Kim Il 51 (51): Last News

Kim Jong-un as a young boy – and he looks very different to the modern tyrant.Jong-un has been in power as Supreme Leader in North Korea since in December 2011, having taken over from his father Kim Jong-il.He officially took over his father's old post as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea on 8 October 1997.Today, he appears as a rather filled-out 38-year-old, but in the new North Korean state TV film Closest to the Sun, he is shown as a youngster alongside his father and sister Yo-jong.He is also pictured alongside Hyon Chol-hae, in the documentary about the life of Chol-hae who was Kim's mentor.Hyon Chol-hae served as a bodyguard for Kim Il-Sung during the Korean warn, and was director of the General Logistics Department for the Korean People's Army from 1986 to 1995.In 2016, having held several roles in the army, he was promoted to the rank of Marshal – becoming only the fifth person in history to hold the role. However, last month, he died aged 87 from organ failure related to Coronavirus.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un led a massive crowd of mourners in the streets of Pyongyang despite the country’s strict coronavirus lockdown as his “mentor” Hyon Chol Hae was laid to rest.The retired Marshal of the Korean People's Army, who was official bodyguard to Kim’s father Kim Il-sung, reportedly died of “multiple organ failure” on May 19 at the age of 87.Hyon Chol Hae was one of the most senior military officials in North Korea, becoming only the fifth person to be promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Korean People's Army.Kim and the honour guard of Korean People’s Army officers escorting his coffin went unmasked throughout the proceedings. Hyon’s lavish state funeral, which was attended by tens of thousands of people and watched by many more on the state TV channel, seemed to suggest that the authorities in Pyongyang aren’t concerned by the spread Covid-19 in the city.

North Korea as they wait to see if the secretive country will hold a military parade to mark the birthday of its founder, Kim Il Sung.Such parades are not rare in the country, with paranoid dictator Kim Jong Un – Kim Il Sung’s grandson – often keen to show off his military capabilities, but there hasn’t been one for seven months.There were reports of jets and helicopters being heard flying low over the centre of the capital Pyongyang on Thursday night, and roads were apparently closed in parts of the capital, suggesting a spectacular event was getting under way.But soldiers appeared to be continuing their parade training at a military base in the city this morning, with NK News reporting that they didn’t march through the city last night after all.NK News says a parade could take place tonight instead.In recent years, North Korea has held its military parades at night before broadcasting an edited version on state TV a few hours later, reports The Japan Times.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.The waiting game comes as the current leader Kim has been ramping up tensions in the region once again.Last month he was snapped laughing and joking as his forces tested an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time since 2017, and reports have suggested the country is gearing up for its first test of a nuclear bomb in nearly half a decade.The United States has recently sent an aircraft carrier group to the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan for the first time since 2017.

Kim Jong-un is showing that tyrannical tendencies run in the family.Kim Yo-jong, 34, is the de facto second in command to her brother and next in line to rule the hermit kingdom.And if recent evidence is anything to go by, she might be every bit as volatile as the diminutive dictator. This week she issued a chilling threat to neighbours South Korea, suggesting they wouldn't hesitate to use nuclear missiles to 'eliminate' their military if they went ahead with pre-emptive strikes.It put her firmly in the limelight after a period in which her growing influence has become apparent.

North Korea has launched a 'possible ballistic missile' according to the Japanese Defence Ministry.Japanese officials have said they are trying to confirm whether the launch will affect their country.South Korean military chiefs have now said that their northern neighbours fired a projectile from Sunan at around 9.30am local time, but that early intelligence suggests the test failed immediately after launch.They added that both the South Korean and US intelligence officials are conducting further analysis of the launch.It would have been Kim Jong-un's tenth missile test this year, with the number already surpassing the total amount launched last year.The concerning news comes amid reports that the hermit nation is secretly testing a new 'monster missile' ahead of a very special launch. US intelligence analysts reckon that Kim Jong-un wants to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which can carry multiple nuclear warheads to mark the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il-sung.

Jamie Lang International media group Fremantle has picked up sales rights outside Asia to Korean format “DNA Singer.” The music gameshow was created by specialty firm FormatEast and Kyung Hwangbo for SBS and has not yet gone to air. Family members who are genetically linked with celebrities such as singers and actors perform, while the judges must guess which celebrities they are genetically related to. “Fantastic Family – DNA Singer” launches in Korea next week as Lunar New Year specials on SBS.

North Korea, thought to be a pet project of the country's leader Kim Jong-un, is home to several animals with an array of bizarre talents ranging from the crazy to the downright cruel.The zoo is located in the country's capital of Pyongyang and has long been slammed by animal rights activists.In 2016, Kim Jong-un ordered that it be renovated in a bid to modernise the rogue nation's attractions.Reportedly, one of the zoo's more wacky exhibits is a parrot that can recite an ode to Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un's grandfather, who ruled North Korea until 1994.They are also said to have trained dogs to do arithmetic using abacuses, as well as monkeys able to shoot basketballs into hoops.The darker side of the zoo is highlighted by 25-year-old chimp Azalea, who has been trained to smoke 40 cigarettes a day to entertain visitors. The chimp is reportedly encouraged by its trainer to spark up using a lighter or an already lit cig, and has also been taught a dance.

North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un wants to be worshipped with his own ideology. In an attempt to break free from the shadow of his predecessors, the dictator is pushing 'Kimjongunism' which hails him as a 'Great Leader'.

Kim Jong-Un is reportedly ramping up North Korea's nuclear programme and he has ordered the military to ensure his missiles are combat ready.

North Korea have seen Kim jong-un's subjects used to spell out a message that can be seen from space. The people were organised into a formation to spell out: "To defend with one's life," which experts are taking as some kind of political message.Expert Martyn Williams, from the website 38 North which analyses the reclusive country, said: "Political messages displayed with the kind of placards seen in today's images are common during this kind of event and require practice to perfect timing and accuracy." The crowd gathered at Kim Il Sung Square, named after the current leader's grandfather, in capital Pyongyang to practice for an event linked to the Eighth Party Congress in January.

Donald Trump has said he is "glad to see" North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un back in public following rumours of his death.

A mysterious mark has been spotted on Kim Jog-un's wrist as the North Korean leader returned to public view after a 20-day absence.

North Korea is undoubtedly one of the world's most secretive countries, which means there are so many things we don't know about it.

A top South Korean official has said his country is confident there has been no “unusual developments” in North Korea, suggesting rumours about the health of leader Kim Jong Un are untrue.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un may have been injured during missile tests, according to a former high-ranking official.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un disappeared from public view because one of his personal bodyguards was suspected to have contracted the coronavirus, it has been reported.

As rumours of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's deteriorating health grow, his sister is poised to take control.

Kim Jong-un is dead or on his death bed after a heart operation went wrong because his doctor's hand were shaking, reports claim.

There are fears that a massive military and humanitarian response would be needed to deal with a chaotic crisis in North Korea, should Kim Jong-un die.

North Korea is reportedly preparing Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong to act as the country’s Supreme Leader, Korea Economic Daily reports.

North Korean state media made no mention of new appearances by leader Kim Jong Un, a day after intense international speculation over his health.