North Korea family tree: Who are the major players in the Kim Dynasty?
THE Kim Dynasty has a turbulent history that includes public assassinations and incineration by flame throwers. If you thought your family was dysfunctional, take a look at this family tree.
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THE communist dynasty that has ruled North Korea for more than 70 years has a turbulent history that seems more fitting for a television saga than real life.
READ MORE: WHO ARE NORTH KOREA'S ALLIES?
THE NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR THREAT EXPLAINED
Officially called the Mount Paektu Bloodline, the lineage has three generations — but the tyrannical Kim Dynasty is not your average nuclear family.
Earlier this year Kim Jong-un’s older brother Kim Jong-nam was famously assassinated by two women who covered his face with a poison-soaked rag.
While it’s not known whether Kim Jong-nam was planning to overthrow his half-brother, Kim Jong-un is widely suspected to have ordered the assassination.
And despite declaring themselves a communist nation, the Kim Dynasty is more in line with North Korean royalty.
GALLERY:
KIM IL-SUNG
Kim Jong-un’s grandfather
The first leader and founder of the People’s Republic of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, remains an idolised figure, with more than 500 statues of his likeness spread across the country. He reigned supreme from 1948 until he died of a heart attack in 1994.
To this day, Kim Il-sung is referred to as the “Ever-Victorious Generalissimo” or “The Great Sun of Life”.
He’s credited to enforcing the North Korean ideology, “juche”, which refers to national self-reliance, isolationism and fierce patriarchy.
KIM JONG SUK
Kim Jong-un’s grandmother
Kim Il-sung’s wife Kim Jong-suk is considered the perfect communist wife.
Not only was she a multiskilled guerilla fighter and a true believer in the revolution, but she also maintained traditionally maternal roles like cooking, cleaning, knitting and of course, obeying Kim Il-sung.
She died at 29 years old in 1949, likely from childbirth.
KIM JONG-IL
Kim Jong-un’s father
Supreme leader of North Korea, from 1994 to his death in 2011, had a tough act to follow when he took over from his father Kim Il-sung.
But Kim Jong-il’s eccentricities make him a memorable leader — although many details of his leadership remain secretive.
It began at birth when, according to North Korean lore, the “Dear Leader” was heralded by a double rainbow, a swallow and the appearance of a new star.
Kim Jong-il was also a major film buff, with a collection of more than 20 thousand video tapes, and he had another collection of luxury cars.
Notoriously, however, Kim Jong-il’s poor economic management is blamed for a devastating famine that ripped through the nation from 1994 to 1998. Between 240 thousand and 3.5 million people starved to death.
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KIM KYONG HUI
Kim Jong-un’s aunt
As the sister of Kim Jong-il, Kim Kyong-hui is a prominent political figure in North Korea during her brother’s reign.
And when Kim Jong-il died in 2011, she helped getting Kim Jong-un into the communist throne and ready to lead.
She semi-retired in 2013 when Kim Jong-un “purged” her husband, Jang Song-thaek.
JANG SONG THAEK
Kim Jong-un’s uncle
Jang Song-thaek was the vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission, and allegedly led the country while Kim Jong-il was sick.
A key policy adviser to Kim Jong-un and second in command, Jang Song-thaek was brutally executed on Kim Jong-un’s order after he was stripped of all his posts and expelled from the Workers’ party.
He was convicted of treason in 2013. And a book published last year in South Korea, “Son-In-Law of a Theocracy”, by author Ra Jong Yil, offered the world a glimpse into his execution.
First, two of his trusted deputies were killed — publicly, by machine guns. Their bodies were incinerated with flame throwers.
Jang Song-thaek was then executed in the same place, and in the same way.
Chinese state media, however, say Jang Song-thaek was actually torn apart by a pack of 120 dogs.
Neither type of executions has been confirmed.
KIM JONG-NAM
Kim Jong-un’s half-brother
Son of Kim Jong-il and his mistress, Kim Jong-nam was next in line to be supreme leader until he was caught red-handed in Tokyo with a fake Dominican passport. He claimed he wanted to go to Disneyland.
Kim Jong-nam was educated in Europe — an experience that lent him liberal values, making him somewhat of a black sheep in the Kim Dynasty.
Before he died at 45 years old — when two women poisoned him with cloth in Kuala Lumpur International Airport — he spent most of his time in exile in Asian party spots like Macau.
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KIM HAN-SOL
Kim Jong Nam’s son
Born in 1995, Kim Han-sol is the son of Kim Jong-un’s assassinated half-brother.
And just like his father, Kim Han-sol has spoken out against the Kim Dynasty’s tyrannical grip on North Korea — although he has generally kept a low profile.
His childhood was spent in the isolation of North Korea, but when his father was exiled in early 2000s, and Kim Han-sol also moved away, and he was exposed to different viewpoints.
Speaking fluent English, he was interviewed on television in 2012 for Finnish TV.
He said: “I’ve always dreamt that one day I would go back and make things better, and make things easier for the people back there. I also dream of unification.”
KIM JONG-UN
The name is now synonymous with the threat of nuclear war.
But considering he sadistically executed his uncle, and is the prime suspect for the death of his half-brother, you can argue his bloodthirsty ambitions aren’t surprising.
The 33-year-old Supreme Leader was educated in Switzerland. Despite being the third son of Kim Jong-il, his political drive destined him for power.
His other brother, Kim Jong-chul allegedly has no interest in politics, and it was also said he is too effeminate to be leader.
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