Kim Jong Un is the Supreme Leader of North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), a position he has held since 2011. The third member of the Kim family to rule the country, following his grandfather Kim Il Sung and his father Kim Jong Il, he leads a one-party authoritarian state as General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and head of state. His rule has been defined by the consolidation of absolute personal power, the rapid expansion of North Korea’s nuclear-weapons and missile programs, and the continuation of a tightly controlled, isolated political system. He is a highly significant and controversial figure in international affairs, and his government’s record is the subject of serious and widely documented criticism.
Kim Jong Un Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Kim Jong Un |
| Born | 1984 (reported; exact date not officially confirmed) |
| Age (2026) | Reported as around 41 to 42 |
| Birthplace | North Korea |
| Nationality | North Korean |
| Position | Supreme Leader of North Korea |
| In Power | Since December 2011 |
| Party | Workers’ Party of Korea (General Secretary) |
| Predecessor | Kim Jong Il (his father) |
| Family | Son of Kim Jong Il; grandson of Kim Il Sung |
Kim Jong Un Details
| Area | Detail |
| Role | Supreme Leader and head of state of North Korea |
| Succession | The third generation of the Kim family to rule |
| Party | Leads the Workers’ Party of Korea |
| Military | Commander-in-chief of the armed forces |
| Policy | Overseen a major nuclear and missile build-up |
| System | Leads a one-party authoritarian state |
Kim Jong Un Events
| Year | Event |
| c. 1984 | Born in North Korea |
| 2010 | Publicly positioned as his father’s successor |
| 2011 | Became leader after Kim Jong Il’s death |
| 2012 | Formally took on top party and state titles |
| 2018 | Held summits with the US and South Korea |
| 2021 | Became General Secretary of the Workers’ Party |
| 2026 | Re-elected as General Secretary |
Kim Jong Un Early Life and Background
Kim Jong Un was born in North Korea, reportedly in the mid-1980s, though the North Korean state has never officially confirmed his exact date of birth, and details of his early life are not reliably documented. He is the son of Kim Jong Il, who ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, and the grandson of Kim Il Sung, the founder and first leader of the North Korean state. He is reported to have been educated in Switzerland during his youth, under an assumed identity, before returning to North Korea. For much of his early life he remained out of public view, and relatively little verified information exists about his upbringing.
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Kim Jong Un’s Rise to Power
Kim Jong Un was publicly revealed as the chosen successor to his father around 2010, when he was given senior party and military titles and began to be promoted within the North Korean state. Although he was the youngest of Kim Jong Il’s sons, he was selected to continue the family’s dynastic rule. When Kim Jong Il died in December 2011, Kim Jong Un was announced as the country’s new leader. Over the following period he formally assumed the most senior positions in the party, the state and the military, and he moved to consolidate his authority, becoming the undisputed Supreme Leader of North Korea.
Kim Jong Un’s Rule
Consolidation of Power
Kim Jong Un moved quickly to consolidate absolute control over North Korea after taking power. He secured the top positions across the Workers’ Party of Korea, the state and the armed forces, and he became the central figure in the country’s political system. His consolidation of power was accompanied by the removal of a number of senior officials, and over time constitutional and political changes further entrenched his authority. North Korea under his leadership is a one-party state in which he holds supreme and centralised power, and he continues to be re-confirmed in his leading positions, including his re-election as General Secretary of the Workers’ Party.
Domestic Policy and Governance
Kim Jong Un has presided over a tightly controlled political and economic system, in which the state exercises pervasive control over society. He has at times signalled a focus on economic development and has overseen certain construction and modernisation projects, while the country has continued to face significant economic challenges and international sanctions. His government maintains strict control over information, movement and expression within the country, and has reinforced measures to limit foreign media and influence. The system he leads is characterised by extensive state control and the central, pervasive role of the ruling family and party.
The Nuclear and Missile Program
Kim Jong Un’s rule has been defined internationally above all by the rapid expansion of North Korea’s nuclear-weapons and ballistic-missile programs. Under his leadership, the country has conducted nuclear tests and a large number of missile launches, and it has declared itself a nuclear-weapons state. This weapons development has been the central focus of North Korea’s confrontation with the international community, and it has been met with extensive sanctions imposed by the United Nations and individual countries. The program is widely regarded by the international community as a serious threat to regional and global security, and it remains the dominant issue in North Korea’s relations with the wider world.
Foreign Relations and Diplomacy
Kim Jong Un has conducted a distinctive and closely watched foreign policy. In 2018 and 2019, he engaged in high-profile diplomacy, becoming the first North Korean leader to meet a sitting President of the United States, in a series of summits, as well as meeting the leader of South Korea, though these talks ultimately did not resolve the nuclear issue and negotiations stalled. He has maintained close relations with China, and he has significantly deepened cooperation with Russia in recent years. His diplomacy has alternated between periods of engagement and periods of heightened tension, and his government’s actions continue to be a major focus of international attention.
Kim Jong Un’s Human Rights Record
Kim Jong Un’s government has been the subject of serious and widely documented criticism over its human-rights record. International bodies, including the United Nations, along with numerous governments and human-rights organisations, have reported and condemned a wide range of alleged abuses in North Korea, including the operation of political prison camps, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, movement and belief, and other systematic violations. North Korea rejects these allegations. This record is a central part of the international assessment of his rule, and the profile presents these widely reported findings factually and with attribution.
Kim Jong Un Personal Life
Kim Jong Un’s personal life is kept highly private by the North Korean state, and reliable, verified information about it is limited. He is reported to be married, and he has children, and he has in recent years appeared publicly with a daughter at state events, which has prompted widespread international speculation about the North Korean succession. Much of what is reported about his personal and family life comes from outside analysis and intelligence assessments rather than from confirmed official information. This profile presents only what is reasonably established and does not assert unverified personal details.
Kim Jong Un Height and Physical Profile
Kim Jong Un’s public image is managed by the North Korean state, and specific personal details are not independently or reliably documented. His public appearances are closely controlled and extensively covered by North Korea’s state media, which presents a carefully curated image of the country’s leader.
Kim Jong Un Net Worth and Wealth
A reliably verified figure for Kim Jong Un’s personal wealth is not available, and this profile does not put one forward. As the leader of a one-party state with centralised control over the country’s resources, assessments of his personal wealth are the subject of outside estimation and speculation rather than verified public record. North Korea is a closed and secretive state, and credible, independently verified financial information is not available, so no figure is asserted here.
| Source | Detail |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented; subject to outside speculation |
| Context | Leader of a closed, one-party state |
Kim Jong Un and State Media
Kim Jong Un’s public profile is shaped overwhelmingly by North Korea’s state-controlled media, which is the primary official source of information about him. Independent media access within North Korea is tightly restricted, and most international coverage of him relies on state media reports, outside analysis, and intelligence assessments. He does not have a personal presence on international social media, and information attributed to him comes through official state channels.
| Source | Detail |
| Official information | North Korean state media (KCNA and others) |
| International coverage | Outside analysis and reporting |
Kim Jong Un Controversies and International Assessment
Kim Jong Un is one of the most controversial leaders in the world, and his rule is the subject of extensive international criticism. The principal points of contention include North Korea’s nuclear-weapons and missile programs, which are widely regarded as a threat to international security and have led to extensive sanctions; the documented human-rights situation in the country; and the authoritarian nature of the state he leads, with its lack of political freedom and its tight control over its population. His government rejects much of this criticism and presents its own account through state media. These matters are central to the international understanding of his rule, and the profile presents them factually and with attribution.
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Key Facts About Kim Jong Un
- He is the Supreme Leader of North Korea, in power since 2011.
- He is the third member of the Kim family to rule the country.
- He is the son of Kim Jong Il and grandson of Kim Il Sung.
- He is General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
- His rule has seen a major expansion of the nuclear program.
- He held summits with the US and South Korea in 2018 and 2019.
- His government’s human-rights record is widely criticised internationally.
Kim Jong Un FAQ
Who is Kim Jong Un?
He is the Supreme Leader of North Korea, the head of state and leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea, in power since 2011.
How long has Kim Jong Un been in power?
He has led North Korea since December 2011, following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il.
How did Kim Jong Un come to power?
He inherited power as the chosen successor to his father, becoming the third generation of the Kim family to rule North Korea.
Who was Kim Jong Un’s father?
His father was Kim Jong Il, who led North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011.
What is Kim Jong Un known for?
He is known for his absolute rule of North Korea and for the rapid expansion of the country’s nuclear-weapons program.
Has Kim Jong Un met other world leaders?
Yes, in 2018 and 2019 he held summits with the US President and the South Korean President, and he has met the leaders of China and Russia.
What is North Korea’s nuclear status under Kim Jong Un?
Under his leadership, North Korea has conducted nuclear tests and declared itself a nuclear-weapons state, which is a major international concern.
Why is Kim Jong Un controversial?
His rule is criticised over North Korea’s nuclear program, its documented human-rights record, and the authoritarian nature of the state.
What title does Kim Jong Un hold?
He holds the position of Supreme Leader, and serves as General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and head of state.
Is information about Kim Jong Un reliable?
Much information about him is limited or comes from state media and outside analysis, as North Korea is a closed and secretive state.
Sources
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Kim Jong-un, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kim-Jong-Un
Al Jazeera, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un re-elected as chief of Workers’ Party, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/22/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-re-elected-as-chief-of-workers
UK House of Commons Library, North Korea in 2026: Frequently asked questions, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-12204/
BBC News, North Korea country profile, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15256929