Let's talk about the Kim dynasty! (14 Pics)

Let’s talk about the WHAT dynasty?? Kim. The Kim dynasty of North Korea. They don’t call themselves a dynasty, since they aren’t technically emperors but leaders of a people’s republic. However they are a completely hereditary family leading the same country for three generations and counting. But who are these guys? What’s their story? Let’s find out!

WARNING: lots of unknown unknowns When dealing with North Korea, especially its leaders, you’re dealing with propaganda, mystery and rumor. There’s just so much we don’t know, often just basic information regarding names and dates (or whether certain people are living or dead). In other words, don’t source this post in an essay or anything, okay? I’ll do my best to let you know if something is iffy, from a factual basis. Anyway, let’s do this.

Grandpa Kim: Kim Il-sung (1912-1994) Kim Il-sung was apparently born Kim Sŏng-ju, in what is now South Korea, to a family that was fairly poor. Korea had recently been conquered by Japan, and as he got older Kim fought in the resistance, rising through the ranks to lead the communist-based resistance, eventually leading North Korea’s independence after WWII and through the Korean War. Under his leadership, North Korea started strong, industrializing heavily and leading it’s impoverished southern neighbor for many years. However by the 1980s the south had surpassed the north economically (and became democratic) while Kim’s regime was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. When he died, he left the country in a desperate state.

Kim Il-sung’s kids Kim married twice that we know of. His first wife died in childbirth in 1949, having had Kim’s oldest son, Kim Jong-il. In total Kim had six kids that we know of, but there are rumors of many more illegitimate kids by various mistresses.

Papa Kim: Kim Jong-il (1941-2011) This guy was groomed to succeed his old man, and by the early 1980s had already begun taking high-level jobs in the government. By the time his father died, he was in firm control of North Korea. Cut off from former support from the Soviet Union and battered by one of history’s worst famines, which killed up to 5% of the population, Kim’s human rights record was as bad as his father’s. He left the country in a complete mess, but still managed to pass on the crown to one of his kids -- but it wasn’t a smooth process.

Kim Jong-il’s kids It’s believed that he was married twice, and like his father had multiple kids by multiple mistresses. He had five kids that we know of by three known baby mammas, but there may have been more. No way to know for sure.

Kim Il-sung’s surviving daughter: Kim Kyong-hui (1946-) She had the same parents as Kim Jong-il, making her a full sister to the late leader. While he was alive, she held very senior positions in the party and government, while her husband Jang Song-thaek, a popular member of the party and military, helped rule by her side. However Kim Jong-il had some serious trust issues with this guy, having purged him from the party at least once, possibly because the Western press talked about him as being destined to be the next leader of North Korea. More on him later. As for Kim Kyong-hui, she’s been rumored to be dead more than once, but apparently is still alive. She’s supposedly a serious alcoholic and is majorly on the outs with the current ruler of the country (and for good reasons, as you’ll see).

Kim Il-sung’s younger son: Kim Pyong-il (1954-) This guy is the younger brother of Kim Jong-il by his dad’s second wife -- his literal brotha by another motha. Unlike his big half-bro, however, Kim Pyong-il has stayed far away from the cutthroat politics of Pyongyang, spending his career as a diplomat, mostly as an ambassador in various countries. It seems certain he has stayed alive by ensuring he is not a threat to anyone else in the family.

Baby Kim One: Kim Jong-nam (1971-2017) A bastard son of Kim Jong-Il, his mother was an actress, with whom his father was having an affair at the time. Partly to keep him out of the spotlight, he was educated outside of North Korea, including in Switzerland. According to rumor he never wanted to succeed his father. He got his wish when, in 2001, he was arrested in Japan for traveling on a false passport -- he told the cops he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland. This was a catastrophic loss of face for his father Kim Jong-Il, and so his son immediately lost favor. When daddy died Kim Jong-nam went into hiding, mostly in Macau, begging his half-brother (who took over North Korea) not to kill him, but after more than one failed attempt they finally assassinated him, using nerve gas at an airport. Before he died he said the North Korean regime would not survive the next Kim family succession.

Baby Kim Two: Kim Jong-chul (1981-) This guy, reportedly, was held in contempt by his father Kim Jong-il, who, based on propaganda depictions may have still, considered him as his successor -- but if Kim Jong-chul was considered to lead the country, the flirtation was brief. The thing he’s best known for is having been spotted at several Eric Clapton concerts around the world. Reportedly, he lives in Pyongyang, plays the guitar and has a band. He did supposedly do his little bro a favor not too long ago.

Baby Kim Three: Kim Jong-un (1983-?) Educated abroad, having lived a cushy life of privilege, nobody expected this soft young man to ascend to the leadership of North Korea, certainly not his father, who considered both his older brothers before eventually putting the crown on his youngest son’s head. To everyone’s surprise, Kim Jong-un has proven to be incredibly ruthless and determined, executing anyone he perceives as a threat, including his older half-brother. In 2013 he also murdered his uncle Jang Song-thaek, his aunt’s husband, supposedly with an anti-aircraft cannon. The details are very fuzzy, but it’s possible Jang, who had been popular, led some kind of reform movement within the party. It’s likely his assassination was accompanied by the killing of large numbers of his supporters. Kim Jong-un’s big brother, the guitar-playing Kim Jong-chul, apparently helped orchestrate the murder. To this day, Kim Jong-un remains firmly in control of the country -- if he’s still alive. Confused media reports in 2020 suggested he might be near death following an operation.

Kim Jong-un’s family The leader is married, and has at least one kid, maybe as many as three. We don’t know for sure. The oldest one, though, is apparently under ten years old so none of his offspring will have leadership potential for many years yet.

Baby Kim Four: Kim Yo-jong (1988-) This young lady is very close to Kim Jong-un; in their childhood isolation they only really had each other to rely on. Like her big bro, she was also educated abroad. She currently heads up the country’s propaganda organs, making her a North Korean Goebbels. It seems she is married, perhaps (according to rumor) the guy who runs the secret hard-currency slush fund for the nation’s leaders or maybe the head of the family’s personal security detail. She was reported to be pregnant in 2015 but we don’t know if she actually has any kids. Kim Yo-Jong has demonstrated the Kim brand of ruthlessness required to survive at that level of power, and is often talked about as a possible successor to her brother Kim Jong-un. Hard to know for sure what kind of support she has in the vital security and military aspects of the state, or if her power makes her a threat to her brother. It’s a dangerous life.