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→See also: Paektu is literally mentioned in the first paragraph of the lede. We DO NOT need it in see also.
 
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{{short description|Ruling family of North Korea}}
{{About|rulers of North Korea since 1948||Kim Dynasty (disambiguation){{!}}Kim Dynasty}}
{{for|the Chinese dynasty written 金|Jin dynasty (1115–1234)}}
{{short description|Ruling Family of North Korea}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox dynasty
{{Infobox family
| name = Kim Dynasty
| name = Kim family
| native_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| native_name_lang =
| other_names = Mount Paektu bloodline
| other_names = Mount Paektu bloodline
| type =
| type =
| alt =
| alt =
| image = Kim Dynasty.png
| image = KIM FAMILY.png
| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt2 = Three photos depicting each of the three members of the Kim Dynasty: Kim Jong-un, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
| alt2 = Three photos depicting each of the three members of the Kim family: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un
| image_caption = [[Kim Jong-un]] (top), [[Kim Il-sung]] (bottom left) and [[Kim Jong-il]] (bottom right)
| image_caption = From left to right: [[Kim Il Sung]], [[Kim Jong Il]], and [[Kim Jong Un]]
| parent_family = <!-- Family (or house, clan) from which the family in subject is descended -->
| parent_family = [[Jeonju Kim clan]]
| country = [[North Korea]]
| country = North Korea
| region = <!-- Main current location - please note, countries that are merely associated with titles should be indicated in "titles" -->
| region = <!-- Main current location - please note, countries that are merely associated with titles should be indicated in "titles" -->
| early_forms =
| early_forms =
| etymology = <!-- Etymology; name origin and/or meaning -->
| etymology = <!-- Etymology; name origin and/or meaning -->
| origin = [[Mangyongdae]], [[Pyongyang]]
| origin = [[Mangyongdae]], [[Pyongyang]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1948|09|09|df=yes}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1948|09|09|df=yes}}
| founder = [[Kim Il-sung]]
| founder = [[Kim Il Sung]]
| current_head = [[Kim Jong-un]]
| current_head = [[Kim Jong Un]]
| final_ruler = <!-- I.e. last sovereign; applicable primarily to sovereign aristocratic dynasties -->
| final_ruler = <!-- I.e. last sovereign; applicable primarily to sovereign aristocratic dynasties -->
| final_head = <!-- I.e. last person with family name or else subject to end of continuous consistency -->
| final_head = <!-- I.e. last person with family name or else subject to end of continuous consistency -->
| titles = [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|Supreme Leader of North Korea]]
| titles = [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|Supreme Leader of North Korea]]<br />[[General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea]]
| styles = {{ubl|Great Leader (Kim Il-sung)|Dear Leader (Kim Jong-il)}}
| styles = {{ubl
|Great Leader (Kim Il Sung)|Dear Leader (Kim Jong Il)}}
| members = {{ubl
| members = [[Kim Il-sung]], [[Kim Jong-il]], [[Kim Jong-un]]
|[[Kim Il Sung]]
| connected_members = {{Collapsible list
|[[Kim Jong Il]]
| title = {{nobold|Kim Il-sung's wives:}}
|[[Kim Jong Un]]}}
| connected_members = {{Collapsible list
| title = {{nobold|Kim Il Sung's wives:}}
| bullets = yes
| bullets = yes
| [[Kim Jong-suk]]
| [[Kim Jong Suk]]
| [[Kim Song-ae]] }}
| [[Kim Song Ae]] }}
{{Collapsible list
{{Collapsible list
| title = {{nobold|Kim Il-sung's sons:}}
| title = {{nobold|Kim Il Sung's sons:}}
| bullets = yes
| bullets = yes
| [[Kim Man-il]]
| [[Kim Man Il]]
| [[Kim Pyong-il]]
| [[Kim Pyong Il]]
| Kim Yong-il }}
| [[Kim Yong Il]]
| [[Kim Kyong Jin]] }}
{{Collapsible list
{{Collapsible list
| title = {{nobold|Kim Il-sung's daughters:}}
| title = {{nobold|Kim Il Sung's daughters:}}
| bullets = yes
| bullets = yes
| [[Kim Kyong-hui]]
| [[Kim Kyong Hui]] }}
| Kim Kyong-jin }}
{{hr}}
{{hr}}
{{Collapsible list
{{Collapsible list
| title = {{nobold|Kim Jong-il's wives:}}
| title = {{nobold|Kim Jong Il's wives:}}
| bullets = yes
| bullets = yes
| [[Hong Il-chon]]
| [[Hong Il Chon]]
| [[Ko Yong-hui]]
| [[Ko Yong Hui]] }}
| [[Kim Young-sook]] }}
{{Collapsible list
{{Collapsible list
| title = {{nobold|Kim Jong-il's sons:}}
| title = {{nobold|Kim Jong Il's sons:}}
| bullets = yes
| bullets = yes
| [[Kim Jong-nam]] ([[Assassination of Kim Jong-nam|murdered]])
| [[Kim Jong-nam]] ([[Assassination of Kim Jong-nam|assassinated]])
| [[Kim Jong-chul]] }}
| [[Kim Jong Chol]] }}
{{Collapsible list
{{Collapsible list
| title = {{nobold|Kim Jong-il's daughters:}}
| title = {{nobold|Kim Jong Il's daughters:}}
| bullets = yes
| bullets = yes
| [[Kim Yo-jong]]
| [[Kim Yo Jong]]
| [[Kim Sol-song]]
| [[Kim Sol Song]]
| Kim Hye-kyung }}
| [[Kim Hye Kyong]] }}
{{hr}}
{{hr}}
{{Collapsible list
Kim Jong-un's wife: [[Ri Sol-ju]]
| title = {{nobold|Kim Jong Un's family:}}
| other_families = <!-- Connected families, typically qualified by marriage (or rarely rivalry) -->
| bullets = yes
| distinctions = <!-- Primarily associated distinctions such as orders, prizes, awards, etc. -->
| [[Ri Sol-ju]] (wife)
| traditions = ''[[Juche]]''
| [[Kim Ju-ae]] (daughter) }}
| motto = <!-- For non-English motto, use: ''Motto in italics'' -->
| other_families = <!-- Connected families, typically qualified by marriage (or rarely rivalry) -->
| motto_lang =
| distinctions = <!-- Primarily associated distinctions such as orders, prizes, awards, etc. -->
| motto_trans =
| traditions = ''[[Juche]]''
| heirlooms = <!-- Inheritances; antiques, mementos, jewelry, etc. -->
| motto = <!-- For non-English motto, use: ''Motto in italics'' -->
| estate = [[Residences of North Korean leaders]]
| motto_lang =
| properties =
| motto_trans =
| dissolution = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}}, removal of public status applicable primarily to royal and aristocratic houses -->
| heirlooms = <!-- Inheritances; antiques, mementos, jewelry, etc. -->
| deposition = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}}, removal of authority applicable primarily to royal houses -->
| estate = [[Residences of North Korean leaders]]
| cadet_branches = <!-- Branches families - if multiple ones, please consider using {{tlx|Template:Collapsible list}} -->
| properties =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}}, website of the family association/foundation/memorial, etc. -->
| dissolution = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}}-->
| footnotes =
| deposition = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}},
| cadet_branches = <!-- Branches families - if multiple ones, please consider using {{tlx|Template:Collapsible list}} -->
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}}, website of the family association/foundation/memorial, etc. -->
| footnotes =
}}
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
{{Infobox Korean name
| title = [[Paektu Mountain|(Mount) Paektu]] bloodline
| title = [[Paektu Mountain|(Mount) Paektu]] bloodline
| hangul = {{linktext|백두|혈통}}
| hangul = 백두혈통
| hanja = {{linktext|白頭|血統}}
| hanja = 白頭血統
| rr = Baekdu-hyeoltong
| rr = Baekdu-hyeoltong
| mr = Paektu-hyŏlt'ong
| mr = Paektu-hyŏlt'ong
Line 89: Line 94:
{{Politics of North Korea|expanded=Related topics}}
{{Politics of North Korea|expanded=Related topics}}


The '''Kim Dynasty''' referred to as the '''Mount Paektu bloodline''' in the ideological discourse of the [[Workers' Party of Korea]] (WPK), is a three-generation lineage of [[North Korea]]n leadership descending from the country's first [[Leader of North Korea|leader]], [[Kim Il-sung]]. In 1948, Kim Il-sung came to rule the North after the end of [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]] in 1945 split the region. He began the [[Korean War]] in 1950 in a failed attempt to [[Korean reunification|reunify the Korean Peninsula]]. In the 1980s, Kim Il-sung had developed [[North Korean cult of personality|a cult of personality]] closely tied to the North Korean state philosophy of ''[[Juche]]''. Following [[Death and state funeral of Kim Il-sung|his death]] in 1994, Kim's cult of personality was passed on to his son, [[Kim Jong-il]] and then to his grandson [[Kim Jong-un]].
The '''Kim family''', officially the '''Mount Paektu bloodline''' ({{Korean|hangul=백두혈통}}), named for [[Paektu Mountain]], in the ideological discourse of the [[Workers' Party of Korea]] (WPK), and often referred to as the '''Kim dynasty''' after the [[Cold War]]'s end, is a three-generation lineage of [[North Korea]]n leadership, descending from the country's founder and first [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|leader]], [[Kim Il Sung]]. Kim Il Sung came to rule the north in 1948, after the end of [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]] [[Division of Korea|split the region]] in 1945. Following [[Death and state funeral of Kim Il Sung|his death]] in 1994, Kim Il Sung's role as supreme leader was passed to his son, [[Kim Jong Il]], and then in 2011 to his grandson, [[Kim Jong Un]]. The three served as leaders of the WPK, and as North Korea's supreme leaders since the state's establishment in 1948.


The North Korean government denies that there is a personality cult surrounding the Kim family, describing the people's devotion to the family as a personal manifestation of support for their nation's leadership.<ref>Jason LaBouyer [https://web.archive.org/web/20090319072854/http://www.korea-dpr.com/lodestar0605v.pdf "When friends become enemies&nbsp;— Understanding left-wing hostility to the DPRK"] Lodestar. May/June 2005: pp. 7–9. Korea-DPR.com. Retrieved 18 December 2007.</ref> The Kim family has been described as a ''de facto'' [[absolute monarchy]]<ref>Young W. Kihl, Hong Nack Kim. ''North Korea: The Politics of Regime Survival''. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 2006. p.&nbsp;56.</ref><ref>Robert A. Scalapino, Chong-Sik Lee. ''The Society''. University of California Press, 1972. p.&nbsp;689.</ref><ref>Bong Youn Choy. A history of the Korean reunification movement: its issues and prospects. Research Committee on Korean Reunification, Institute of International Studies, Bradley University, 1984. Pp. 117.</ref> or hereditary [[dictatorship]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Moghaddam|first=Fathali M.|editor-last1=Wagoner|editor-first1=Brady|editor-last2=Moghaddam|editor-first2=Fathali M.|editor-last3=Valsiner|editor-first3=Jaan|title=The Psychology of Radical Social Change: From Rage to Revolution|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lppPDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA285|date= 2018|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-108-38200-7|page=285|chapter=The Shark and the Octopus: Two Revolutionary Styles}}</ref>
In 2013, Clause 2 of Article 10 of the "[[Ten Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System]]" adopted by the government, states that the Party and revolution must be carried "eternally" by the "Paektu bloodline".<ref>[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/08/13/2013081301558.html The Twisted Logic of the N.Korean Regime] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113064929/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/08/13/2013081301558.html |date=13 January 2017 }}, Chosun Ilbo, 13 August 2013, Accessed date: 11 January 2017.</ref>


==Historical overview==
==Overview==
The Kim family has ruled North Korea since 1948<ref name="Al Jazeera: ready"/> for three generations,<ref name="CNN: Rodman leaked"/> and still little about the family is publicly confirmed.<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky"/> [[Kim Il Sung]] rebelled against [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule over Korea]] in the 1930s, which led to his exile in the [[Soviet Union]]. Korea was divided after the Japanese surrender in [[World War II]] in 1945. Kim came to lead the [[Provisional People's Committee for North Korea]] (a Soviet-backed provisional government), becoming the first premier of its new government, the "[[North Korea|Democratic People's Republic of Korea]]" (commonly known as North Korea), in 1948. Hoping to reunify the peninsula, on 25 June 1950 the North Korean [[Korean People's Army|KPA]] crossed the 38th Parallel, sparking the [[Korean War]], which ended in [[stalemate]] in 1953.<ref name="EB Il-sung"/>
[[File:The statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang (april 2012).jpg|thumb|left|250px|North Koreans bowing to massive bronze statues of [[Kim Il-sung]] and son [[Kim Jong-il]] at the [[Mansu Hill Grand Monument]] in the capital [[Pyongyang]].]]


Kim developed a [[North Korean cult of personality|personality cult]] over his nearly 46-year leadership<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> which extended to his family, including his mother [[Kang Pan Sok]] (known as the "mother of Korea"), his brother [[Kim Yong-ju]] ("the revolutionary fighter") and his first wife [[Kim Jong Suk]] (the "mother of the revolution").<ref name="Economist: Next of Kim"/> The strong and absolute leadership of a solitary great leader, known as the ''Suryong'', is central to the North Korean ideology of ''[[Juche]]''.{{sfn|Lee|2004|p=1–7}} Four years after Kim Il Sung's 1994 death, a constitutional change wrote the presidency out of the constitution and named him as [[Eternal President of the Republic]] in order to honor his memory forever.<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> Kim Il Sung was known as the Great Leader,<ref name="NYT Following Dear Leader"/> and his eldest son and successor, [[Kim Jong Il]],<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> became known as the Dear Leader<ref name="NYT Following Dear Leader"/> and later the Great General.<ref>Behnke, Alison (2008). ''Kim Jong Il's North Korea''.</ref> [[Kim Jong Il]] altogether had over [[List of Kim Jong Il's titles|50 titles]].
Unlike governance in other current or former [[socialist countries|socialist or]] [[communism|communist republics]], North Korea's governance is comparable to a [[royal family]]; a de-facto absolute monarchy.<ref name="Economist: Next of Kim"/> The Kim family has ruled North Korea since 1948<ref name="Al Jazeera: ready"/> for three generations,<ref name="CNN: Rodman leaked"/> and still little about the family is publicly confirmed.<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky"/> [[Kim Il-sung]] rebelled against [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japan's rule of Korea]] in the 1930s, which led to his exile in the [[Soviet Union]]. Korea was divided after Japan's defeat in [[World War II]]. Kim came to lead the [[Provisional People's Committee for North Korea]] (a Soviet-backed provisional government), becoming the first premier of its new government, the "[[Democratic People's Republic of Korea]]" (commonly known as [[North Korea]]), in 1948. He started the [[Korean War]] with a massive invasion of the "Republic of Korea" ([[South Korea]]) on 25 June 1950 with hopes to militarily reunify the peninsula.<ref name="EB Il-sung"/>


[[Kim Jong Il]] was appointed to the Workers Party's [[Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea|Politburo]] (and its [[Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea|Presidium]]), [[Secretariat of the Workers' Party of Korea|Secretariat]] and the [[Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea|Central Military Commission]] at the [[6th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea|6th Workers Party Congress]] in October 1980,{{sfn|Kim|1982|p=142}} which formalized his role as [[heir apparent]].<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> He led their military beginning in 1990,<ref name="EB Jong-il"/> and had a 14-year grooming period before he became North Korea's ruler.<ref name="Economist: Next of Kim"/> Kim Jong Il had a sister, [[Kim Kyung-hee]], who was North Korea's first female four-star general<ref name="mirror.co.uk">{{cite news|last=Bishop|first=Rachel|title=Mystery deepens over Kim Jong-un's once-powerful aunt and key aide as fears grow she's "critically ill" in hospital|date=31 August 2017|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/mystery-over-kim-jong-uns-11085736|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> and married to [[Jang Song-thaek]], who was the second most powerful person in North Korea before his December 2013 execution for corruption.<ref name="BBC: first family"/> Kim Jong Il had four partners,<ref name="BBC: first family"/> and at least five children with three of them.<ref name="NYT Heir Apparent Remains"/> His third and youngest son, Kim Jong Un, succeeded him.<ref name="BBC: first family"/> Scholar Virginie Grzelczyk wrote that the Kim family represented "one of the last bastions of totalitarianism as well as perhaps 'the first Communist Dynasty{{'"}}.{{sfn|Grzelczyk|2012|p=37}}
Kim developed a [[Kim Il-sung's cult of personality|personality cult]] that contributed to his nearly uncontested 46-year totalitarian rule<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> and extended to his family, including his mother [[Kang Pan-sok]] (known as the "mother of Korea"), his brother [[Kim Yong-ju]] ("the revolutionary fighter") and his first wife [[Kim Jong-suk]] (the "mother of the revolution").<ref name="Economist: Next of Kim"/> The strong and absolute leadership of a solitary great leader, known as the ''Suryong'', is central to the North Korean ideology of ''[[Juche]]''.{{sfn|Lee|2004|p=1–7}} Four years after Kim Il-sung's 1994 death, a constitutional change wrote the presidency out of the constitution and named him as [[Eternal President of the Republic]] in order to honor his memory forever.<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> Kim Il-sung was known as the Great Leader,<ref name="NYT Following Dear Leader"/> and his eldest son and successor, [[Kim Jong-il]],<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> became known as the Dear Leader<ref name="NYT Following Dear Leader"/> and later the Great General.<ref>Behnke, Alison (2008). ''Kim Jong Il's North Korea''.</ref> [[Kim Jong-il]] altogether
had over [[List of Kim Jong-il's titles|50 titles]].

[[Kim Jong-il]] was appointed to the Workers Party's [[Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea|Politburo]] (and its Presidium), [[Secretariat of the Workers' Party of Korea|Secretariat]] and the [[Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea|Central Military Commission]] at the [[6th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea|6th Workers Party Congress]] in October 1980,{{sfn|Kim|1982|p=142}} which formalized his role as [[heir apparent]].<ref name="EB Il-sung"/> He led their military beginning in 1990,<ref name="EB Jong-il"/> and had a 14-year grooming period before he became North Korea's ruler.<ref name="Economist: Next of Kim"/> Kim Jong-il had a sister, [[Kim Kyung-hee]], who was North Korea's first female four-star general<ref name="mirror.co.uk">{{cite news|last=Bishop|first=Rachel|title=Mystery deepens over Kim Jong-un's once-powerful aunt and key aide as fears grow she's "critically ill" in hospital|date=31 August 2017|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/mystery-over-kim-jong-uns-11085736|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> and married to [[Jang Sung-taek]], who was the second most powerful person in North Korea before his December 2013 execution for corruption.<ref name="BBC: first family"/> Kim Jong-il had four partners,<ref name="BBC: first family"/> and at least five children with three of them.<ref name="NYT Heir Apparent Remains"/> His third and youngest son, Kim Jong-un, succeeded him.<ref name="BBC: first family"/> Scholar Virginie Grzelczyk wrote that the Kim family represented "one of the last bastions of totalitarianism as well as perhaps 'the first Communist Dynasty{{'"}}.{{sfn|Grzelczyk|2012|p=37}}

The North Korean government denies that there is a personality cult surrounding the Kims. Rather, it claims that the people's devotion to the Kims is a manifestation of genuine hero worship.<ref>Jason LaBouyer [https://web.archive.org/web/20090319072854/http://www.korea-dpr.com/lodestar0605v.pdf "When friends become enemies&nbsp;— Understanding left-wing hostility to the DPRK"] Lodestar. May/June 2005: pp. 7–9. Korea-DPR.com. Retrieved 18 December 2007.</ref>

The Kim family ([[Kim Il-sung]], [[Kim Jong-il]] and [[Kim Jong-un]]) has been described as a ''de facto'' [[absolute monarchy]]<ref>Young W. Kihl, Hong Nack Kim. ''North Korea: The Politics of Regime Survival''. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 2006. p.&nbsp;56.</ref><ref>Robert A. Scalapino, Chong-Sik Lee. ''The Society''. University of California Press, 1972. p.&nbsp;689.</ref><ref>Bong Youn Choy. A history of the Korean reunification movement: its issues and prospects. Research Committee on Korean Reunification, Institute of International Studies, Bradley University, 1984. Pp. 117.</ref> or "[[hereditary dictatorship]]".<ref>{{cite book|last=Moghaddam|first=Fathali M.|editor-last1=Wagoner|editor-first1=Brady|editor-last2=Moghaddam|editor-first2=Fathali M.|editor-last3=Valsiner|editor-first3=Jaan|title=The Psychology of Radical Social Change: From Rage to Revolution|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lppPDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA285|date= 2018|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-108-38200-7|page=285|chapter=The Shark and the Octopus: Two Revolutionary Styles}}</ref>

In 2013, Clause 2 of Article 10 of the new edited [[Ten Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System|Ten Fundamental Principles]] of the [[Korean Workers' Party]] states that the party and revolution must be carried "eternally" by the "[[Paektu Mountain|Paektu]] (Kim's) bloodline".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Twisted Logic of the N.Korean Regime |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/08/13/2013081301558.html |website=english.chosun.com |publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |access-date=23 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016083158/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/08/13/2013081301558.html |archive-date=16 October 2013 |language=en |date=13 August 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>


== Ancestry ==
== Ancestry ==
Kim Il-sung was born in [[Mangyongdae-guyok]] to [[Methodist]] parents.<ref name="Corfield2013"/> His father [[Kim Hyong-jik]] was 15 when he married [[Kang Pan-sok]] two years his elder.{{sfn|Martin|2007|p=14}} Kim Hyong-jik had attended a school founded by Protestant missionaries, which influenced his own family. Kim Hyong-jik became a father at the age of 17, and left school to work as a teacher in a nearby school he once attended. He later practiced Chinese herbal medicine as a doctor. Kim Hyong-jik protested against Japanese rule, and was arrested several times for his activism. He was a founding member of the Korean National Association in 1917, participated in the 1919 [[March 1st Movement]], and fled Korea for [[Manchuria]] with his wife and young Kim Il-sung in 1920. There is a teacher's college named after him in [[Pyongyang]].<ref name="Corfield2013" />
Kim Il Sung was born in [[Mangyongdae Guyok]] to [[Methodist]] parents.<ref name="Corfield2013"/> His father [[Kim Hyong Jik]] was 15 when he married [[Kang Pan Sok]] two years his elder.{{sfn|Martin|2007|p=14}} Kim Hyong Jik had attended a school founded by Protestant missionaries, which influenced his own family. Kim Hyong Jik became a father at the age of 17, and left school to work as a teacher in a nearby school he once attended. He later practiced Chinese herbal medicine as a doctor. Kim Hyong Jik protested against Japanese rule and was arrested several times for his activism. He was a founding member of the Korean National Association in 1917, participated in the 1919 [[March First Movement]], and fled Korea for [[Manchuria]] with his wife and young Kim Il Sung in 1920. There is a teacher's college named after him in [[Pyongyang]].<ref name="Corfield2013" />


Kim Hyong-jik's own parents, [[Kim Bo-hyon]] and Li Bo-ik,<ref name="Corfield2013" /> were described as "patriots" by the Editorial Committee of the ''Short Biography of Kim Il Sung''.<ref name="Editorial Committee for Il-sung" />
Kim Hyong Jik's own parents, [[Kim Po Hyon]] and Ri Po Ik,<ref name="Corfield2013" /> were described as "patriots" by the Editorial Committee of the ''Short Biography of Kim Il Sung''.<ref name="Editorial Committee for Il-sung" />


== Kim Il-sung ==
== Kim Il Sung ==
[[File:Kim Il Sung Portrait-2.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Eternal leaders of North Korea|Eternal President]] [[Kim Il-sung]]]]
[[File:Kim Il Sung Portrait-3.jpg|thumb|[[Eternal President]] [[Kim Il Sung]]]]
{{Main|Kim Il-sung}}
{{Main|Kim Il Sung}}
Kim Il Sung married twice and had six children. He met his first wife, [[Kim Jong Suk]], in 1936, marrying her in 1940. She bore sons [[Kim Jong Il]] (born 1941 or 1942) and [[Kim Man Il]] (born 1944), and daughter [[Kim Kyong Hui]] (born 1946) before dying while bearing a [[Stillbirth|stillborn]] daughter in 1949. Kim Jong Suk was born 24 December 1917 in Hoeryong in (North) Hamgyo'ng Province. Her family and she fled Korea to Yanji, Jilin (Kirin) Province around 1922.<ref name=leadershipwatch>{{Cite web |title=Kim Family |work=North Korea Leadership Watch |url= http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/kim-family/ }}</ref> In October 1947, Kim Jong Suk presided over the establishment of a school for war orphans in South Pyongan Province, which became the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School. When the school opened in west Pyongyang one year after its foundation, Kim Jong Suk also unveiled the country's first statue to Kim Il Sung. In 1949, Kim Jong Suk was once again pregnant. She continued public activities, but her health diminished. She died on 19 September 1949 due to complications from pregnancy. Kim Il Sung had three children with his second wife, [[Kim Song Ae]]: Kim Kyong Il (born 1951), [[Kim Pyong Il]] (born 1953), and Kim Yong Il (born 1955).<ref name="Time tree" /> He had two younger brothers, Kim Chol-ju and [[Kim Yong-ju]] and a sister.<ref name="leadershipwatch" />


When Kim Il Sung's first wife died, Kim Song-ae was not recognized as Kim Il Sung's wife for several years. Neither partnership had public weddings.{{sfn|Martin|2007|p=187}} Born Kim Sŏngp'al in the early 1920s in South P'yongyang Province, Kim Song-ae began her career as a clerical worker in the Ministry of National Defense where she first met Kim Il Sung in 1948. She was hired to work in his residence as an assistant to Kim Jong Suk. In addition to doing secretarial work for the Kims, she also looked after Kim Jong Il and Kim Kyong-hui. After Kim Jong Suk's 1949 death, Kim Song-ae began managing Kim Il Sung's household and domestic life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kim Song Ae (Kim Song Ae) |work=North Korea Leadership Watch |access-date=25 October 2020|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/leadership-biographies/kim-song-ae-kim-song-ae/ }}</ref>
Kim Il-sung married twice and had six children. He met his first wife, [[Kim Jong-suk]], in 1936, marrying her in 1940. She bore sons [[Kim Jong-il]] (born 1941 or 1942) and [[Kim Man-il]] (born 1944), and daughter [[Kim Kyong-hui]] (born 1946) before dying while bearing a [[Stillbirth|stillborn]] daughter in 1949. Kim Jong-suk was born 24 December 1917 in Hoeryong in (North) Hamgyo’ng Province. Her family and she fled Korea to Yanji, Jilin (Kirin) Province around 1922.<ref name=leadershipwatch>{{Cite web |title=Kim Family |work=North Korea Leadership Watch |url= http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/kim-family/ }}</ref> In October 1947, Kim Jong-suk presided over the establishment of a school for war orphans in South P’yo’ngan Province, which became the Mangyo’ngdae Revolutionary School. When the school opened in west Pyongyang one year after its foundation, Kim Jong-suk also unveiled the country's first statue to Kim Il-sung. In 1949, Kim Jong-suk was once again pregnant. She continued public activities, but her health diminished. She died on 19 September 1949 due to complications from pregnancy. Kim Il-sung had three children with his second wife, [[Kim Song-ae]]: Kim Kyong-il (born 1951), [[Kim Pyong-il]] (born 1953), and Kim Yong-il (born 1955).<ref name="Time tree" /> He had two younger brothers, Kim Chol-ju and [[Kim Yong-ju]] and a sister.<ref name="leadershipwatch" />


In 1953, Kim Song-ae gave birth to her first child with Kim Il Sung, a daughter named Kim Kyong Jin (Kim Kyong Chin). She went on to have at least two other children with him, sons [[Kim Pyong Il]] (b. 1954) and Kim Yong Ill (b. 1955).<ref name="leadershipwatch" />
When Kim Il-sung's first wife died, Kim Song-ae was not recognized as Kim Il-sung's wife for several years. Neither partnerships had public weddings.{{sfn|Martin|2007|p=187}} Born Kim So’ng-p’al in the early 1920s in South P’yo’ngan Province, Kim Song-ae began her career as a clerical worker in the Ministry of National Defense where she first met Kim Il-sung in 1948. She was hired to work in his residence as an assistant to Kim Jong-suk. In addition to doing secretarial work for the Kims, she also looked after Kim Jong-il and Kim Kyong-hui. After Kim Jong-suk's 1949 death, Kim Song-ae began managing Kim Il-sung's household and domestic life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kim Song Ae (Kim So'ng-ae) |work=North Korea Leadership Watch |access-date=25 October 2020|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/leadership-biographies/kim-song-ae-kim-song-ae/ }}</ref>


Kim Kyong-hui became North Korea's first female four-star general.<ref name="mirror.co.uk"/> Her husband [[Jang Song-thaek]] was the second most powerful person in Korea before his December 2013 execution for corruption.<ref name="BBC: first family" /> Their 29-year-old daughter overdosed on sleeping pills in 2006 while in Paris.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside" /> It has also been reported that Kim Yong-il, who was dispatched to serve in Germany, died from cirrhosis of the liver in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00400&num=5270 |title = The Life and Execution of Kim Hyun |date=10 August 2009 |access-date=16 June 2014 |publisher=[[Daily NK]] |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213354/http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00400&num=5270 |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
In 1953, Kim Song-ae gave birth to her first child with Kim Il-sung, a daughter named Kim Kyong-jin (Kim Kyo’ng-chin). She went on to have at least two other children with him, sons [[Kim Pyong-il]] (b. 1954) and Kim Yong-il (b. 1955).<ref name="leadershipwatch" />
{{clear}}


== Kim Jong Il ==
Kim Kyong-hui became North Korea's first female four-star general.<ref name="mirror.co.uk"/> Her husband [[Jang Sung-taek]] was the second most powerful person in Korea before his December 2013 execution for corruption.<ref name="BBC: first family" /> Their 29-year-old daughter overdosed on sleeping pills in 2006 while in Paris.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside" /> It has also been reported that Kim Yong-il, who was dispatched to serve in Germany, died from cirrhosis of the liver in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00400&num=5270 |title = The Life and Execution of Kim Hyun |date=10 August 2009 |access-date=16 June 2014 |publisher=[[Daily NK]] |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213354/http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00400&num=5270 |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
[[File:Kim Jong il Portrait-2.jpg|thumb|[[Eternal leaders of North Korea|Eternal General Secretary and Chairman]] of the [[Workers' Party of Korea]] [[Kim Jong Il]]]]
{{Main|Kim Jong Il}}


Kim Jong Il had four partners,<ref name="BBC: first family" /> and at least six children with three of them.<ref name="NYT Heir Apparent Remains"/> He married his first wife, [[Hong Il-chon]], at the behest of Kim Il Sung in 1966. They had one daughter, [[Kim Hye-kyung]] (born 1968), before divorcing in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hong Il-ch'o'n (Hong Il Chon) {{!}} North Korea Leadership Watch|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/hong-il-chon-hong-il-chon/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=www.nkleadershipwatch.org}}</ref> He later fathered [[Kim Jong-nam]] (born 1971) with his first consort, film star [[Song Hye-rim]]. Due to Song being a divorcée, Kim concealed the relationship and son from his father.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Song Hye Rim (So'ng Hye-rim) {{!}} North Korea Leadership Watch|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/song-hye-rim-song-hye-rim/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=www.nkleadershipwatch.org}}</ref> In 1974, Kim Jong Il married his second wife, [[Kim Young-suk]]. They had two daughters, [[Kim Sol-song]] (born 1974) and Kim Chun-song (born 1976).<ref name="leadershipwatch" /> Kim Jong Il divorced her in 1977, after she lost his personal interest. In 1980, Kim Jong Il married his third wife, [[Ko Yong Hui]]. Ko was the ''de facto'' [[First Lady of North Korea]] from Kim Jong Il's becoming of leader in 1994 until her death in 2004. The couple had two sons, [[Kim Jong-chul]] (born 1981) and [[Kim Jong Un]] (born 1982 or 1983), and one daughter, [[Kim Yo Jong]] (born 1987).<ref name="Time tree"/> After Ko Yong Hui's death, Kim Jong Il was married to his personal secretary, [[Kim Ok]].<ref name="BBC: first family"/> The two were married until Kim Jong Il's death, and did not have any children. The two half-brothers Kim Jong Un and Kim Jong-nam never met, because of the ancient practice of raising potential successors separately.<ref name="Demetriou Feb 17, 2017"/><ref name="McKirdy Feb 16, 2017"/> From the early 1980s onward, Kim Jong Il dichotomized the Kim Family between its main, or central, branch (''won kaji'') and its side, or extraneous, branch (''kyot kaji''). The main branch referred to Kim Il Sung's family with Kim Jong Suk and publicly included Kim Jong Il and Kim Kyong-hui. The side branch referred to Kim Il Sung's family with Kim Sung-ae and included the three children from their marriage.<ref name=leadershipwatch/>
== Kim Jong-il ==
[[File:Kim Jong il Portrait-2.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Eternal leaders of North Korea|Eternal General Secretary and Chairman]] [[Workers' Party of Korea|of the Workers' Party of Korea]] [[Kim Jong-il]]]]
{{Main|Kim Jong-il}}


Kim Jong Un's two older brothers were considered "[[black sheep]]" of the family.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside"/> Kim Jong-nam likely fell out of favor due to advocating for reform in the government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kim Jong-nam Says N.Korean Regime Won't Last Long|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/01/17/2012011701790.html |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=2021-03-03|website=[[The Chosun Ilbo|The Chosun Daily]] |language=ko}}</ref> He had a reputation as a troublemaker within the family,<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky"/> and publicly stated in 2011 that North Korea should transition out of his family's rule.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside"/> On 13 February 2017, [[Assassination of Kim Jong-nam|Kim Jong-nam was assassinated]] with the chemical [[nerve agent]] [[VX (nerve agent)|VX]] at [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]] in Malaysia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Park |first1=Ju-min |last2=Sipalan |first2=Joseph |title=North Korean leader's half brother killed in Malaysia |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-malaysia-kim-idUSKBN15T1DN |access-date=14 February 2017 |work=Reuters |date=14 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170214142910/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-malaysia-kim-idUSKBN15T1DN |archive-date=14 February 2017 }}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite news |title = Kim Jong-un's half-brother 'assassinated with poisoned needles at airport' |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kim-jong-un-half-brother-killed-kim-jong-nam-malaysia-north-korea-leader-a7579246.html |work=The Independent |date=14 February 2017}}</ref> Two women, one Indonesian and one Vietnamese, smeared the agent on Kim Jong-nam's face; both women were released after it was determined that they had been tricked by North Korean operatives, who had told them that the act was a prank for a Japanese comedy program and that the substance was lotion.<ref name="Freed">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48142871 Kim Jong-nam: Vietnamese woman freed in murder case], BBC News (3 May 2019).</ref><ref>Hannah Ellis-Petersen, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/11/kim-jong-nam-trial-siti-aisyah-released-after-charge-dropped Kim Jong-nam death: suspect Siti Aisyah released after charge dropped], ''The Guardian'' (11 March 2019).</ref> Four North Koreans fled Malaysia on the day of the murder.<ref name="Freed"/> Kim Jong-nam was survived by his wife and six children. His son, [[Kim Han-sol]], has also criticized the regime. In an interview with Finnish media in 2012, Kim Han-sol openly criticized the reclusive regime and the government saying that he has always dreamed that one day he would return to his homeland to "make things better". Ever since the death of his father, his whereabouts have been unknown.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kim Han Sol, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged nephew, tired of life on the run: Reports|date=10 October 2017|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/kim-han-sol-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-uns-estranged-nephew-tired-of-life-on-the|work=[[The Straits Times]]|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> It was later revealed in 2019 that Jong-nam was a CIA informant prior to his assassination.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-11|title=Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader, 'was a CIA informant'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/11/kim-jong-nam-half-brother-north-korea-leader-was-cia-informant|access-date=2021-10-09|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
Kim Jong-il had four partners,<ref name="BBC: first family" /> and at least five children with three of them.<ref name="NYT Heir Apparent Remains"/> He married his first wife, [[Hong Il-chon]], at the behest of Kim Il-sung in 1966. They had one daughter, [[Kim Hye-kyung]] (born 1968), before divorcing in 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hong Il-ch'o'n (Hong Il Chon) {{!}} North Korea Leadership Watch|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/hong-il-chon-hong-il-chon/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=www.nkleadershipwatch.org}}</ref> He later fathered [[Kim Jong-nam]] (born 1971) with his first consort, film star [[Song Hye-rim]]. Due to Song being a divorcee, Kim concealed the relationship and son from his father.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Song Hye Rim (So'ng Hye-rim) {{!}} North Korea Leadership Watch|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/song-hye-rim-song-hye-rim/|access-date=2021-03-03|website=www.nkleadershipwatch.org}}</ref> In 1974, Kim Jong-il married his second wife, [[Kim Young-suk]]. They had two daughters, [[Kim Sol-song]] (born 1974) and Kim Chun-song (born 1976).<ref name="leadershipwatch" /> Kim Jong-il divorced her in 1977, after she lost his personal interest. In 1980, Kim Jong-il married his third wife, [[Ko Yong-hui]]. Ko was the ''de facto'' [[First Lady of North Korea]] from Kim Jong-il’s becoming of leader in 1994 until her death in 2004. The couple had two sons, [[Kim Jong-chul]] (born 1981) and [[Kim Jong-un]] (born 1982, 1983, or 1984), and one daughter, [[Kim Yo-jong]] (born 1987).<ref name="Time tree"/> After Ko Yong-hui’s death, Kim Jong-il was married to his personal secretary, [[Kim Ok]].<ref name="BBC: first family"/> The two were married until Kim Jong-il’s death, and did not have any children. The two half-brothers Kim Jong-un and Kim Jong-nam never met, because of the ancient practice of raising potential successors separately.<ref name="Demetriou Feb 17, 2017"/><ref name="McKirdy Feb 16, 2017"/> From the early 1980s onward, Kim Jong-il dichotomized the Kim Family between its main, or central, branch (''won kaji'') and its side, or extraneous, branch (''kyot kaji''). The main branch referred to Kim Il-sung’s family with Kim Jong-suk and publicly included Kim Jong-il and Kim Kyong-hui. The side branch referred to Kim Il-sung’s family with Kim Sung-ae and included the three children from their marriage.<ref name=leadershipwatch/>

Kim Jong-un's two older brothers were considered "[[black sheep]]" of the family.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside"/> Kim Jong-nam likely fell out of favor when caught in a plot to visit [[Tokyo Disneyland]] in 2001,<ref name="BBC: first family"/><ref name="Daily Beast: inside"/> though Kim Jong-nam himself stated that he was not favored due to advocating for reform in the government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kim Jong-nam Says N.Korean Regime Won't Last Long|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/01/17/2012011701790.html|access-date=2021-03-03|website=english.chosun.com|language=ko}}</ref> He had a reputation as a troublemaker within the family,<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky"/> and publicly stated in 2011 that North Korea should transition out of his family's rule.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside"/> On 14 February 2017, [[Assassination of Kim Jong-nam|Kim Jong-nam was assassinated]] with the chemical [[nerve agent]] [[VX (nerve agent)|VX]] at [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]] in Malaysia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Park |first1=Ju-min |last2=Sipalan |first2=Joseph |title=North Korean leader's half brother killed in Malaysia |url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-malaysia-kim-idUSKBN15T1DN |access-date=14 February 2017 |work=Reuters |date=14 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170214142910/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-malaysia-kim-idUSKBN15T1DN |archive-date=14 February 2017 }}</ref><ref name="independent">{{cite news |title = Kim Jong-un's half-brother 'assassinated with poisoned needles at airport' |url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kim-jong-un-half-brother-killed-kim-jong-nam-malaysia-north-korea-leader-a7579246.html |work=The Independent |date=14 February 2017}}</ref> Two women, an Indonesian and a Vietnamese, smeared the agent on Kim Jong-nam's face; both women were released after it was determined that they had been tricked by North Korean operatives, who had told them that the act was a prank for a Japanese comedy program and that the substance was lotion.<ref name="Freed">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-48142871 Kim Jong-nam: Vietnamese woman freed in murder case], BBC News (3 May 2019).</ref><ref>Hannah Ellis-Petersen, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/11/kim-jong-nam-trial-siti-aisyah-released-after-charge-dropped Kim Jong-nam death: suspect Siti Aisyah released after charge dropped], ''The Guardian'' (11 March 2019).</ref> Four North Koreans fled Malaysia on the day of the murder.<ref name="Freed"/> Kim Jong-nam was survived by his wife and two children. His son, Kim Han-sol, has also criticized the regime. In an interview with Finnish media in 2012, Kim Han-sol openly criticized the reclusive regime and the government saying that he has always dreamed that one day he would return to his homeland to "make things better". Ever since the death of his father, his whereabouts have been unknown.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kim Han Sol, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged nephew, tired of life on the run: Reports|date=10 October 2017|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/kim-han-sol-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-uns-estranged-nephew-tired-of-life-on-the|work=[[The Straits Times]]|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref>


The middle son, Kim Jong-chul, was reportedly not considered in succession considerations due to his unmasculine characteristics.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside" /> He is also known to be reserved.<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky"/>
The middle son, Kim Jong-chul, was reportedly not considered in succession considerations due to his unmasculine characteristics.<ref name="Daily Beast: inside" /> He is also known to be reserved.<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky"/>
{{clear}}


== Kim Jong-un ==
== Kim Jong Un ==
{{stack| }}
[[File:Kim Jong-un April 2019 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea|General Secretary]] [[Kim Jong-un]]]]
[[File:Kim Jong-un April 2019 (cropped).jpg|alt=An official image of Kim Jong Un. He is wearing a black striped suit and standing in front of a flag.|thumb|Current [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|supreme leader]] of [[North Korea]] and [[General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea]] [[Kim Jong Un]]]]
{{Main|Kim Jong-un}}
{{Main|Kim Jong Un}}
{{expand section|date=April 2020}}
{{expand section|date=April 2020}}
Kim Jong Un became North Korea's Supreme Leader on 29 December 2011.<ref name="Time tree" /> He married [[Ri Sol-ju]] in either 2009 or 2010, and the couple reportedly had a daughter, Kim Ju-ae, in 2012.<ref name="BBC: first family" /> His sister Kim Yo-jong had fallen out of favor with her brother for a few years, but in 2017, she was elevated by Kim Jong Un to the powerful [[Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea]]. Kim Jong Un made an effort to distinguish himself from the reputations of his father and brothers and has promoted the image of an academic who possesses a masculine and extroverted demeanor.<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky" />


In April 2020, a three-week absence from public view led to speculation that Kim was seriously ill or dead, but no clear evidence of any health problem came to light.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sang-Hun |first=Choe |date=1 May 2020 |title=Kim Jong-un Resurfaces, State Media Says, After Weeks of Health Rumors |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/world/asia/kim-jong-un-resurfaces.html |access-date=2 May 2020 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502000934/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/world/asia/kim-jong-un-resurfaces.html |archive-date=2 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nknews.org/2020/05/amid-health-rumors-kim-jong-un-absent-for-two-consecutive-three-week-periods/|title=Amid health rumors, Kim Jong Un absent for two consecutive three-week periods|first=Chad|last=O'Carroll|publisher=[[NK News]]|date=22 May 2020}}</ref> He continued to appear in public rarely over the following months, possibly because of health problems or the risk of COVID-19.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nknews.org/2020/06/amid-all-time-appearance-lows-kim-jong-un-absent-for-another-three-week-period/|title=Amid all-time appearance lows, Kim Jong Un absent for another three-week period|first=Chad|last=O'Carroll|publisher=[[NK News]]|date=29 June 2020}}</ref> In August, it was reported that Kim had ceded a degree of authority to his sister, [[Kim Yo-jong]], giving her responsibility for relations with [[South Korea]] and the [[United States]] and making her his ''de facto'' second-in-command.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/21/kim-yo-jong-sister-of-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-now-de-facto-second-in-command|title=Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's Kim Jong-un, now 'de facto second in command'|access-date=21 August 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref>
Kim Jong-un became North Korea's Supreme Leader on 29 December 2011.<ref name="Time tree"/> He married [[Ri Sol-ju]] in either 2009 or 2010, and the couple reportedly had a daughter, Kim Ju-ae, in 2012.<ref name=" BBC: first family" /> His sister Kim Yo-jong had fallen out of favor with her brother for a few years but in 2017, she was elevated by Kim Jong-un to the powerful [[Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea]]. Kim Jong-un made an effort to distinguish himself from the reputations of his father and brothers, and has promoted the image of an academic who possesses a masculine and extroverted demeanor.<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky" /> In April 2020, unconfirmed<ref>{{cite news|last=Beresford|first=Jack|title=North Korea ruler Kim Jong-un 'dead' or in 'vegetative state', according to reports|date=26 April 2020|url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/north-korea-ruler-kim-jong-un-dead-vegetative-state-according-reports-184164|work=[[The Irish Post]]|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> rumours of Kim Jong-un's death or severe disability following a botched coronary PCI (angioplasty) began to circulate in the world's media. Kim Jong-un was sighted on May 1, 2020 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a new fertilizer factory, but there is talk about him using a body double.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/05/19/north-korea-media-kim-jong-un-working-with-no-days-off/|title = North Korea state media says Kim Jong Un is working with no days off|date = 19 May 2020}}</ref>


== Possible Successors ==
== Possible successors ==
=== Kim Ju-ae ===
Power struggles within the family have, in some instances, been violent , with Kim Jong-il's brother-in-law [[Jang Song-thaek]], and Kim Jong-un's half-brother, [[Kim Jong-nam]], having been killed by the regime via execution and assassination, respectively.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d9659275-3ee9-46be-bae8-ad0e13b4ccf1|title=How Kim's sister could be next in line to rule North Korea|last1=White|first1=Edward|last2=Manson|first2=Katrina|date=27 April 2020|website=www.ft.com|language=en-GB|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref>
[[Kim Ju-ae]] is the daughter of North Korean [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|supreme leader]] [[Kim Jong Un]] and his wife [[Ri Sol-ju]].<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Yoon |first=John |date=19 November 2022 |title=Kim Jong-un Takes His Daughter to Missile Test Launch|work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/19/world/asia/kim-jong-un-daughter-missile-launch.html |access-date=9 February 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


Kim Ju-ae appeared in public for the first time at a missile launch in November 2022.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" /> She had made five public appearances by early February 2023. State media initially called her Kim Jong Un's "beloved" daughter, but soon began using the adjective "respected", which is reserved only for the most honoured members of North Korean society, such as Kim Ju-ae's parents.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Mackenzie |first=Jean |date=9 February 2023 |title=Succession questions raised by presence of Kim's daughter|work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64581465 |access-date=9 February 2023}}</ref><!--ref name="La Vanguardia 2023"/--> Some analysts believe that her new public profile is an attempt to present the Kim family in the fashion of a traditional [[monarchy]]<ref name=":0" /> or a response to rivalries within the [[Government of North Korea|North Korean government]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Lloyd Parry |first=Richard |date=27 January 2023 |title=Kim Jong-un 'signalling that daughter Ju-ae will succeed him' |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/who-is-kim-jong-un-daughter-children-ju-ae-north-korea-swq3q37z3 |work=The Times|access-date=9 February 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> It has also led to speculation that she has been chosen as her father's successor, which could make her the first woman to serve as [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|Supreme Leader]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Lloyd Parry |first=Richard |date=8 February 2023 |title=Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae appears for North Korean military parade |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kim-jong-un-daughter-ju-ae-north-korea-military-parade-8xwjpgfck |access-date=9 February 2023 |work=The Times|issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rai |first=Arpan |date=8 February 2023 |title=Kim Jong-un gives strongest hint yet about his successor at key military event |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/east-asia/kim-jong-un-daughter-successor-north-korea-b2278023.html |access-date=9 February 2023 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Lendon |first=Yoonjung Seo,Brad |date=8 February 2023 |title=Kim Jong Un puts daughter front and center at lavish military banquet |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/08/asia/north-korea-kim-jong-un-daughter-banquet-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=9 February 2023|publisher=CNN }}</ref>
=== Kim Yo-jong ===

[[File:Donald Trump greets Kim Yo Jong in Singapore Summit.jpg|thumb|US President [[Donald Trump]] greets [[Kim Yo-jong]].]]
=== Kim Yo Jong ===
[[Kim Yo-jong]], the younger sister of Kim Jong-un, is considered a "rising star" within North Korean politics.<ref name=":0" /> She has been groomed since an early age, and has represented North Korea in the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] in South Korea, becoming the first member of the Kim family to visit since the end of the war, and has also played a key role behind the scenes.<ref name=":0" /> She met US President Donald Trump in 2018.
[[File:Donald Trump greets Kim Yo Jong in Singapore Summit.jpg|thumb|US President [[Donald Trump]] greets [[Kim Yo Jong]].]]
[[Kim Yo Jong]], the younger sister of Kim Jong Un, is considered a "rising star" within North Korean politics.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=White|first1=Edward|last2=Manson|first2=Katrina|date=27 April 2020|title=How Kim's sister could be next in line to rule North Korea|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d9659275-3ee9-46be-bae8-ad0e13b4ccf1|access-date=28 April 2020|website=www.ft.com|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Lee 2023"/> She has been groomed since an early age,{{clarify|date=September 2022}} and has represented North Korea in the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] in South Korea, becoming the first member of the Kim family to visit since the end of the war, and has also played a key role behind the scenes.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Lee 2023"/> She met then-US President Donald Trump in 2018.<ref name="Lee 2023"/>


=== Kim Pyong-il ===
=== Kim Pyong-il ===
[[Kim Pyong-il]] is the last living son of the country's founder, [[Kim Il-sung]]. After losing out to [[Kim Jong-il]], he spent four decades as an ambassador to various European countries, until returning in 2019.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/kim-jong-uns-uncle-suddenly-relevant-after-four-decades-abroad|title=Kim Jong Un's uncle suddenly relevant after four decades abroad|last=hermesauto|date=29 April 2020|website=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> He is thought of as having an advantage over Kim Yo-jong thanks to his gender, but simultaneously carrying a disadvantage due to his lack of connections.<ref name=":1" /> He has an adult son, Kim In-kang, and an adult daughter, Kim Ung-song.<ref>https://nkreports.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/biography-of-kim-pyong-il-nicolas-levi.pdf</ref>
[[Kim Pyong-il]] is the last living son of the country's founder, [[Kim Il Sung]]. After losing out to [[Kim Jong Il]], he spent four decades as an ambassador to various European countries, until returning in 2019.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/kim-jong-uns-uncle-suddenly-relevant-after-four-decades-abroad|title=Kim Jong Un's uncle suddenly relevant after four decades abroad|last=hermesauto|date=29 April 2020|website=The Straits Times|language=en|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref> He is thought of as having an advantage over Kim Yo Jong due to his gender, but simultaneously carrying a disadvantage due to his lack of connections.<ref name=":1" /> He has an adult son, Kim In-kang, and an adult daughter, Kim Ung-song.{{sfn|Levi|2010|p=39n38}}


=== Unlikely heirs ===
=== Unlikely heirs ===
[[Kim Jong-chul]], the older brother of Kim Jong-un, has been described as "lacking in ambition" and to be more interested in [[Eric Clapton]] and playing guitars.<ref name=":0" />
[[Kim Jong-chul]], the older brother of Kim Jong Un, has been described as "lacking in ambition" and to be more interested in [[Eric Clapton]] and playing guitars.<ref name=":0" />


Kim Jong Un is also reported to have two other children born a few years before and after Kim Ju-ae.<ref>{{cite news |title=North Korea leader Kim Jong-un married to Ri Sol-ju |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18986249 |publisher=BBC |date=25 July 2012 |access-date=4 December 2013 |quote=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. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107114949/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18986249 |archive-date=7 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Keeping up with the Kims: North Korea's elusive first family |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41081356 |website=[[BBC]] |access-date=2 May 2020 |date=7 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430000245/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41081356 |archive-date=30 April 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |agency=Agence France-Presse |title=Kim Jong-un 'has fathered his third child' after wife disappeared from public eye |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/29/kim-jong-un-has-fathered-third-child-wife-disappeared-public/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |access-date=2 May 2020 |date=29 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307170102/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/29/kim-jong-un-has-fathered-third-child-wife-disappeared-public/ |archive-date=7 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Kim Il-sung's surviving brother, [[Kim Yong-ju]], turned 100 years old in 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jeong|first=Andrew|date=2021-02-05|title=Kim Jong Un's Family Tree: What You Need to Know About North Korea's Dynasty|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-kim-jong-un-family-succession-11612436917|access-date=2021-08-06|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Yong-ju has two biological and two adopted children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/05/archives/kim-yong-ju-north-korea.html|title=Kim Yong Ju|newspaper=The New York Times|date=5 July 1972}}</ref>


Kim Il Sung's deceased brother, [[Kim Yong-ju]], had two biological and two adopted children, whose identity and current positions within the North Korean government are obscure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/05/archives/kim-yong-ju-north-korea.html|title=Kim Yong Ju|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=5 July 1972}}</ref>
Kim Jong-un's reported daughter, Kim Ju-ae, is still a young child, as such, she is considered to be ineligible to succeed her father.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-02-17|title=North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's wife makes first appearance in a year|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56093689|access-date=2021-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mark|first=Michelle|title=What we know about Kim Jong Un's 3 possible heirs|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/kim-jong-un-heirs-what-we-know-2017-12|access-date=2021-08-06|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref>


== Family tree ==
== Family tree ==
Line 165: Line 167:
== See also ==
== See also ==
{{Portal|North Korea}}
{{Portal|North Korea}}
* [[List of heads of state of North Korea]]
* [[Paektu Mountain]]
* [[List of leaders of North Korea]]
* [[List of political families]]
* [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)]]
* [[General Secretary Kim (disambiguation)|General Secretary Kim]]
* [[North Korean cult of personality]]
* [[North Korean cult of personality]]
* [[O family]]
* [[O family]]
* [[Politics of North Korea]]
* [[Politics of North Korea]]
* [[Kim (Korean surname)#Jeonju|Jeongju Gim (Kim)]]
* [[Jeonju Kim clan|Chŏnju Kim clan]]


== References ==
== References ==
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{{Reflist
{{Reflist
|refs =
|refs =
<ref name="Al Jazeera: ready">{{cite web |url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/12/kim-tells-n-korean-army-ready-combat-201312253919159350.html |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title=Kim tells N Korean army to ready for combat |date = 25 December 2013 |work = [[Al Jazeera]] |publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131227203825/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/12/kim-tells-n-korean-army-ready-combat-201312253919159350.html |archive-date = 27 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Al Jazeera: ready">{{cite web |url = http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/12/kim-tells-n-korean-army-ready-combat-201312253919159350.html |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title=Kim tells N Korean army to ready for combat |date = 25 December 2013 |work = [[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |publisher=[[Al Jazeera Media Network]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131227203825/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/12/kim-tells-n-korean-army-ready-combat-201312253919159350.html |archive-date = 27 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="BBC: first family">{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11297747 |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title = North Korea's secretive 'first family' |date = 13 December 2013 |work=[[BBC News Asia]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224133003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11297747 |archive-date = 24 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="BBC: first family">{{cite web |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11297747 |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title = North Korea's secretive 'first family' |date = 13 December 2013 |work=[[BBC News Asia]] |publisher=[[BBC]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224133003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11297747 |archive-date = 24 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!-- <ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.seo-forum-seo-luntan.com/social-network-seo-social-network/dprk-in-fact-is-scmk/msg2312/#msg2312 |access-date = 4 May 2017 |title = DPRK in fact is SCMK |date = 1 July 2011 |work=[[Geser Kurultaev]] |publisher=[[Omnilogy forum]] }}.</ref> -->
<!-- <ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.seo-forum-seo-luntan.com/social-network-seo-social-network/dprk-in-fact-is-scmk/msg2312/#msg2312 |access-date = 4 May 2017 |title = DPRK in fact is SCMK |date = 1 July 2011 |work=[[Geser Kurultaev]] |publisher=[[Omnilogy forum]] }}.</ref> -->
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<ref name="Corfield2013">{{cite book |last=Corfield |first=Justin |title=Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=a46gFDWr3aMC&pg=PA78 |year=2013 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-0-85728-234-7 |pages=78–79 }}</ref>
<ref name="Corfield2013">{{cite book |last=Corfield |first=Justin |title=Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=a46gFDWr3aMC&pg=PA78 |year=2013 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-0-85728-234-7 |pages=78–79 }}</ref>
<ref name="Daily Beast: inside">{{cite news |url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/19/inside-north-korea-s-first-family-rivals-to-kim-jong-un-s-power.html |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title = Inside North Korea's First Family: Rivals to Kim Jong-un's Power |last = Shenon |first = Philip |date = 19 December 2011 |work = [[The Daily Beast]] |publisher = [[The Newsweek Daily Beast Company]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150409205329/http://www.url/ |archive-date = 9 April 2015 |url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="Daily Beast: inside">{{cite news |url = http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/19/inside-north-korea-s-first-family-rivals-to-kim-jong-un-s-power.html |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title = Inside North Korea's First Family: Rivals to Kim Jong-un's Power |last = Shenon |first = Philip |date = 19 December 2011 |work = [[The Daily Beast]] |publisher = [[The Newsweek Daily Beast Company]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150409205329/http://www.url/ |archive-date = 9 April 2015 |url-status = live }}</ref>
<ref name="EB Il-sung">{{cite web |url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317881/Kim-Il-Sung |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = Kim Il-Sung (president of North Korea) |year=2013 |website = [[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203074526/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317881/Kim-Il-Sung |archive-date = 3 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="EB Il-sung">{{cite web |url = https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317881/Kim-Il-Sung |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = Kim Il-Sung (president of North Korea) |year=2013 |website = [[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203074526/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317881/Kim-Il-Sung |archive-date = 3 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="EB Jong-il">{{cite web |url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317868/Kim-Jong-Il |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = Kim Jong Il (North Korean political leader) |year=2013 |website = [[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140203065210/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317868/Kim-Jong-Il |archive-date = 3 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="EB Jong-il">{{cite web |url = https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317868/Kim-Jong-Il |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = Kim Jong Il (North Korean political leader) |year=2013 |website = [[Encyclopædia Britannica Online]] |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140203065210/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/317868/Kim-Jong-Il |archive-date = 3 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Economist: Next of Kim">{{cite news |url = http://www.economist.com/node/17101170 |title=Next of Kim |date = 23 September 2010 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=27 December 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131113181236/http://www.economist.com/node/17101170 |archive-date = 13 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Economist: Next of Kim">{{cite news |url = http://www.economist.com/node/17101170 |title=Next of Kim |date = 23 September 2010 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |access-date=27 December 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131113181236/http://www.economist.com/node/17101170 |archive-date = 13 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Editorial Committee for Il-sung">{{cite book |author1 = Editorial Committee for the Short Biography of Kim Il Sung |last2=Chʻulpʻansa |first2=Oegungmun |title = Kim Il Sung: short biography |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=S6pxAAAAMAAJ |year=1973 |publisher = Foreign Languages Publishing House |page = 1 }}</ref>
<ref name="Editorial Committee for Il-sung">{{cite book |author1 = Editorial Committee for the Short Biography of Kim Il Sung |last2=Chʻulpʻansa |first2=Oegungmun |title = Kim Il Sung: short biography |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=S6pxAAAAMAAJ |year=1973 |publisher=[[Foreign Languages Publishing House (North Korea)|Foreign Languages Publishing House]] |page = 1 }}</ref>
<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky">{{cite web |url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/avidan-milevsky/dynamics-in-the-kim-jong-_b_3069336.html |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title = Dynamics in the Kim Jong Family and North Korea's Erratic Behavior |last = Milevsky |first = Avidan |date = 12 April 2013 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130416064709/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avidan-milevsky/dynamics-in-the-kim-jong-_b_3069336.html |archive-date = 16 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="HuffPo: Milevsky">{{cite web |url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/avidan-milevsky/dynamics-in-the-kim-jong-_b_3069336.html |access-date = 27 December 2013 |title = Dynamics in the Kim Jong Family and North Korea's Erratic Behavior |last = Milevsky |first = Avidan |date = 12 April 2013 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130416064709/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avidan-milevsky/dynamics-in-the-kim-jong-_b_3069336.html |archive-date = 16 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="NYT Following Dear Leader">{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/world/asia/following-dear-leader-kim-jong-un-gets-title-from-university-dr-leader.html?_r=0 |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = Following Dear Leader, Kim Jong-un Gets Title From University: Dr. Leader |first = Sang-hun |last = Choe |date = 25 October 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131205100552/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/world/asia/following-dear-leader-kim-jong-un-gets-title-from-university-dr-leader.html?_r=1& |archive-date = 5 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="NYT Following Dear Leader">{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/world/asia/following-dear-leader-kim-jong-un-gets-title-from-university-dr-leader.html?_r=0 |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = Following Dear Leader, Kim Jong-un Gets Title From University: Dr. Leader |first = Sang-hun |last = Choe |date = 25 October 2013 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131205100552/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/26/world/asia/following-dear-leader-kim-jong-un-gets-title-from-university-dr-leader.html?_r=1& |archive-date = 5 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="NYT Heir Apparent Remains">{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/world/asia/15kim.html |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = North Korea's Heir Apparent Remains a Mystery |first1=Sang-hun |last1=Choe |last2=Fackler |first2=Martin |date = 14 January 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131127121354/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/world/asia/15kim.html?_r=0 |archive-date = 27 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="NYT Heir Apparent Remains">{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/world/asia/15kim.html |access-date = 29 December 2013 |title = North Korea's Heir Apparent Remains a Mystery |first1=Sang-hun |last1=Choe |last2=Fackler |first2=Martin |date = 14 January 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131127121354/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/world/asia/15kim.html?_r=0 |archive-date = 27 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Time tree">{{cite web |url = http://content.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2107093,00.html |access-date = 2 January 2014 |title = The Kim Family Tree |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140117200656/http://content.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2107093,00.html |archive-date = 17 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Time tree">{{cite magazine |url = https://content.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2107093,00.html |access-date = 2 January 2014 |title = The Kim Family Tree |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |publisher=[[Time Inc.]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140117200656/http://content.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2107093,00.html |archive-date = 17 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>


<ref name="Demetriou Feb 17, 2017">{{cite news |title = Kim Jong-nam received 'direct warning' from North Korea after criticising regime of half-brother Kim Jong-un |first=Danielle |last=Demetriou |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/17/kim-jong-nam-warned-pyongyang-criticising-regime-japanese-journalist/ |newspaper = [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |location = United Kingdom |date = 17 February 2017 |access-date = 20 February 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170218001124/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/17/kim-jong-nam-warned-pyongyang-criticising-regime-japanese-journalist/ |archive-date = 18 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Demetriou Feb 17, 2017">{{cite news |title = Kim Jong-nam received 'direct warning' from North Korea after criticising regime of half-brother Kim Jong-un |first=Danielle |last=Demetriou |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/17/kim-jong-nam-warned-pyongyang-criticising-regime-japanese-journalist/ |newspaper = [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |location = United Kingdom |date = 17 February 2017 |access-date = 20 February 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170218001124/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/17/kim-jong-nam-warned-pyongyang-criticising-regime-japanese-journalist/ |archive-date = 18 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>


<ref name="McKirdy Feb 16, 2017">{{cite news |title = North Korea's ruling family: Who is Kim Jong Nam? |first=Euan |last=McKirdy |url = http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/asia/kim-jong-nam-profile/ |publisher = CNN |location = U.S. |date = 16 February 2017 |access-date = 20 February 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170216093813/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/asia/kim-jong-nam-profile/ |archive-date = 16 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="McKirdy Feb 16, 2017">{{cite news |title = North Korea's ruling family: Who is Kim Jong Nam? |first=Euan |last=McKirdy |url = http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/asia/kim-jong-nam-profile/ |publisher = CNN |location = U.S. |date = 16 February 2017 |access-date = 20 February 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170216093813/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/asia/kim-jong-nam-profile/ |archive-date = 16 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Lee 2023">{{cite book |last=Lee |first=Sung-Yoon |author-link=Sung-Yoon Lee|date=2023 |title=[[The Sister: The extraordinary story of Kim Yo Jong, the most powerful woman in North Korea]] |url= |location= United Kingdom|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan]] |isbn=9781529073539}}</ref>

}}
}}


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* {{cite journal |last = Kim |first = Nam-Sik |date = Spring–Summer 1982 |title = North Korea's Power Structure and Foreign Relations: an Analysis of the Sixth Congress of the KWP |journal = The Journal of East Asian Affairs |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=125–151 |publisher = Institute for National Security Strategy |jstor=23253510 }}
* {{cite report |last = Lee |first = Kyo Duk |year=2004 |chapter=The Successor Theory of North Korea |title = 'Peaceful Utilization of the DMZ' as a National Strategy |editor-last=Son |editor-first=Gi-Woong |publisher=Korean Institute for National Reunification |url = http://www.kinu.or.kr/eng/pub/pub_02_01.jsp?page=8&field=&text=&order=&dir=&mode=list&bid=DATA05&ses=&category= |chapter-url = http://www.kinu.or.kr/servlet/Download?num=1&fno=1&bid=DATA05&callback=http://www.kinu.or.kr/eng/pub/pub_02_01.jsp&ses= |isbn=898479225X }}&nbsp;{{open access}}
* {{cite report |last = Lee |first = Kyo Duk |year=2004 |chapter=The Successor Theory of North Korea |title = 'Peaceful Utilization of the DMZ' as a National Strategy |editor-last=Son |editor-first=Gi-Woong |publisher=Korean Institute for National Reunification |url = http://www.kinu.or.kr/eng/pub/pub_02_01.jsp?page=8&field=&text=&order=&dir=&mode=list&bid=DATA05&ses=&category= |chapter-url = http://www.kinu.or.kr/servlet/Download?num=1&fno=1&bid=DATA05&callback=http://www.kinu.or.kr/eng/pub/pub_02_01.jsp&ses= |isbn=898479225X}}
* {{cite journal|last=Levi|first=Nicolas|year=2010|title=A Biography of Kim Pyong Il: The Second Dauphin?|url=https://nkreports.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/biography-of-kim-pyong-il-nicolas-levi.pdf|pages=33–47|journal=Parallax|volume=VII|number=1|issn=1353-4645}}
* {{cite book |last = Martin |first = Bradley K. |title = Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qoZx6hOCNukC&pg=PA14 |year = 2007 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-1-4299-0699-9 }}
* {{cite book |last = Martin |first = Bradley K. |title = Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qoZx6hOCNukC&pg=PA14 |year = 2007 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=978-1-4299-0699-9 }}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Kim family (North_Korea)}}
{{Kim family (North Korea)}}
{{Workers' Party of Korea}}
{{Workers' Party of Korea}}
{{Leaders of Korea}}
{{Kim Il Sung}}
{{Kim Il-sung}}
{{Kim Jong Il}}
{{Kim Jong-il}}
{{Kim Jong Un}}
{{Kim Jong-un}}


[[Category:Kim dynasty (North Korea)| ]]
[[Category:Kim family (North Korea)| ]]

Latest revision as of 00:46, 31 December 2024

Kim family
Mount Paektu bloodline
Three photos depicting each of the three members of the Kim family: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un
From left to right: Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un
Parent familyJeonju Kim clan
CountryNorth Korea
Place of originMangyongdae, Pyongyang
Founded9 September 1948; 76 years ago (1948-09-09)
FounderKim Il Sung
Current headKim Jong Un
TitlesSupreme Leader of North Korea
General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea
Style(s)
  • Great Leader (Kim Il Sung)
  • Dear Leader (Kim Jong Il)
Members
Connected members
Kim Il Sung's wives:
Kim Il Sung's sons:
Kim Il Sung's daughters:
Kim Jong Il's wives:
Kim Jong Il's sons:
Kim Jong Il's daughters:
Kim Jong Un's family:
TraditionsJuche
Estate(s)Residences of North Korean leaders
(Mount) Paektu bloodline
Chosŏn'gŭl
백두혈통
Hancha
白頭血統
Revised RomanizationBaekdu-hyeoltong
McCune–ReischauerPaektu-hyŏlt'ong
Politics of North Korea
Constitution
Workers' Party of Korea
Congress (8th)
Supreme People's Assembly
14th term
State Affairs Commission
14th term

Organizations

Cabinet
14th term

Cabinet Ministries

Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Related topics
flag North Korea portal

The Kim family, officially the Mount Paektu bloodline (Korean: 백두혈통), named for Paektu Mountain, in the ideological discourse of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), and often referred to as the Kim dynasty after the Cold War's end, is a three-generation lineage of North Korean leadership, descending from the country's founder and first leader, Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung came to rule the north in 1948, after the end of Japanese rule split the region in 1945. Following his death in 1994, Kim Il Sung's role as supreme leader was passed to his son, Kim Jong Il, and then in 2011 to his grandson, Kim Jong Un. The three served as leaders of the WPK, and as North Korea's supreme leaders since the state's establishment in 1948.

The North Korean government denies that there is a personality cult surrounding the Kim family, describing the people's devotion to the family as a personal manifestation of support for their nation's leadership.[1] The Kim family has been described as a de facto absolute monarchy[2][3][4] or hereditary dictatorship.[5]

Historical overview

[edit]

The Kim family has ruled North Korea since 1948[6] for three generations,[7] and still little about the family is publicly confirmed.[8] Kim Il Sung rebelled against Japanese rule over Korea in the 1930s, which led to his exile in the Soviet Union. Korea was divided after the Japanese surrender in World War II in 1945. Kim came to lead the Provisional People's Committee for North Korea (a Soviet-backed provisional government), becoming the first premier of its new government, the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (commonly known as North Korea), in 1948. Hoping to reunify the peninsula, on 25 June 1950 the North Korean KPA crossed the 38th Parallel, sparking the Korean War, which ended in stalemate in 1953.[9]

Kim developed a personality cult over his nearly 46-year leadership[9] which extended to his family, including his mother Kang Pan Sok (known as the "mother of Korea"), his brother Kim Yong-ju ("the revolutionary fighter") and his first wife Kim Jong Suk (the "mother of the revolution").[10] The strong and absolute leadership of a solitary great leader, known as the Suryong, is central to the North Korean ideology of Juche.[11] Four years after Kim Il Sung's 1994 death, a constitutional change wrote the presidency out of the constitution and named him as Eternal President of the Republic in order to honor his memory forever.[9] Kim Il Sung was known as the Great Leader,[12] and his eldest son and successor, Kim Jong Il,[9] became known as the Dear Leader[12] and later the Great General.[13] Kim Jong Il altogether had over 50 titles.

Kim Jong Il was appointed to the Workers Party's Politburo (and its Presidium), Secretariat and the Central Military Commission at the 6th Workers Party Congress in October 1980,[14] which formalized his role as heir apparent.[9] He led their military beginning in 1990,[15] and had a 14-year grooming period before he became North Korea's ruler.[10] Kim Jong Il had a sister, Kim Kyung-hee, who was North Korea's first female four-star general[16] and married to Jang Song-thaek, who was the second most powerful person in North Korea before his December 2013 execution for corruption.[17] Kim Jong Il had four partners,[17] and at least five children with three of them.[18] His third and youngest son, Kim Jong Un, succeeded him.[17] Scholar Virginie Grzelczyk wrote that the Kim family represented "one of the last bastions of totalitarianism as well as perhaps 'the first Communist Dynasty'".[19]

Ancestry

[edit]

Kim Il Sung was born in Mangyongdae Guyok to Methodist parents.[20] His father Kim Hyong Jik was 15 when he married Kang Pan Sok two years his elder.[21] Kim Hyong Jik had attended a school founded by Protestant missionaries, which influenced his own family. Kim Hyong Jik became a father at the age of 17, and left school to work as a teacher in a nearby school he once attended. He later practiced Chinese herbal medicine as a doctor. Kim Hyong Jik protested against Japanese rule and was arrested several times for his activism. He was a founding member of the Korean National Association in 1917, participated in the 1919 March First Movement, and fled Korea for Manchuria with his wife and young Kim Il Sung in 1920. There is a teacher's college named after him in Pyongyang.[20]

Kim Hyong Jik's own parents, Kim Po Hyon and Ri Po Ik,[20] were described as "patriots" by the Editorial Committee of the Short Biography of Kim Il Sung.[22]

Kim Il Sung

[edit]
Eternal President Kim Il Sung
Main article: Kim Il Sung

Kim Il Sung married twice and had six children. He met his first wife, Kim Jong Suk, in 1936, marrying her in 1940. She bore sons Kim Jong Il (born 1941 or 1942) and Kim Man Il (born 1944), and daughter Kim Kyong Hui (born 1946) before dying while bearing a stillborn daughter in 1949. Kim Jong Suk was born 24 December 1917 in Hoeryong in (North) Hamgyo'ng Province. Her family and she fled Korea to Yanji, Jilin (Kirin) Province around 1922.[23] In October 1947, Kim Jong Suk presided over the establishment of a school for war orphans in South Pyongan Province, which became the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School. When the school opened in west Pyongyang one year after its foundation, Kim Jong Suk also unveiled the country's first statue to Kim Il Sung. In 1949, Kim Jong Suk was once again pregnant. She continued public activities, but her health diminished. She died on 19 September 1949 due to complications from pregnancy. Kim Il Sung had three children with his second wife, Kim Song Ae: Kim Kyong Il (born 1951), Kim Pyong Il (born 1953), and Kim Yong Il (born 1955).[24] He had two younger brothers, Kim Chol-ju and Kim Yong-ju and a sister.[23]

When Kim Il Sung's first wife died, Kim Song-ae was not recognized as Kim Il Sung's wife for several years. Neither partnership had public weddings.[25] Born Kim Sŏngp'al in the early 1920s in South P'yongyang Province, Kim Song-ae began her career as a clerical worker in the Ministry of National Defense where she first met Kim Il Sung in 1948. She was hired to work in his residence as an assistant to Kim Jong Suk. In addition to doing secretarial work for the Kims, she also looked after Kim Jong Il and Kim Kyong-hui. After Kim Jong Suk's 1949 death, Kim Song-ae began managing Kim Il Sung's household and domestic life.[26]

In 1953, Kim Song-ae gave birth to her first child with Kim Il Sung, a daughter named Kim Kyong Jin (Kim Kyong Chin). She went on to have at least two other children with him, sons Kim Pyong Il (b. 1954) and Kim Yong Ill (b. 1955).[23]

Kim Kyong-hui became North Korea's first female four-star general.[16] Her husband Jang Song-thaek was the second most powerful person in Korea before his December 2013 execution for corruption.[17] Their 29-year-old daughter overdosed on sleeping pills in 2006 while in Paris.[27] It has also been reported that Kim Yong-il, who was dispatched to serve in Germany, died from cirrhosis of the liver in 2000.[28]

Kim Jong Il

[edit]
Eternal General Secretary and Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Il
Main article: Kim Jong Il

Kim Jong Il had four partners,[17] and at least six children with three of them.[18] He married his first wife, Hong Il-chon, at the behest of Kim Il Sung in 1966. They had one daughter, Kim Hye-kyung (born 1968), before divorcing in 1969.[29] He later fathered Kim Jong-nam (born 1971) with his first consort, film star Song Hye-rim. Due to Song being a divorcée, Kim concealed the relationship and son from his father.[30] In 1974, Kim Jong Il married his second wife, Kim Young-suk. They had two daughters, Kim Sol-song (born 1974) and Kim Chun-song (born 1976).[23] Kim Jong Il divorced her in 1977, after she lost his personal interest. In 1980, Kim Jong Il married his third wife, Ko Yong Hui. Ko was the de facto First Lady of North Korea from Kim Jong Il's becoming of leader in 1994 until her death in 2004. The couple had two sons, Kim Jong-chul (born 1981) and Kim Jong Un (born 1982 or 1983), and one daughter, Kim Yo Jong (born 1987).[24] After Ko Yong Hui's death, Kim Jong Il was married to his personal secretary, Kim Ok.[17] The two were married until Kim Jong Il's death, and did not have any children. The two half-brothers Kim Jong Un and Kim Jong-nam never met, because of the ancient practice of raising potential successors separately.[31][32] From the early 1980s onward, Kim Jong Il dichotomized the Kim Family between its main, or central, branch (won kaji) and its side, or extraneous, branch (kyot kaji). The main branch referred to Kim Il Sung's family with Kim Jong Suk and publicly included Kim Jong Il and Kim Kyong-hui. The side branch referred to Kim Il Sung's family with Kim Sung-ae and included the three children from their marriage.[23]

Kim Jong Un's two older brothers were considered "black sheep" of the family.[27] Kim Jong-nam likely fell out of favor due to advocating for reform in the government.[33] He had a reputation as a troublemaker within the family,[8] and publicly stated in 2011 that North Korea should transition out of his family's rule.[27] On 13 February 2017, Kim Jong-nam was assassinated with the chemical nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia.[34][35] Two women, one Indonesian and one Vietnamese, smeared the agent on Kim Jong-nam's face; both women were released after it was determined that they had been tricked by North Korean operatives, who had told them that the act was a prank for a Japanese comedy program and that the substance was lotion.[36][37] Four North Koreans fled Malaysia on the day of the murder.[36] Kim Jong-nam was survived by his wife and six children. His son, Kim Han-sol, has also criticized the regime. In an interview with Finnish media in 2012, Kim Han-sol openly criticized the reclusive regime and the government saying that he has always dreamed that one day he would return to his homeland to "make things better". Ever since the death of his father, his whereabouts have been unknown.[38] It was later revealed in 2019 that Jong-nam was a CIA informant prior to his assassination.[39]

The middle son, Kim Jong-chul, was reportedly not considered in succession considerations due to his unmasculine characteristics.[27] He is also known to be reserved.[8]

Kim Jong Un

[edit]
An official image of Kim Jong Un. He is wearing a black striped suit and standing in front of a flag.
Current supreme leader of North Korea and General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong Un
Main article: Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Un became North Korea's Supreme Leader on 29 December 2011.[24] He married Ri Sol-ju in either 2009 or 2010, and the couple reportedly had a daughter, Kim Ju-ae, in 2012.[17] His sister Kim Yo-jong had fallen out of favor with her brother for a few years, but in 2017, she was elevated by Kim Jong Un to the powerful Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. Kim Jong Un made an effort to distinguish himself from the reputations of his father and brothers and has promoted the image of an academic who possesses a masculine and extroverted demeanor.[8]

In April 2020, a three-week absence from public view led to speculation that Kim was seriously ill or dead, but no clear evidence of any health problem came to light.[40][41] He continued to appear in public rarely over the following months, possibly because of health problems or the risk of COVID-19.[42] In August, it was reported that Kim had ceded a degree of authority to his sister, Kim Yo-jong, giving her responsibility for relations with South Korea and the United States and making her his de facto second-in-command.[43]

Possible successors

[edit]

Kim Ju-ae

[edit]

Kim Ju-ae is the daughter of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju.[44]

Kim Ju-ae appeared in public for the first time at a missile launch in November 2022.[44][45] She had made five public appearances by early February 2023. State media initially called her Kim Jong Un's "beloved" daughter, but soon began using the adjective "respected", which is reserved only for the most honoured members of North Korean society, such as Kim Ju-ae's parents.[46] Some analysts believe that her new public profile is an attempt to present the Kim family in the fashion of a traditional monarchy[45] or a response to rivalries within the North Korean government.[47] It has also led to speculation that she has been chosen as her father's successor, which could make her the first woman to serve as Supreme Leader.[46][48][49][50]

Kim Yo Jong

[edit]
US President Donald Trump greets Kim Yo Jong.

Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong Un, is considered a "rising star" within North Korean politics.[45][51] She has been groomed since an early age,[clarification needed] and has represented North Korea in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, becoming the first member of the Kim family to visit since the end of the war, and has also played a key role behind the scenes.[45][51] She met then-US President Donald Trump in 2018.[51]

Kim Pyong-il

[edit]

Kim Pyong-il is the last living son of the country's founder, Kim Il Sung. After losing out to Kim Jong Il, he spent four decades as an ambassador to various European countries, until returning in 2019.[52] He is thought of as having an advantage over Kim Yo Jong due to his gender, but simultaneously carrying a disadvantage due to his lack of connections.[52] He has an adult son, Kim In-kang, and an adult daughter, Kim Ung-song.[53]

Unlikely heirs

[edit]

Kim Jong-chul, the older brother of Kim Jong Un, has been described as "lacking in ambition" and to be more interested in Eric Clapton and playing guitars.[45]

Kim Jong Un is also reported to have two other children born a few years before and after Kim Ju-ae.[54][55][56]

Kim Il Sung's deceased brother, Kim Yong-ju, had two biological and two adopted children, whose identity and current positions within the North Korean government are obscure.[57]

Family tree

[edit]


See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Jason LaBouyer "When friends become enemies — Understanding left-wing hostility to the DPRK" Lodestar. May/June 2005: pp. 7–9. Korea-DPR.com. Retrieved 18 December 2007.
  2. ^ Young W. Kihl, Hong Nack Kim. North Korea: The Politics of Regime Survival. Armonk, New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 2006. p. 56.
  3. ^ Robert A. Scalapino, Chong-Sik Lee. The Society. University of California Press, 1972. p. 689.
  4. ^ Bong Youn Choy. A history of the Korean reunification movement: its issues and prospects. Research Committee on Korean Reunification, Institute of International Studies, Bradley University, 1984. Pp. 117.
  5. ^ Moghaddam, Fathali M. (2018). "The Shark and the Octopus: Two Revolutionary Styles". In Wagoner, Brady; Moghaddam, Fathali M.; Valsiner, Jaan (eds.). The Psychology of Radical Social Change: From Rage to Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 285. ISBN 978-1-108-38200-7.
  6. ^ "Kim tells N Korean army to ready for combat". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network. 25 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  7. ^ Mullen, Jethro (9 September 2013). "Dennis Rodman tells of Korea basketball event, may have leaked Kim child's name". CNN. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d Milevsky, Avidan (12 April 2013). "Dynamics in the Kim Jong Family and North Korea's Erratic Behavior". The Huffington Post. AOL. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Kim Il-Sung (president of North Korea)". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Next of Kim". The Economist. 23 September 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  11. ^ Lee 2004, p. 1–7.
  12. ^ a b Choe, Sang-hun (25 October 2013). "Following Dear Leader, Kim Jong-un Gets Title From University: Dr. Leader". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  13. ^ Behnke, Alison (2008). Kim Jong Il's North Korea.
  14. ^ Kim 1982, p. 142.
  15. ^ "Kim Jong Il (North Korean political leader)". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  16. ^ a b Bishop, Rachel (31 August 2017). "Mystery deepens over Kim Jong-un's once-powerful aunt and key aide as fears grow she's "critically ill" in hospital". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "North Korea's secretive 'first family'". BBC News Asia. BBC. 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  18. ^ a b Choe, Sang-hun; Fackler, Martin (14 January 2009). "North Korea's Heir Apparent Remains a Mystery". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  19. ^ Grzelczyk 2012, p. 37.
  20. ^ a b c Corfield, Justin (2013). Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang. Anthem Press. pp. 78–79. ISBN 978-0-85728-234-7.
  21. ^ Martin 2007, p. 14.
  22. ^ Editorial Committee for the Short Biography of Kim Il Sung; Chʻulpʻansa, Oegungmun (1973). Kim Il Sung: short biography. Foreign Languages Publishing House. p. 1.
  23. ^ a b c d e "Kim Family". North Korea Leadership Watch.
  24. ^ a b c "The Kim Family Tree". Time. Time Inc. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  25. ^ Martin 2007, p. 187.
  26. ^ "Kim Song Ae (Kim Song Ae)". North Korea Leadership Watch. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  27. ^ a b c d Shenon, Philip (19 December 2011). "Inside North Korea's First Family: Rivals to Kim Jong-un's Power". The Daily Beast. The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  28. ^ "The Life and Execution of Kim Hyun". Daily NK. 10 August 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  29. ^ "Hong Il-ch'o'n (Hong Il Chon) | North Korea Leadership Watch". www.nkleadershipwatch.org. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Song Hye Rim (So'ng Hye-rim) | North Korea Leadership Watch". www.nkleadershipwatch.org. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  31. ^ Demetriou, Danielle (17 February 2017). "Kim Jong-nam received 'direct warning' from North Korea after criticising regime of half-brother Kim Jong-un". The Telegraph. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  32. ^ McKirdy, Euan (16 February 2017). "North Korea's ruling family: Who is Kim Jong Nam?". U.S.: CNN. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  33. ^ "Kim Jong-nam Says N.Korean Regime Won't Last Long". The Chosun Daily (in Korean). 17 January 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  34. ^ Park, Ju-min; Sipalan, Joseph (14 February 2017). "North Korean leader's half brother killed in Malaysia". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  35. ^ "Kim Jong-un's half-brother 'assassinated with poisoned needles at airport'". The Independent. 14 February 2017.
  36. ^ a b Kim Jong-nam: Vietnamese woman freed in murder case, BBC News (3 May 2019).
  37. ^ Hannah Ellis-Petersen, Kim Jong-nam death: suspect Siti Aisyah released after charge dropped, The Guardian (11 March 2019).
  38. ^ "Kim Han Sol, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged nephew, tired of life on the run: Reports". The Straits Times. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  39. ^ "Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader, 'was a CIA informant'". the Guardian. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  40. ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (1 May 2020). "Kim Jong-un Resurfaces, State Media Says, After Weeks of Health Rumors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  41. ^ O'Carroll, Chad (22 May 2020). "Amid health rumors, Kim Jong Un absent for two consecutive three-week periods". NK News.
  42. ^ O'Carroll, Chad (29 June 2020). "Amid all-time appearance lows, Kim Jong Un absent for another three-week period". NK News.
  43. ^ "Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's Kim Jong-un, now 'de facto second in command'". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  44. ^ a b Yoon, John (19 November 2022). "Kim Jong-un Takes His Daughter to Missile Test Launch". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  45. ^ a b c d e White, Edward; Manson, Katrina (27 April 2020). "How Kim's sister could be next in line to rule North Korea". www.ft.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  46. ^ a b Mackenzie, Jean (9 February 2023). "Succession questions raised by presence of Kim's daughter". BBC News. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  47. ^ Lloyd Parry, Richard (27 January 2023). "Kim Jong-un 'signalling that daughter Ju-ae will succeed him'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  48. ^ Lloyd Parry, Richard (8 February 2023). "Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae appears for North Korean military parade". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  49. ^ Rai, Arpan (8 February 2023). "Kim Jong-un gives strongest hint yet about his successor at key military event". The Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  50. ^ Lendon, Yoonjung Seo,Brad (8 February 2023). "Kim Jong Un puts daughter front and center at lavish military banquet". CNN. Retrieved 9 February 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ a b c Lee, Sung-Yoon (2023). The Sister: The extraordinary story of Kim Yo Jong, the most powerful woman in North Korea. United Kingdom: Macmillan. ISBN 9781529073539.
  52. ^ a b hermesauto (29 April 2020). "Kim Jong Un's uncle suddenly relevant after four decades abroad". The Straits Times. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  53. ^ Levi 2010, p. 39n38.
  54. ^ "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.
  55. ^ "Keeping up with the Kims: North Korea's elusive first family". BBC. 7 February 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  56. ^ "Kim Jong-un 'has fathered his third child' after wife disappeared from public eye". The Telegraph. Agence France-Presse. 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  57. ^ "Kim Yong Ju". The New York Times. 5 July 1972.

Sources

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
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