Kim Jong-un, the current leader of North Korea, is known for his unpredictable behaviour and controversial policies. He became the supreme leader of North Korea in 2011 at the age of 27 after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. Since then, he has been in the international spotlight for his nuclear programme, human rights violations and aggressive rhetoric.
Kim Jong-un’s leadership style is markedly different from his predecessors, his grandfather Kim Il-sung and father, Kim Jong-il. While his grandfather and father were known for their stoic demeanours, Kim Jong-un has been seen frequently in public, often cheering on troops or visiting factories. He has also been known to travel outside of North Korea, visiting China, Vietnam and Russia. These moves have been seen by some as attempts to modernise North Korea’s economy and build international relationships.
However, despite these public relations efforts, Kim Jong-un’s regime has been marked by repression, including labour camps, public executions, and a lack of freedom of expression. North Korea is considered one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, ranked as the worst on the annual World Press Freedom Index for several years in a row.
Kim Jong-un’s nuclear programme has also been a source of concern for the international community. Since becoming the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un has launched several missiles and conducted nuclear tests, leading to the imposition of international trade sanctions on North Korea. These sanctions have had a significant impact on the country’s economy, but they have not curbed North Korea’s nuclear program.
The Trump administration attempted to engage with Kim Jong-un to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula. The two leaders met three times, but negotiations stalled without any significant progress. In February 2019, the US and North Korea held a summit meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, but the talks ended abruptly without a deal. Since then, relations between the two countries have deteriorated, with North Korea continuing to launch missiles while the US has maintained its sanctions.
Kim Jong-un’s health has also been a topic of concern in recent times. Rumours circulated in April 2020 that he was either dead or gravely ill following a heart procedure. However, North Korean state media released images of Kim Jong-un appearing in public in May, quelling some of the rumours surrounding his health.
Kim Jong-un’s leadership style leaves much to be desired, particularly regarding human rights violations and the nuclear programme. However, he has appeared to be more flexible than his predecessors in terms of engaging with other countries and modernising the North Korean state. The international community remains uncertain about his future goals and objectives, but it is clear that his regime will continue to pose a significant challenge to diplomatic relations in the region and globally.
In conclusion, Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, remains a controversial figure within the international community. His regime has been marked by repression, nuclear tests, and an unpredictable leadership style. While he has engaged with other countries, his willingness to negotiate on key issues such as nuclear weapons and human rights remains to be seen. The future of North Korea under his leadership is uncertain, but what is clear is that his regime will be closely watched by the international community, particularly concerning his nuclear ambitions.