May 31, 2023
Analysis

How history can help predict the next 10 years of Kim Jong Un’s rule

Predecessors Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il’s first decades in power suggest surprises in the years to come

It has been 10 years since Kim Jong Un inherited the throne. State media announced his ascension to the country and the world just two days after his father’s death, and since then, he has remained the unquestioned leader of North Korea.

His first decade surely has seen many dramatic events. Some of these were widely reported, such as missile launches, nuclear tests and the Supreme Leader’s meetings with Donald Trump. Some were less colorful but arguably more impactful.