In a year marked by drastic policy shifts, Kim Jong Un made great strides in stepping out of the shadow of his predecessors in 2024, showcasing his power by strengthening his cult of personality.

As North Korea’s leader, Kim is front and center in the state’s portrayal of everything that happens in the country, but on paper he is still outranked by two dead men — his grandfather and father.

Founder Kim Il Sung remains the country’s seniormost figure three decades after his passing, while Kim Jong Il was elevated after his death to a status almost on par with