According to a South Korean analyst, Kim Jong Il had hastily arranged the marriage after suffering a stroke in 2008, the two married in 2009, and they had a son in 2010.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Clarifies Plan to Form Area of Riverside Terraced Houses around Pothong Gate". Pyongyang has not provided a launch date, though Kim said in April that the satellite would be sent up “at the planned date”. That report came about a week after Pyongyang launched what it said was a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, marking a major breakthrough in its banned weapons programmes. His succession plan is unknown, but last year he publicly revealed one of his children for the first time - a girl, thought to be his daughter Kim Chu-ae.A simple one-page calendar, with the 12 months printed on a single sheet, and a six-page picture calendar appeared in the market only a few days ago,” said the North Hamgyong source. Observers can track who holds certain key positions and can follow news and open-source intelligence about important institutions, but can't really tell how factions are developing, nor who is holding power through personal rather than institutional bonds.

Kim is expected to seek economic aid and military technology for his impoverished country, and appears to have something Putin desperately needs: munitions for Russia's grueling war in Ukraine. There was a record turnout of voters and, according to government officials, all voted "yes" in his home district of Mount Paekdu. Those reportedly killed in Kim's purge include Jang's sister Jang Kye Sun, her husband and ambassador to Cuba, Jon Yong Jin, and Jang's nephew and ambassador to Malaysia, Jang Yong Chol. In May 2017, the North Korean government stated that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States and the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) hired a North Korean lumberjack who worked in Russia to assassinate Kim with a "biochemical weapon" that was both radioactive and nano-poisonous, and whose effect would have been delayed by a few months. Some analysts had predicted that when Kim Jong Il died, Jang Song Thaek would act as regent, as Kim Jong Un was too inexperienced to immediately lead the country.It is believed by some that Kim Jong Un was involved in the Cheonan sinking [51] and the bombardment of Yeonpyeong [52] to strengthen his military credentials and facilitate a successful transition of power from his father. The New Year’s calendars have been published and they are being sold at market stalls in each region,” the source said. However, in 2019, President Trump said that he believed Kim was not responsible for Warmbier's death.

In addition, Microsoft cyber-security chief Chris Jackson has been urging users to stop using the browser since February 2019. In July 2012, [75] Kim Jong Un was promoted to wonsu (translated as marshal), the highest active rank in the military.

Additionally, the new law indicates that if Kim Jong Un was killed, the authorization of nuclear strikes would pass to a senior official. The decision was jointly issued on by the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the National Defence Commission, and the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the Korean Central News Agency subsequently announced. In July 2023, Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu and a Chinese delegation led by Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong arrived in North Korea for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Speculation about North Korea and Russia's military cooperation has grown since the former's Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, visited North Korea in July.

North Korea under Kim supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, blaming the "hegemonic policy" of the US for the war, recognizing the independence of the breakaway states of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in Eastern Ukraine [201] [202] as well as recognizing Russia's unilateral annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on 30 September. The conference then elected Kim Jong Un as leader of the party under the newly created title of First Secretary. Understanding the "Socialist Tourism" of North Korea Under Kim Jong Un: An Analysis of North Korean Discourse".Unprecedented international press access was granted to the event, further indicating the importance of Kim Jong Un's presence. O Sang Hon was a deputy security minister in the Ministry of People's Security in the government of North Korea who was reportedly killed in a political purge in 2014. The birth year of Kim Il Sung, 1912 in the Gregorian calendar, became " Juche 1" in the Juche calendar.