Background Information
Kim Jong, also known as Kim Jong-un, is the Supreme Leader of North Korea since 2011. He is the chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, the fourth-largest military in the world. Born in Pyongyang, he is the third and youngest son of then-leader Kim Jong-il and his third wife, Ko Yong-hui. He has been in power for approximately ten years, but his exact age is a point of contention.
North Korean Officials Statements
The North Korean government has not released official information about Kim Jong’s exact date of birth. North Korean state media report that his date of birth is January 8th, 1983, 25 to 27 years old at different times – making him one of the youngest leaders in modern history. In 2009, North Korea’s main state news agency, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), officially marked Kim’s birthday as January 8th.
CIA Analysis
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has recorded Kim Jong’s birth year as 1984. This information was released on the CIA’s World Factbook website in 2011. While the CIA does not state a specific date of birth, the agency’s World Factbook states that Kim Jong is 36 years old as of 2020.
Outside Analysis
Independent South Korean analysts estimate Kim Jong’s age as between 34 and 36 years old as of 2020.Analysts point to Kim Jong-il’s Inaugural Address of 1994, which stated that Kim Jong was 11 years old at the time. If the address is to be believed, it would mean that Kim Jong was born in 1983 or 1984. Other analysts cite a Chinese train manifest that arrived in Pyongyang in February of 1983 and a list of gifts from a Chinese military general who traveled to North Korea that year.
Insights and Analysis
The lack of an authoritative answer to the question of Kim Jong’s age is emblematic of the broader lack of transparency that dominates North Korea. North Korea’s culture of secrecy means that obtaining accurate information about Kim Jong’s age, or any other detail of his life, is not possible without relying on outside sources. Furthermore, the discrepancy between the CIA’s reported age and the North Korean officials’ stated age raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of records originating in North Korea.
Continuing Debate
This debate will most likely continue in the absence of any clear records or definitive statements from the North Korean government. Kim Jong is a powerful leader and he commands a large military constituency. Whatever the source, it is clear that Kim Jong is a leader of major import, and one whose exact age will continue to be the subject of much speculation.
International Relationship
The uncertainty about Kim Jong’s age is reflective of his unpredictable relationship with the international community. Kim Jong has led North Korea’s rapid modernization and development, but he has also continued to remain largely isolated from the world. This has in turn made diplomatic relations between North Korea and the international community extremely difficult.
Economic Impact
This difficulty has been reflected in North Korea’s economy, which is faltering and is estimated to be among the weakest in the world. North Korea’s economic troubles have put millions at risk, and Kim Jong’s age and reign are clouded by this instability. Kim Jong’s age is not just of historical importance – people’s lives are at stake, and only stability and greater transparency can help the North Korean people.
Kim’s Legacy
The passing of time has brought with it an increasing level of suspicion towards the North Korean leader and the full details of his life, leading to a narrative of mystery and drama that has captured the media’s attention. But regardless of Kim Jong’s age and the mistrust that exists between him and the international community, his legacy as one of the youngest modern day rulers continues to impress many in the West.
Education and Knowledge
Despite his age and the debate surrounding it, Kim Jong has proven himself to be a shrewd and capable leader. He has been able to maintain the support of his constituents, even in the face of international scrutiny and economic difficulty. He has also managed to acquire a substantial education and knowledge of the world and its power structures, which he has been able to use to maintain his influence over those who serve him.
