This is part of NK News’ series on the first five years of Kim Jong Un’s rule.

It has now been five years since Kim Jong Il died and his son Jong Un inherited the power in North Korea. In this article, I will try to outline some general tendencies of the first five years of Kim Jong Un’s rule over the country.

PERSONALITY CULT

The shameless personality cult is perhaps the most well-known trait of the DPRK. The late Kim Jong Il, being the most intellectual member of the ruling dynasty, approached the cult in a rather creative way.