Kim Jong Un is often portrayed by the world press as a ruthless madman and buffoon, a chain-smoking, heavy drinker with his own nuclear arsenal, ruling over 120,000 political prisoners. At 41, this “Great Successor” carries the longest list of grand titles on the planet, yet when he took power at just 27, few knew much about him.
Since then, Kim has made North Korea a global threat like never before, even bringing a sitting US president to the negotiating table. But after historic talks failed, tensions with Washington and Seoul have grown, with record missile tests and looming nuclear threats. In the digital age, countless theories surround Kim Jong Un, yet the question remains: who is he really, and how do we separate fact from fiction in understanding his authoritarian rule?
Click through the gallery to explore the complex and controversial life of North Korea's Supreme Leader.