Becoming Kim Jong Un Summary

How does a young man born into privilege and surrounded by opulence transform into one of the most feared leaders on Earth, controlling a nuclear-armed state through sheer terror and diplomacy?

1. A Legacy of Dictatorship

North Korea’s dictatorship was not born in isolation; it grew out of the legacy passed down from Kim Il Sung to Kim Jong Il, and finally to Kim Jong Un. Kim Il Sung, the country's founder, was viewed by his people as almost godlike, meticulously crafting his leadership through pervasive propaganda and a brutal political system. He depicted himself as a protector against a cruel outside world and systematically eliminated dissent. This system was further fortified under Kim Jong Il, during whose reign North Korea became more reclusive and took its nuclear ambitions seriously amid the collapse of communism globally.

Kim Jong Un inherited not merely the throne but an authoritarian blueprint. From his grandfather, he took the propaganda-infused personality cult where the leader is worshipped. From his father, he learned the importance of nuclear arms as a bargaining tool and symbol of strength. This combination prepared him well to maintain an all-powerful grip on a fragile system.

Examples

• The nationwide portraits of Kim Il Sung and the godlike mythology surrounding him.
• Kim Jong Il’s orchestration of colossal monuments and films dedicated to himself.
• The introduction and expansion of North Korea's nuclear weapons program during Kim Jong Il's leadership.

2. A Third Son Rises

Kim Jong Un’s ascension to power wasn’t the obvious choice. His father, Kim Jong Il, had other children, yet he saw something in Jong Un that was missing in the others. Kim Jong Nam, the eldest, fell from grace after public scandals and a growing interest in reforming North Korea along capitalist lines. The second son, Kim Jong Chol, was considered too soft and uninspiring to rule.

From a young age, Kim Jong Un showed ambition, competitiveness, and explosiveness—traits that matched his father’s image of a resolute leader. As one biographer noted, Jong Un’s demeanor exuded the kind of ferocity needed to command respect and fear, essential for ruling North Korea.

Examples

• Kim Jong Nam's arrest in Japan for trying to visit Disneyland with a fake passport, which embarrassed the regime.
• Kim Jong Chol’s more passive, music-focused personality being deemed unfit for leadership by intelligence observers.
• Reports of Jong Un’s aggressive competitiveness during youth basketball matches in Switzerland.

3. An Early Focus on Power

Kim Jong Un wasted no time establishing his grip after becoming North Korea’s leader in 2011. His early efforts centered on intensifying the nuclear weapons program and utilizing cyber warfare as a disruptive geopolitics tool. These strategies served as a dual show of strength to both the international community and his own people.

Under his leadership, North Korea’s nuclear tests grew bolder, and its cyberattacks became infamous. Whether violating international agreements or targeting global corporations like Sony Pictures, Kim used these tactics to demand attention and concessions, flaunting his regime's capacity to disrupt.

Examples

• North Korea’s repeated tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles during Kim’s first few years in power.
• The devastating Sony cyberattack in 2014 following the release of the satirical film "The Interview."
• North Korea’s cyber raiding of foreign banking systems to replenish state funds.

4. The Facade of Modernization

Kim Jong Un has worked hard to present North Korea as a forward-looking state. Images of Pyongyang brimming with modern infrastructure, from amusement parks to “Pyonghattan” luxury high-rises, craft a narrative of prosperity. These flashy projects aim to reinforce the illusion that nuclear development has delivered economic growth.

The reality, however, is starkly different for most North Koreans. While an elite group enjoys the curated "socialist fairyland," the majority of citizens outside Pyongyang face ongoing deprivation, relying on foreign aid for survival.

Examples

• The tourist-focused Wonsan resort, complete with a ski slope and golf course, built amid economic isolation.
• High-rise apartments in Pyongyang showcasing carefully selected elite lifestyles.
• Reports of rural North Koreans struggling with food shortages while the regime pours resources into cosmetic projects.

5. A Government of Fear

Kim Jong Un’s leadership doesn’t rest on persuasion—it thrives on terror. His reign has seen a continuation and intensification of brutal practices like forced labor camps and vigilante-style surveillance. Dissenters face not just imprisonment, but unimaginable cruelty, including generations of their families being punished under the principle of guilt by association.

Kim’s chilling message was further solidified through the assassination of his own brother, Kim Jong Nam, in a public space using chemical weapons. This move was not only ruthless but also a strategic demonstration of his reach beyond North Korea’s borders.

Examples

• The estimated 120,000 people languishing in labor camps under inhumane conditions.
• The systematic monitoring of civilians for minor infractions like improper hairstyles.
• The international incident of Kim Jong Nam's assassination using the nerve agent VX at a busy airport.

6. Diplomacy as a Weapon

Kim’s diplomatic moves have been just as calculated as his militaristic maneuvers. High-profile summits, like his meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the Demilitarized Zone, aimed to soften his image as an aggressor. These engagements cleverly centered Kim as a key player on the world stage while providing symbolic, rather than substantive, progress.

His meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019 further cemented this strategy of using diplomacy to gain legitimacy without conceding nuclear ambitions.

Examples

• The symbolic handshake with Moon Jae-in at the DMZ in 2018.
• Kim’s participation in summits with major world leaders despite sanctions crippling his economy.
• Promises to shut down nuclear sites, like Punggye-ri, as gestures without real commitment to disarmament.

7. Misjudged by the World

World leaders have often underestimated Kim’s intelligence and strategic mindset. Former President Donald Trump approached negotiations with the belief that personal charm and Western-style economic incentives would sway him. These assumptions overlooked the deep-rooted importance of nuclear weapons to Kim's identity and North Korea’s sovereignty.

This misunderstanding led to a lack of real progress, with summits failing to ensure disarmament while bolstering Kim’s domestic and international clout.

Examples

• Trump’s famous claims of building friendship with Kim despite negligible policy breakthroughs.
• The summit’s outcome of temporary gestures, like halting missile tests, which were quickly reversed.
• Intelligence warnings about Kim's intent to retain nuclear capabilities being ignored in public talks.

8. The Shadow of Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear weapons remain the backbone of Kim’s regime, ensuring both external deterrence and internal security. The regime’s internal narrative ties these weapons to its survival, portraying them as the guarantor of national pride and independence.

The collapse of prior arms negotiations highlights how central nuclear capabilities are to Kim’s leadership and North Korea’s isolated identity.

Examples

• Accelerated missile tests even during times of diplomatic outreach.
• The symbolic destruction of nuclear tunnels, which could later be reconstructed.
• Propaganda campaigns celebrating nuclear achievements as national triumphs.

9. Crafting the Perception of Invincibility

Kim continues to manipulate both international and domestic perceptions to maintain his authority. By blending modern imagery with threats of violence, he commands attention and instills fear. This ability to control the narrative, even through grand but shallow gestures, sustains his regime.

Kim’s actions demonstrate that he is neither irrational nor incompetent. Instead, he masterfully balances terror, propaganda, and diplomacy.

Examples

• The combination of charm offensives with leaders like Trump, alongside ruthless repression at home.
• Carefully curated propaganda campaigns in both domestic media and international outlets.
• The use of cyberattacks to undermine foreign confidence while boosting his own state’s covert power.

Takeaways

1. Understand the propaganda roots of authoritarian regimes; they thrive not just by force but by shaping public perception.
2. Coordinated global diplomacy, rather than relying on individual deals, is essential for addressing nuclear threats.
3. Always factor in cultural and historical perspectives when negotiating with authoritarian leaders to avoid strategic missteps.