Kim Jong-un
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Kim Jong-un

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Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un is the supreme leader of North Korea, the third and youngest son of Kim Jong-il (1941–2011) and the grandson of Kim Il-sung (1912–1994). Following his father's death in 2011, he was announced as the "Great Successor" by North Korean state television. He has held the titles of the First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army, and also a presidium member of the Central Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Born
8 Jan 1983
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Leader of North Korea
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Photo: AP
Year in Review

10 most read Daily Pulse briefings of 2025

SCMP Plus looks back at the year’s 10 most popular Daily Pulse bulletins, covering China issues related to diplomacy, trade and economics.

North Korea

North Korea warns ‘mankind will face great disaster’ if Japan gets nuclear arms

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United States

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

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North Korea

What North Korea’s war dead tribute reveals about Kim’s endgame

In Kim Jong-un’s public grief for fallen mine-clearers, observers see a strategic play to lock in a role in Russia’s post-war rebuilding.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pays his respects in front of portraits of soldiers killed during an overseas deployment in Russia’s Kursk region, during a ceremony in Pyongyang on Friday. Photo: AFP
North Korea

Kim’s sister spotted with suspected luxury Chinese foldable phone

The device, seen at a hospital opening in North Korea, appears to be an ultra-thin ‘Magic’ foldable from Chinese tech giant Honor.

China-South Korea relations

Is the US pushing South Korea to the fore in deterring a war over Taiwan?

Washington’s latest strategy urges allies to spend ‘much more for collective defence’ as it backs Seoul building nuclear-powered submarines.

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North Korea

North Korea’s Kim reveals soldiers cleared mines for Russia

The North Korean leader hailed returning troops for displaying ‘mass heroism’ during demining operations in the Kursk region.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un hugs a soldier from the Korean People’s Army’s 528th Regiment of Engineers in a photo released on Saturday. Photo: KCNA/AFP
North Korea

North Korea promotes new beach resort to Chinese tourists in 2026 plan

The Wonsan beach resort and the Pyongyang Marathon highlight plans for Chinese visitors in a post-pandemic tourism push.

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South Korea

Why South Korea is powerless to revive Trump-Kim nuclear talks

Pyongyang wants nuclear recognition and analysts say Kim Jong-un is waiting on a Ukraine peace deal to boost his leverage with Washington.

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North Korea

Video | Russia’s long-serving North Korea envoy dies

Kim Jong-un sent his condolences to Russian leader Putin over the ambassador’s death.

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North Korea

Trump drops North Korea denuclearisation goal, hinting at talks with Kim

Trump strategy omits North Korea denuclearistation; Pyongyang calls goal meaningless, demands US drop ‘absurd pursuit’ of its nuclear weapons.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) and US President Donald Trump inside the demilitarized zone separating South and North Korea in June 2019. Photo: TNS
North Korea

North Korea unveils new missiles, angles for Russian jets amid Ukraine war deal

Analysts say the event served a dual purpose: grooming Kim’s potential successor and angling for Russian jets as payment for Ukraine war aid.

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North Korea

North Korean air force to gain ‘strategic assets’ amid heightened tensions

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says the air force will be entrusted with ‘a new important duty’ and play a role in nuclear war deterrence.

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Vietnam

Asian Angle | The hidden domestic agenda behind Vietnam’s baffling foreign policy

To Lam’s recent pilgrimages to North Korea and Cuba signal ideological loyalty, even as he pushes a hard-nosed reform agenda at home.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Vietnam’s To Lam (left) talk before a meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, last month. Photo: VNA/AP
South Korea

‘Kill North Koreans’: posters urging South Koreans to join Ukraine war slammed

Images of the posters posted online tout benefits including high wages and ‘the legal right to kill North Koreans’.

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Servicemen pay tribute next to the coffins of slain South Korean and American volunteer soldiers in Kyiv on Tuesday, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AFP
North Korea

North Korea’s nuclear arsenal shows ‘exponential growth’ in new satellite images

Renovations at Yongbyon seemingly prove Kim Jong-un is serious about expanding his arsenal – but Seoul has a bunker-busting response.

South Korea

South Korea’s Lee warns of ‘dangerous situation’ with North

Lee urges dialogue with North Korea amid hostile relations and potential ‘accidental’ clashes.

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United States

Opinion | How South Korea’s nuclear sub deal with US could torpedo inter-Korean peace

Seoul is clearly prioritising advancing its military capabilities with Washington’s help, rather than improving ties with Pyongyang.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
South Korea

‘Wipe them out’: Yoon’s dictatorial mindset evident before martial law attempt

The former South Korean president was already mulling a self-coup as early as six months into his term, indictment papers show.

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North Korea

‘Hostile to the end’: North Korea’s shock at US subs approval sinks talk hopes

Now the North sees the South as a ‘quasi-nuclear weapons state’ with US help, a fourth Trump-Kim summit appears less likely than ever.

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South Korea

Seoul’s backing of UN resolution tests limits of inter-Korean dialogue

Lee Jae-myung’s liberal government defies expectations of a retreat, in a move likely to trigger an angry reaction from Pyongyang.

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People look at pictures of North Koreans missing in North Korea during an exhibition in Seoul, South Korea, in October. Photo: EPA
South Korea

‘Create instability’: Yoon accused of provoking North Korea to justify coup

Memos show the ex-president’s intelligence chief contemplated strikes on Kim Jong-un’s private resort and nuclear facilities.

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An American soldier observes a South Korean AH-64 Apache helicopter firing rockets during a live-fire exercise in Pocheon, near the inter-Korean border, on October 30, 2024. Photo: AFP
China's military weapons

As US Pacific allies eye nuclear submarines, should China be concerned?

Australia, South Korea and Japan want to build the vessels, potentially complicating Beijing’s naval deterrence in the region, analysts say.

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South Korea

North Korea prepared for war after South’s drone mission to Pyongyang: report

Prosecutors have accused the former president of ordering the mission to provoke a security crisis that could help him cling to power.

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North Korea

North Korea slams US for ‘wicked’ hostility over sanctions linked to cybercrime

The sanctions are part of US President Donald Trump’s strategy of applying pressure before negotiations, an analyst says.

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North Korea’s state-sponsored hacking schemes had stolen billions of dollars of mostly digital assets to help finance the country’s nuclear weapons programme, the US Treasury Department said. Photo: Shutterstock
North Korea

Reign check: is North Korea’s Kim Jong-un preparing daughter to take power?

South Korea’s intelligence agency says the 12-year-old Ju-ae is consolidating her position as a potential heir but analysts are doubtful.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and daughter Ju-ae arrive at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre on June 29. Photo: KCNA/AP
Japan

Takaichi mulls ‘any means necessary’ to bring North Korea-abducted Japanese home

Tokyo believes that some Japanese who were abducted by North Korea decades ago are still alive.

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North Korea sanctions

US wants UN sanctions on 7 ships over North Korea exports to China

The ships are carrying illegal North Korean coal and iron exports to China, a State Department official said.

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