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Kim Jong Un Facts & Worksheets

When his father, Kim Jong Il, died on December 17, 2011, Kim Jong Un (also spelled Kim Jong Eun) succeeded him as Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or North Korea.

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When his father, Kim Jong Il, died on December 17, 2011, Kim Jong Un (also spelled Kim Jong Eun) succeeded him as Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea. His sudden rise to power as the head of both the government and the military brought dramatic changes to North Korea, along with various issues and controversies.

See the fact file below for more information on the Kim Jong Un or alternatively, you can download our 21-page Kim Jong Un worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PERSONAL LIFE

  • The early life of Kim Jong Un is unknown to mainstream media.
  • Presumably born in North Korea, he is known to be the third and youngest son of Kim Jong Il, who served as the country’s military leader under the Communist Workers’ Party since 1994. His mother, Ko Young Hee, was an opera singer, who also had two other children.
  • Jong Un was reportedly educated in Switzerland at the International School of Berne, before finishing his studies in Pyongyang at Kim Il-Sung National War College from 2002 to 2007.
  • During his young adulthood, Jong Un was being groomed to be his father’s eventual successor. He started accompanying his father in military inspections and was thought to be working under the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP), which is NoKor’s ruling party, or under the General Political Bureau of the military forces. These two organizations were both operating for surveillance of government officials.
  • In 2009, he was listed as a candidate for the Supreme People’s Assembly, which was followed by his immediate position on the National Defense Commission (NDC), a powerful organization chaired by his father.
  • Moreover, he was assigned as a four-star general in September 2010, although he lacked military experience. This was believed to be a significant move for him to be the clear successor of Jong Il.
  • In the summer of 2012, Jong Un was reported to have a wife named Ri Sol Ju, who appeared in the media months later.

LEADERSHIP and ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Jong Un immediately assumed power after his father’s death in December 2011. This political status was validated after he was given several high-ranking positions in the government in April 2012. These positions included Secretary of the KWP, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Chairman of the NDC.
  • Jong Un’s leadership is highly characterized by his strategy known as byungjin (parallel development), which involves strengthening the country’s economy alongside its military defense, officially adopted in 2013.
  • In June 2016, the constitution was revised by the congress of the Supreme People’s Assembly. This decision was aimed at solidifying the power of Jong Un.
  • Parallel to this revision was the creation of a new organization called the State Affairs Commission, which replaced the NDC and was chaired by Jong Un himself.
  • Furthermore, his economic policies revolve around the Socialist Corporate Responsible Management System, which is aimed at increasing the autonomy of enterprises to engage in business activities. This was also introduced in 2013 and brought significant growth to NoKor’s economy.
  • Under his rule, North Korea also invested in agriculture as the pojon (vegetable garden) responsibility system was implemented in 2013, bringing a notable increase in the output of collective farms.
  • Jong Un also focused on building construction and developing the architecture of North Korea, which includes establishing amusement parks, museums, aquatic parks, skating rinks, ski resorts, and much more.
  • Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump met on June 12, 2018, for a summit in Singapore. This was the first instance of talks between a North Korean leader and an incumbent US president, in which they discussed the North Korean nuclear program.

CONTROVERSIES

  • While Jong Un implemented economic and agricultural reforms, these efforts were nothing in comparison to various controversies that continue to proliferate under his dictatorship.
  • On top of these controversial issues were the blatant reports of human rights violations and brutal suppression of opposition instigated by Jong Un’s rule. He executed many senior officials from his father’s regime, including his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was accused of leading an ouster plot against the government.
  • This execution of Jang likewise marked the end of North Korea’s close ties with Beijing, because Jang was a known relations advocate with China.
  • The continuous acceleration of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and the development of its missile technology have also been alarming. These actions are persistently condemned by the international community, such as the United States, Russia, Japan, and China.
  • In February 2013, the first nuclear test of Jong Un’s regime was reported, which involved underground detonations and long-range missile tests. By 2017, North Korea had performed six nuclear weapons tests, including one that mounted an intercontinental ballistic missile.
  • North Korea’s issues on its concentration camp system surfaced due to reports of horrendous conditions of thousands of prisoners. According to a report published by the International Bar Association in December 2017, North Korea continues to engage in brutal political prison camps.
  • In April 2020, Kim Jong Un was rumored to be ill after he failed to attend a key state holiday in Korea. Furthermore, unusual movements were recorded in which several medical officials from China visited the country. The rumor was disputed by the North Korean government, stating that the supreme leader is ‘alive and well’.

Kim Jong Un Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Kim Jong Un across 21 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Kim Jong Un worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Kim Jong Un (also spelled Kim Jong Eun) who succeeded his father Kim Jong Il as Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or North Korea. His sudden rise to power as the head of both the government and the military brought dramatic changes to North Korea, along with various issues and controversies.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Kim Jong Un Facts
  • Locating North Korea
  • Find the Word
  • True or False
  • Kim Jong Un Timeline
  • The Kim Dynasty
  • The Supreme Leader
  • Reforms in North Korea
  • Controversies Surrounding the Leader
  • Kim Jong Un Legacy
  • In a Nutshell

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Link will appear as Kim Jong Un Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 1, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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