31 facts about Kim Jong-Un and North Korea
Nathan Johnson
Published
01/08/2015
Not liking "the interview" is not one of them
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1.
On the occasion of North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns birthday on January 8, we take a look at some interesting facts about him and his country. -
2.
Kim Jong-Un is the worlds youngest head of state - he's 31, 32 or 33 depending on which date of birth is to be believed. -
3.
Kim Jong-un took over as North Koreas Head of State in 2012 after his father Kim Jong-il passed away due to a heart attack. -
4.
His real date of birth is a mystery. There are still doubts over whether he was born in 1982, 83 or 84. -
5.
He attended the International School of Bern under the fake name "Pak Un". Kims identity at the school was hidden and he was enrolled as a North Korean embassy employees son. -
6.
He was a big fan of Jackie Chan during his school days. -
7.
Unlike his father, Kim Jong-un had no issues with American brands and even owned a collection of Nike shoes. -
8.
He was caught with a porn magazine in his school days. -
9.
Kim Jong-un is an ardent basketball fan and used to play the game at school. he was a great fan of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. -
10.
Kim Jong-un has hosted former NBA player Dennis Rodman many times. -
11.
In 2012, news satire website The Onion named Kim Jong-un as Sexiest Man Alive for the year. -
12.
According to Kim Jong-il's chef, Kim Jong-un likes smoking Yves Saint Laurent cigarettes and drinking Johnny Walker whisky. Pictured Kim Jong-Un smoking a cigarette at the General Satellite Control and Command Center in 2012. -
13.
He put his deputy defence minister Kim Chol behind the bars for insufficient grieving for his fathers demise. -
14.
In 2010, Kim Jong-uns birthday was declared a national holiday. -
15.
Jong-un handpicked singers to form North Koreas first all-female music group Moranbong Band. The group made their debut in 2012. -
16.
Despite having no military experience, Kim Jong-un was appointed as Daejang equivalent to General in the army in 2010. -
17.
Kim Jong-uns hair-cut is very popular in the country and is known as ambition cut. Recently, BBC quoted Radio Free Asia reports saying that Male students are now asked to get the haircut similar to that of Jong-un. -
18.
In 2012, an 1800-feet message praising Kim Jong-un was carved into hillside in North Korea. The message, which contains 15 characters, reads, "Long Live General, the Shining Sun!" Pictured A message reading, "Long live Kim Jong-il General, the sun of the 21st century" can be seen on the bank of the Yalu River near the Sinuiju, North Korea. -
19.
In 2014, Kim Jong-uns sudden absence from two high-profile public events triggered speculations about his health. There were reports in the media that diabetes or gout were the reasons for his disappearance that lasted 38 days. North Korean media ended the speculation by sharing his photos in which he was seen walking with the help of a cane. -
20.
Kim Jong-un even has an impersonator. A musician named Howard impersonated the North Korean leader on the streets of Hong Kong. -
21.
The citizens in the country have to choose among state-sanctioned haircuts. Married women have more options of hairdos than single women. Men are not allowed to grow their hair more than two inches while older men can have hair up to 3 inches long. -
22.
According to Corruption Perceptions Index 2014, North Korea is the most corrupt country in the world, along with Sudan. -
23.
In 1990s, a famine in North Korea killed almost 2 million people. -
24.
Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Koreas capital Pyongyang is the largest in the world and can accommodate 150,000 people at a time. -
25.
Entire country suffers from chronic power outage. Residences, offices usually receive electricity for only a few hours in a day. Pictured People walk through a field scattered with electricity poles in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. -
26.
North Korea has the largest submarine fleet in the world. -
27.
Only two percent of the roads in the country are paved. -
28.
Kim Jong Il, was a movie buff, got South Korean film director Shin Sang Ok and his wife kidnapped to make films for North Korean industry. Pictured The couple during their first public appearance after escape from North Korea. -
29.
In 1990s, teachers in the country were given their teaching certificate only after they pass accordion test. -
30.
During elections in North Korea, there is only one name on the ballot box. Electors can vote by writing "Yes" or "No" on the ballot paper. Pictured Voters line up to cast their ballots during elections in Pyongyang, North Korea. -
31.
In 2011, the researchers in North Korea came out with a poll which ranked the country as second happiest in the world, just behind China.
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