedly achieved a major increase in output in some collective farms. North Korean media were describing the economy as a `` flexible collectivist system '' where enterprises were applying `` active and evolutionary actions '' to achieve economic development. These reports reflect Kim 's general economic policy of reforming management, increasing the autonomy and incentives for economic actors. This set of reforms known as the `` May 30th measures '' reaffirms both socialist ownership and `` objective economic laws in guidance and management '' to improve living standards. Other objectives of the measures are to increase the availability of domestically manufactured goods on markets, introduction of defence innovations into the civilian sector and boost international trade. Nuclear weapons See also : North Korea and weapons of mass destruction Model of a Unha - 9 rocket on display at a floral exhibition in Pyongyang, 30 August 2013 Under Kim Jong - un, North Korea has continued to develop nuclear weapons. At a plenary meeting of the WPK Central Committee held on 31 March 2013, Kim Jong - un announced that North Korea will adopt `` a new strategic line on carrying out economic construction and building nuclear armed forces simultaneously ''. According to several analysts, North Korea sees the nuclear arsenal as vital to deter an attack, and it is unlikely that North Korea would launch a nuclear war. During the 7th Congress of the Workers ' Party of Korea in 2016, Kim Jong - un stated that North Korea would `` not use nuclear weapons first unless aggressive hostile forces use nuclear weapons to invade on our sovereignty ''. However, on other occasions, North Korea has threatened `` pre-emptive '' nuclear attacks against a US - led attack. North Korea probably does possess a dozen or so nuclear bombs. However, there is no consensus on whether it has acquired intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBMs ) with nuclear warheads, capable of reaching the United States. It is estimated that North Korea will have sixty nuclear warheads by 2020. North Korea has rockets strong enough to power ICBMs, and, according to the US Defense Intelligence Agency, has nuclear warheads miniaturized enough to be delivered by ICBM, but, according to the South Korean defense department, the ICBMs would not be able to re-enter the atmosphere intact. If North Korea has sufficient nuclear warhead miniaturization technology, its Rodong medium - range missiles could probably launch nuclear strikes as far as Japan. In December 2015, in a release from the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim announced that his country had developed a hydrogen bomb. Kim 's claim is considered unlikely. Kim stated that his family `` turned the DPRK into a powerful nuclear weapons state ready to detonate a self - reliant A-bomb and H - bomb to reliably defend its sovereignty and the dignity of the nation ''. As of 2016, the United Nations has enacted five cumulative rounds of sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear program and missile tests. Purges and executions Further information : List of officials purged and executed by Kim Jong - un As with all reporting on North Korea, reports of purges and executions are difficult to verify. In May 2016, analysts were surprised to find that General Ri Yong - gil, reported by South Korea to have been executed earlier in the year, was, in fact, alive and well. In December 2013, Kim Jong - un 's uncle Jang Song - thaek was arrested and executed for treachery. Jang is believed to have been executed by firing squad. Yonhap has stated that, according to multiple unnamed sources, Kim Jong - un has also put to death members of Jang 's family, to completely destroy all traces of Jang 's existence through `` extensive executions '' of his family, including the children and grandchildren of all close relatives. Those reportedly killed in Kim 's purge include Jang 's sister Jang Kye - sun, her husband and ambassador to Cuba, Jon Yong - jin, and Jang 's nephew and ambassador to Malaysia, Jang Yong - chol. The nephew 's two sons were also said to have been killed. At the time of Jang 's removal, it was announced that `` the discovery and purge of the Jang group... made our party and revolutionary ranks purer... '' and after his execution on 12 December 2013 state media warned that the army `` will never pardon all those who disobey the order of the Supreme Commander ''. O Sang - hon ( Chosŏn'gŭl : 오상헌 ; RR : O Sangheon ; MR : O Sanghŏn ) was a deputy security minister in the Ministry of People 's Security in the government of North Korea who was reportedly killed in a political purge in 2014. According to the Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo, O was executed by flamethrower for his role in supporting Kim Jong - un 's uncle Jang Song - taek. Human rights violations See also : Human rights in North Korea Human rights violations under the leadership of Kim Jong - il were condemned by the UN General Assembly. Press reports indicate that they are continuing under Kim Jong - un. The 2013 report on the situation of human rights in North Korea by United Nations Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman proposed a United Nations commission of inquiry to document the accountability of Kim Jong - un and other individuals in the North Korean government for alleged crimes against humanity. The report of the commission of inquiry was published in February 2014 and recommends making him accountable for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. In July 2016, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed personal sanctions on Kim. Although his involvement in human rights abuses was cited as the reason, officials said the sanctions target the country 's nuclear and missile programs. Alleged 2017 CIA assassination attempt In May 2017, the North Korean government stated that the CIA and the South Korean National Intelligence Service hired a North Korean lumberjack who worked in Russia to assassinate Kim Jong - un with a `` biochemical weapon '' that was both radioactive and nano - poisonous, and whose effect would have been delayed by a few months. North Korea said that it would seek extradition of anyone involved in the assassination attempt. Personality Kenji Fujimoto, a Japanese chef who used to work as Kim Jong - il 's personal cook, described Kim Jong - un as `` a chip off the old block, a spitting image of his father in terms of face, body shape, and personality ''. The Washington Post reported in 2009 that Kim Jong - un 's school friends recalled he `` spent hours doing meticulous pencil drawings of Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan ''. He was obsessed with basketball and computer games. On 26 February 2013, Kim Jong ‐ un met Dennis Rodman, leading many reporters to speculate that Rodman was the first American that Kim had met. Rodman described his trip to Kim Jong - un 's private island, `` It 's like Hawaii or Ibiza, but he 's the only one that lives there. '' Kim Jong - un 's net worth is estimated at US $5 billion. In July 2012, Kim Jong - un showed a change in cultural policy from his father by attending a Moranbong Band concert. The concert contained several elements of pop culture from the West, particularly the United States. Kim used this event to debut his wife to the public, an unprecedented move in North Korea. According to diplomatic sources, `` Kim Jong - un likes to drink and party all night like his father and ordered the ( imported sauna ) equipment to help him beat hangovers and fatigue. '' Kim Jong - un is reportedly recruiting young, female companions to form a `` pleasure troupe '' to entertain him. During Dennis Rodman 's trip, Vice magazine correspondent Ryan Duffy observed that `` the leader was ' socially awkward ' and did n't make eye contact when shaking hands ''. According to Cheong Seong - chang of the Sejong Institute, Kim Jong - un has greater visible interest in the welfare of his people and engages in greater interaction with them than his father did. Health In 2009, reports suggested that Kim Jong - un was a diabetic and suffered from hypertension. He is a smoker. Kim Jong - un did not appear in public for six weeks in September and October 2014. State media reported that he was suffering from an `` uncomfortable physical condition ''. Previously he had been seen limping. When he reappeared, he was using a walking stick. In September 2015, the South Korean government commented that Kim appeared to have gained 30 kg in body fat over the previous five years, reaching a total estimated body weight of 130 kg ( 290 lb ). Family Portraits of Kim Jong - un 's father and grandfather ( Arirang Festival mass games in Pyongyang ) On 25 July 2012, North Korean state media reported for the first time that Kim Jong - un is married to Ri Sol - ju ( 리 설주 ). Ri, who appears to be in her early 20s, had been accompanying Kim Jong - un to public appearances for several weeks prior to the announcement. According to a South Korean analyst, Kim Jong - il had hastily arranged the marriage after suffering a stroke in 2008, the two married in 2009, and they had a child in 2010. Dennis Rodman, after visiting in 2013, reported that they had a daughter named Ju - ae. However, South Korean sources speculated that they could have many children. Kim is sometimes accompanied by his younger sister Kim Yo - jong, who is said to be instrumental in creating his public image and organising public events for him. On 13 February 2017, Kim Jong - nam, the exiled half - brother of Kim Jong - un, was assassinated with the nerve agent VX while walking through Terminal 2 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Select family tree of North Korea 's ruling Kim family Kim Bo - hyon 1871 -- 1955 Kim Hyong - jik 1894 -- 1926 Kang Pan-sok 1892 -- 1932 Kim Jong - suk 1919 -- 1949 Kim Il - sung 1912 -- 1994 Kim Sung - ae 1928 -- ? Kim Yong - ju 1920 -- Kim Young - sook 1947 -- Song Hye - rim 1937 -- 2002 Kim Jong - il 1941 -- 2011 Ko Yong - hui 1952 -- 2004 Kim Ok 1964 -- Kim Kyong - hui 1946 -- Jang Song - thaek 1946 -- 2013 Kim Pyong - il 1954 -- Kim Sul - song 1974 -- Kim Jong - nam 1971 -- 2017 Kim Jong - chul 1981 -- Kim Jong - un 1984 -- Ri Sol - ju c. 1986 -- Kim Yo - jong 1987 -- Kim Han - sol 1995 -- Kim Ju - ae c. 2012 -- Notes : Jump up ^ To keep the tree of manageable size, it omits some members, e.g., brothers and sisters of Kim Jong - il. Jump up ^ Names of Supreme Leaders of the DPRK ( and the name of the article being viewed, if any ) are in bold font. Jump up ^ Korean names often have a variety of transliterations into English, which can be confusing. For example, `` Kim Jong - chul '' may also be written `` Gim Jeong - cheol '' or `` Kim Jŏng - ch'ŏl '' among many other variations. See Korean romanization for more information. Jump up ^ Huss, Kan ; Frost, Clay. `` North Korea 's First Family : Mapping the personal and political drama of the Kim clan ''. msnbc.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013. ( Confirms many, but not all, of the birth and death years. See individual articles for more references. ) Jump up ^ Yan, Holly ( 16 February 2017 ). `` The world 's most mysterious family tree : Kim Jong Un 's secretive dynasty is full of drama, death ''. Design by Alberto Mier. CNN. Retrieved 16 February 2017. ^ Jump up to : Official biographies of Kim Jong - suk and Kim Jong - il give birth years of 1917 and 1942, respectively. Kim Ju - ae may have been born in late 2012 or early 2013. See also North Korea portal Politics portal Kim dynasty ( North Korea ) Residences of North Korean leaders Notes Jump up ^ According to the North Korea 's state official Korean Central News Agency, the titles of Kim Jong - un in order are `` chairman of the Workers ' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People 's Army '' `` Kim Jong Un Guides Second Test - fire of ICBM Hwasong - 14 ''. Korean Central News Agency. Explore DPRK. 29 July 2017. Jump up ^ Chosŏn'gŭl : 공화국 원수 ; MR : Konghwaguk wonsu References ^ Jump up to : `` N. Korea declares Kim Jong - Un commander of military ''. Agence France - Presse. 30 December 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Rodman Gives Details on Trip to North Korea ''. The New York Times. 9 September 2013. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013. Jump up ^ `` We finally know the age of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un ''. www.msn.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` The secret life of Kim Jong Un 's aunt, who has lived in the U.S. since 1998 ''. The Washington Post. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016. They can reveal, for example, that Kim Jong Un was born in 1984 -- not 1982 or 1983, as has been widely believed. The reason they 're certain ? It was the same year that their first son was born. `` He and my son were playmates from birth. I changed both of their diapers '', Ko said with a laugh. Jump up ^ `` YouTube ''. www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017. Jump up ^ ( 北 막 오른 김정은 시대 ) 조선 중앙 통신 보도, 金正 銀 ( X ) 金正恩 ( in Korean ). Naver. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010. Jump up ^ Moore, Malcolm. Kim Jong - un : a profile of North Korea 's next leader Archived 5 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine... The Daily Telegraph. 2 June 2009 Jump up ^ News, World ( 5 April 2013 ). `` Who is North Korea 's secretive Kim Jong Un ? Here is what we know ''. NBC News. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Jump up ^ North Korea tells rival SKorea and other nations not to expect any change, despite new leader. The Associated Press ( via Yahoo ! News ). 29 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` North Korea 's Kim Jong - un named ' marshal ' ''. BBC News. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` North Korean leader orders to turn armed forces into elite revolutionary army ''. Information Telegraph Agency of Russia. 2 December 2014. 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Korean Leader ‐ to ‐ Be ''. The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010. Jump up ^ `` The son also rises ''. JoongAng Daily. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Peter Foster ( 8 June 2010 ). `` Rare photos of Kim Jong - il 's youngest son, Kim Jong - un, released ''. The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Jump up ^ New images of North Korea 's heir apparent Kim Jong - un Archived 1 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine., BBC News, 30 September 2010. Jump up ^ Murad, Dina ( 23 October 2013 ). `` HELP University awards honorary doctorate to Kim Jong ‐ Un ''. The Star. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Kim Jong Il 's Teen Grandson Spotted at Concert of S. Korean Pop Star ''. Fox News. Associated Press. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2017. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong - un 's half - brother ' assassinated with poisoned needles at airport ' ''. The Independent. 14 February 2017. Jump up ^ Lynn, Hyung Gu. ( 2007 ). Bipolar orders : the two Koreas since 1989. Zed Books. p. 122. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84277 - 743 - 5. ^ Jump up to : Sang - hun, Choe ; Fackler, Martin. North Korea 's Heir Apparent Remains a Mystery Archived 29 December 2013 at WebCite. The New York Times. 14 June 2009 Jump up ^ The Chosun Ilbo `` Kim Jong - un ' Loves Nukes, Computer Games and Johnny Walker '' Archived 17 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. ( 20 December 2010 ). Retrieved 23 April 2013. Jump up ^ North Korea Newsletter No. 38 Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine... Yonhap. 22 January 2009. Jump up ^ `` N Korea holds parliamentary poll ''. BBC News. Retrieved 8 March 2009. Jump up ^ Heejin Koo ( 9 March 2009 ). `` Kim Jong Il 's Son, Possible Successor, Is n't Named as Lawmaker ''. Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Jump up ^ Rosen, James ( 1 May 2009 ). `` In North Korea, Ailing Kim Begins Shifting Power to Military ''. Fox News Channel. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Jump up ^ North Korea pays homage to the Kim dynasty, past, present ( and future ? ). Justin McCurry. The Guardian. London. 17 December 2012. Accessed 18 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` N Korea names Kim 's successor named ''. BBC. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009. Jump up ^ `` North Korean leader 's son is ' Brilliant Comrade ''. The Jakarta Post. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Kim Jong - un : North Korea 's Kim Anoints Youngest Son As Heir ''. The Huffington Post. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Jump up ^ Willacy, Mark ( 22 July 2009 ). `` North Koreans sing praises of dynastic dictatorship ''. AM. Sydney : Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 July 2009. Jump up ^ Kim Jong Il 's son ' made secret visit to China '. The Times. 16 June 2009. Jump up ^ China Dismisses Reports of Kim Jong - un Visit. The Chosun Ilbo. 19 June 2009 Harden, Blaine. North Korea 's Kim Jong Il Chooses Youngest Son as Heir Archived 4 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine., The Washington Post, 3 June 2009. Jump up ^ Lim, Chang - Won ( 6 September 2009 ). `` NKorea backs Kim 's succession plan : analysts ''. Agence France - Presse. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Jump up ^ Gayathri, Amrutha ( 24 December 2011 ). `` North Korean Propagandists Say Kim Jong ‐ il 's Son Planned South Korea Attacks ''. International Business Times. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong - un ' Masterminded Attacks on S. Korea ' ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012. Jump up ^ Chun, Kwang Ho ( 2011 ). `` Korean Peninsula : After Cheonan Warship Sinking and Yeonpyeong Incidents ''. Jeju Peace Institute. 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BBC News. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Jump up ^ Mark McDonald ( 9 October 2010 ). `` Kim Jong - il 's Heir Attends Parade ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ `` N. Korea ' Purging Proteges of the Old Guard ' ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2011. Jump up ^ Branigan, Tania ( 19 December 2011 ). `` Kim Jong - il, North Korean leader, dies ''. The Guardian. London, UK. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Jump up ^ Wallace, Rick ; Sainsbury, Michael ( 29 September 2010 ). `` Kim Jong ‐ il 's heir Kim Jong ‐ un made general ''. The Australian. ISSN 1038 - 8761. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Jump up ^ Shim, Sung - won ; Takenaka, Kiyoshi ; Buckley, Chris ( 25 December 2011 ). Nishikawa, Yoko, ed. `` North Korean power ‐ behind ‐ throne emerges as neighbors meet ''. Reuters. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. 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Hunt, Edward ( 31 October 2017 ). `` North Korea 's Nuclear Ticket to Survival ''. Foreign Policy in Focus. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong Un Says Pyongyang Wo n't Use Nukes First ; Associated Press ''. ABC. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` North Korea threatens nuclear strike over U.S. - South Korean ''. CNN. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016. `` UN passes sanctions despite North Korea threat of ' pre-emptive nuclear attack ' ''. NBC News. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Jump up ^ North Korean Plutonium and Weapon - Grade Uranium Inventories Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine., ISIS, 2015 Jump up ^ `` North Korea 's nuclear programme : How advanced is it ? ''. BBC. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Broad, William J ( 9 September 2016 ). `` North Korea Will Have the Skills to Make a Nuclear Warhead by 2020, Experts Say ''. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Jump up ^ Walker, Harry ( 15 April 2017 ). `` North Korea ' could have as many as SIXTY nuclear weapons by 2020 ', top nuclear expert says ''. Retrieved 20 May 2017. Jump up ^ SHANKER, THOM ( 11 April 2013 ). `` Pentagon Says Nuclear Missile Is in Grasp for North Korea ''. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013. Jump up ^ Ju - min Park ( 14 March 2016 ). `` South Korea says North Korea has yet to acquire missile re-entry technology ''. Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016. Jump up ^ JACK KIM ; JU - MIN PARK ( 17 March 2016 ). `` Defiant North Korea fires ballistic missile into sea, Japan protests ''. Reuters. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016. Jump up ^ Sang - hung, Choe. `` North Korea Claims It Tested Hydrogen Bomb but Is Doubted ''. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016. Bennett, Bruce ( 15 December 2015 ). `` North Korea : Does it really have an H - bomb ? ''. CNN. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong - Un claims North Korea has a hydrogen bomb ''. Fox News Channel. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` UN Security Council Resolutions on North Korea ''. Arms Control Association. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2016. Jump up ^ Trianni, Francesca ( 27 January 2014 ). `` Did Kim Jong Un Really Execute His Uncle 's Extended Family ? ''. Time. 1 : 04 -- 1 : 10 in embedded video. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016. 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Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. `` N. Korea Shuts Down Jang Song - taek 's Department ''. Chosun Ilbo. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` UN General Assembly slams Pyongyang 's human rights record ''. China Post. 21 December 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2012. Jump up ^ `` North Korea 's Kim Jong Un wages defector crackdown ''. Los Angeles Times. 5 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012. `` N. Korea 's killing of 3 would - be defectors ''. The Dong - A Ilbo. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012. `` Boomerangs Usually Come Back ''. Daily NK. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012. `` Harsh Punishments for Poor Mourning ''. Daily NK. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 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Jump up ^ McCurry, Justin ( 19 December 2011 ). `` Kim Jong ‐ un, ' great successor ' poised to lead North Korea ''. The Guardian. London, UK. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Jump up ^ Higgins, Andrew ( 16 July 2009 ). `` Who Will Succeed Kim Jong Il ? ''. The Washington Post. p. A01. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Jump up ^ Freeman, Colin ; Sherwell, Philip ( 26 September 2010 ). `` North Korea leadership : ' My happy days at school with North Korea 's future leader ' ''. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017. Fisher, Max ( 1 March 2013 ). `` Kim Jong Eun inherited an eccentric obsession with basketball from father Kim Jong Il ''. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017. Jump up ^ Dennis Rodman : North Korea 's Kim Jong Un is an ' awesome guy, ' and his father and grandfather were ' great leaders ' Archived 4 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine... Daily News. 1 March 2013. Jump up ^ Joohee Cho ( 28 February 2013 ). `` Rodman Worms His Way into Kim Jong Un Meeting ''. ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 February 2013. Jump up ^ `` Dennis Rodman : North Korean leader Kim Jong - un is a ' good - hearted kid ' ''. The Guardian. London, UK. 2 November 2013. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong Un Net Worth 2017 : The North Korean Dictator Worth Billions Of Dollars ''. International Business Times. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Jump up ^ Lankov, Andrei ( 10 April 2013 ). The Real North Korea : Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia ( pp. 139 -- 141 ). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong - un Inherits Father 's Taste for Bling ''. The Chosun Ilbo. 22 August 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong - un brings back ' pleasure troupe ' entertainers ''. The Daily Telegraph. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017. Jump up ^ Silverman, Justin Rocket ( 29 May 2013 ). `` ' Vice ' season finale on HBO gives fresh look at Dennis Rodman 's meeting with North Korea 's Kim Jong - un ''. Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013. Jump up ^ Song Sang - ho ( 27 June 2012 ). `` N.K. leader seen moving toward economic reform ''. The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012. Jump up ^ Kim Jong - un ( Kim Jong Woon ) -- Leadership Succession Archived 25 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine... Global Security.org. 3 July 2009 Jump up ^ CNN, Chieu Luu. `` Kim Jong Un caught smoking during anti-smoking drive ''. CNN. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016. Jump up ^ Justin McCurry and Enjoli Liston ( 26 September 2014 ). `` North Korea admits to Kim Jong - un 's ill - health for first time ''. The Guardian. London, UK. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Jump up ^ Fifield, Anna ( 13 October 2014 ). `` North Korean media report that Kim Jong Un is back at work ''. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014. `` North Korea says leader has reappeared ''. CNN. 13 October 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014. Jump up ^ Kyodo News, `` Kim has gained 30 kg, weighs 130 now : Seoul '', Japan Times, 28 September 2015, p. 5 Jump up ^ `` North Korea leader Kim Jong - un married to Ri Sol - ju ''. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` North Korea leader Kim Jong Un projects new image by showing off wife ''. Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012. Jump up ^ `` North Korea leader Kim Jong - un married to Ri Sol - ju ''. BBC. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013. Ms Ri is believed to have married Mr Kim in 2009 and given birth to a child the following year, analyst Cheong Seong - chang told the South Korean Korea Times newspaper. Jump up ^ `` Dennis Rodman lets the world know Kim Jong - un has a daughter ''. National Post. Associated Press. 19 March 2013. ISSN 1486 - 8008. Retrieved 23 March 2013. Jump up ^ Walker, Peter ( 9 September 2013 ). `` Dennis Rodman gives away name of Kim Jong ‐ un 's daughter ''. The Guardian. London, UK. ISSN 0261 - 3077. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong - un ' Has a Little Daughter ' ''. Chosun. 20 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013. Kim Jong - un ' Has 2 Daughters ' Archived 21 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine., Chosun.com, 16 May 2013. Jump up ^ Sherwell, Phillip ( 8 January 2017 ). `` Sister helps Kim strut his stuff as key missile test looms ''. The Times. Retrieved 15 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Kim Jong - nam killing : VX nerve agent ' found on his face ' ''. BBC News. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 February 2017. Further reading Bechtol, Bruce E., Jr. ( 2014 ). North Korea and Regional Security in the Kim Jong - un Era : A New International Security Dilemma. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978 - 1 - 137 - 40007 - 9. Kim Jong Un Aphorisms ( PDF ). 1. Pyongyang : Foreign Languages Publishing House. 2016. ISBN 978 - 9946 - 0 - 1430 - 2. Lee, Kyo - Duk ; Lim, Soon - Hee ; Cho, Jeong - Ah ; Song, Joung - Ho ( 2013 ). Study on the Power Elite of the Kim Jong Un Regime ( PDF ). Study Series 13 - 01. Seoul : Korea Institute for National Unification. ISBN 978 - 89 - 8479 - 708 - 6. Thak Song - il ; An Su - yong, eds. ( January 2014 ). Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un in the Year 2012 ( PDF ). Pyongyang : Foreign Languages Publishing House. ISBN 978 - 9946 - 0 - 1192 - 9. An Chol - gang, ed. ( November 2014 ). Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un in the Year 2013 ( PDF ). Pyongyang : Foreign Languages Publishing House. ISBN 978 - 9946 - 0 - 1192 - 9. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kim Jong - un. North Korea 's Young Leader on Show -- video report by The New York Times NSA Archive Kim Jong - Il : The `` Great Successor '' NK Leadership Tracker Official short biography at Naenara Kim Jong - un 's works at Publications of the DPRK Party political offices Preceded by Kim Il - sung ( until 1966 ) Chairman of the Workers ' Party of Korea 2016 -- present Incumbent Preceded by Kim Jong - il Chairman of the Central Military Commission Acting : 2011 -- 2012 2011 -- present Preceded by Kim Jong - il as general secretary First Secretary of the Workers ' Party of Korea 2012 -- 2016 Succeeded by Himself as Chairman New office Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission 2010 -- 2012 Served alongside : Ri Yong - ho Succeeded by Choe Ryong - hae Ri Yong - ho Political offices New title Chairman of the State Affairs Commission 2016 -- present Incumbent Preceded by Kim Jong - il as Chairman First Chairman of the National Defence Commission 2012 -- 2016 Succeeded by Himself as Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Military offices Preceded by Kim Jong - il Supreme Commander of the Korean People 's Army 2011 -- present Incumbent Supreme Leaders of North Korea Kim Il - sung ( 1948 -- 1994 ) Kim Jong - il ( 1994 -- 2011 ) Kim Jong - un ( 2011 -- ) Leaders of the Workers ' Party of Korea Kim Tu - bong ( 1946 -- 1949 ) Kim Il - sung ( 1949 -- 1994 ) vacant ( 1994 -- 1997 ) Kim Jong - il ( 1997 -- 2011 ) vacant ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Kim Jong - un ( since 2012 ) Members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Workers ' Party of Korea Chairman 1. Kim Jong - un ( supreme leader ) Other members 2. Kim Yong - nam ( Presidium president ) 3. Hwang Pyong - so ( Director of the General Political Bureau ) 4. Pak Pong - ju ( Premier ) 5. Choe Ryong - hae ( party vice-chairman ) Kim dynasty Kim Il - sung ( 1912 -- 1994 ) Kim Jong - il ( 1941 -- 2011 ) Kim Jong - un ( 1984 -- ) 1st generation Kim Hyong - jik ( Kim Il - sung 's father ) Kang Pan-sok ( Kim Il - sung 's mother ) 2nd generation Kim Jong - suk ( Kim Il - sung 's first wife, Jong - il 's mother ) Kim Yong - ju ( Kim Il - sung 's brother ) Kim Sung - ae ( Kim Il - sung 's second wife ) 3rd generation Hong Il - chon ( Kim Jong - il 's first wife, divorced ) Song Hye - rim ( Kim Jong - il 's first mistress ) Kim Man - il ( Kim Jong - il 's brother ) Jang Song - thaek ( Kim Jong - il 's brother - in - law ) Kim Kyong - hui ( Kim Jong - il 's sister ) Kim Young - sook ( Kim Jong - il 's wife ) Ko Yong - hui ( Kim Jong - il 's second mistress, Jong - un 's mother ) Kim Pyong - il ( Kim Jong - il 's half - brother ) Kim Ok ( Kim Jong - il 's third mistress ) 4th generation Kim Yo - jong ( Kim Jong - un 's sister ) Kim Jong - chul ( Kim Jong - un 's brother ) Kim Sul - song ( Kim Jong - un 's half - sister ) Kim Jong - nam ( Kim Jong - un 's half - brother ) Ri Sol - ju ( Kim Jong - un 's wife ) 5th generation Kim Ju - ae ( Kim Jong - un 's daughter ) Kim Han - sol ( Kim Jong - nam 's son ) Leaders of Korea Italics indicates acting Korean government - in - exile ( 1919 -- 1948 ) Syngman Rhee Yi Dongnyeong Park Eun - sik Park Eun - sik Yi Yu - pil Yi Sang - ryong Yang Gi - tak Yi Dongnyeong Ahn Chang - ho Yi Dong - nyeong Hong Jin Kim Koo Yi Dongnyeong Song Byeong - jo Yi Dongnyeong Kim Koo Syngman Rhee Divided Korea ( since 1945 ) Democratic People 's Republic of Korea Supreme Leaders Kim Il - sung Kim Jong - il Kim Jong - un Heads of state Kim Tu - bong Choe Yong - gon Kim Il - sung Yang Hyong - sop Kim Yong - nam Heads of government Kim Il - sung Kim Il Pak Song - chol Ri Jong - ok Kang Song - san Ri Kun - mo Yon Hyong - muk Kang Song - san Hong Song - nam Hong Song - nam Pak Pong - ju Kim Yong - il Choe Yong - rim Pak Pong - ju Republic of Korea Heads of state and government Syngman Rhee Heo Jeong Kwak Sang - hoon Baek Nak - jun Yun Bo - seon Park Chung - hee Park Chung - hee Choi Kyu - hah Choi Kyu - hah Pak Choong - hoon Chun Doo - hwan Roh Tae - woo Kim Young - sam Kim Dae - jung Roh Moo - hyun Goh Kun Roh Moo - hyun Lee Myung - bak Park Geun - hye Hwang Kyo - ahn Moon Jae - in VIAF : 171940304 LCCN : n2011038915 ISNI : 0000 0001 2085 1310 GND : 1057989533 NDL : 01214960 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kim_Jong-un&oldid=803744230 '' Categories : 1984 births Age controversies Living people Children of national leaders Communist rulers Heads of state of North Korea Kim dynasty ( North Korea ) Kim Jong - il Kim Jong - un Marshals North Korean expatriates in Switzerland North Korean generals People from Pyongyang Workers ' Party of Korea politicians Kim Il - sung University alumni Hidden categories : Articles containing Korean - language text CS1 uses Korean - language script ( ko ) CS1 Korean - language sources ( ko ) Webarchive template wayback links CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Webarchive template webcite links CS1 uses Russian - language script ( ru ) CS1 Russian - language sources ( ru ) Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected biographies of living people Use dmy dates from June 2013 Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Place of birth unknown Talk View source Contents About Wikipedia Wikinews Wikiquote Afrikaans Alemannisch Aragonés Asturianu Azərbaycanca বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Bikol Central Български Brezhoneg Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego 贛 語 客家 語 / Hak - kâ - ngî 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Ido Bahasa Indonesia Ирон Íslenska Italiano עברית ქართული Kurdî Latina Latviešu Lietuvių Lumbaart Magyar मैथिली Македонски മലയാളം Bahasa Melayu Mìng - dĕ̤ng - ngṳ̄ Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands Nedersaksies नेपाली 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Papiamentu Plattdüütsch Polski Português Română Русский Scots Shqip Sicilianu සිංහල Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Ślůnski کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் ไทย Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Türkmençe Українська اردو Vèneto Tiếng Việt Winaray 吴语 Yorùbá 粵語 Žemaitėška 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 4 October 2017, at 10 : 28. 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Question: where did north korean leader go to college
Answer: Kim Il-sung University, a leading officer-training school in Pyongyang