Tracing Kim Jong Un’s Current Activity and Whereabouts
Kim Jong Un, leader of North Korea, has had a mysterious aura surrounding his activities and whereabouts since he took power in 2011. This has been partly provocative and involved a number of aggressive stances and threats exhibited by North Korea over the past few years. On the other hand, the leader’s current activity and whereabouts are largely unknown.
The leader’s official title was conferred in April 2012 when he was formally declared the Supreme Leader of North Korea, before the ‘Great Successor’, as his presidency is often referred to, is Kim Jong Un. He succeeded his late father, Kim Jong Il, and before him, his grandfather, Kim Il Sung.
Much of the activities of the North Korean government are carried out in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. North Korean television shows Kim attending patriotic events here, during which he is often seen waving and saluting. The only other public knowledge of his current geographical whereabouts stem from his visits to the provinces of his country. He is occasionally seen in the cities of Sinuiju and Rason, both of which lie close to the Chinese border.
As for his reasons for such movements, even the most seasoned experts struggle to assess conclusively. It is however thought that the movements may form part of his campaign to revitalize the North Korean economy, as is evidenced by reports of North Korean state-owned companies appearing in a number of strategic off-shore locations.
Until recently, it was thought that the leader was engaged in a series of diplomatic visits in preparation for a potential summit with US President Donald Trump. However, the summit appears to have been called off, with the US President citing North Korea’s lack of effective communication as the reason for its cancellation. As such, it remains impossible to assess the current whereabouts of Kim Jong Un.
The secrecy surrounding his whereabouts and the fact that only Kim’s inner circle of censors know what he is up to only serves to increase the leader’s mythical status in the eyes of his people, as well as the international stakeholders. Naturally, this also increases speculation about his activities.
Understanding North Korea’s Political System and Tensions with the US
In order to develop a better understanding of the current tensions between North Korea and the US, it is important to understand the country’s political system and its historical relationship with the US.
Due to its size and proximity to China, North Korea is often referred to as a ‘strategic buffer’. However, since the end of the Second World War and the establishment of the North Korean state, North Korea has pursued an isolationist strategy, and tensions have been ever-present between the two nations, with North Korea and the US often seen as ideological adversaries.
These tensions have been exacerbated in recent years by North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile technologies, which the US perceives as threatening to its political and strategic interests in the region. Additionally, North Korea’s refusal to adhere to US requests and comply with UN sanctions in response to its nuclear weapons program, has further strained relations between the two countries.
The political system in North Korea is highly centralized and is based on the rule of the Communist Party of Korea. This system is authoritarian in nature and is designed to ensure the country’s economic and political stability. As such, the leader is venerated by his people and commands a significant degree of loyalty.
This loyalty is enforced through a series of state-run propaganda campaigns, designed to extol the virtues of the leader and vilify the actions of external actors, most notably the US. This often takes the form of rhetoric and can be seen in the public statements of Kim Jong Un himself.
The current level of tension between North Korea and the US is unprecedented in recent times, and is thought to be the result of US insistence on North Korean disarmament as well as US pursuit of strategic advantages in the region. As such, it is unsurprising that news of Kim Jong Un’s current activities remains elusive.
Exploring the Leader’s Recent Foreign Relationships
To get to the bottom of Kim Jong Un’s current activity, it is necessary to explore the leader’s recent foreign relationships and the strategic direction he may be taking his country. It is known that Kim Jong Un has met with the Chinese President Xi Jinping on three occasions in the past year, highlighting the close relationship between the two countries.
The content of the meetings has yet to be made public, however it is thought that the meetings were primarily to discuss the issue of denuclearisation and to develop political and economic ties between the two countries. Additionally, Kim Jong Un has met with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in twice and the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev once.
At a strategic level, it is thought that Kim Jong Un is attempting to break North Korea’s isolation by engaging with regional and foreign powers. This is evidenced by North Korea’s participation in regional summits, and its attempt to build a more cooperative relationship with the US. Additionally, North Korea has expressed an interest in joining the ASEAN Economic Community, highlighting the fact that North Korea is, to some extent, attempting to open up to the world.
However, there is still caution and suspicion of North Korea’s intentions, and the international community remains steadfast in its stance that North Korea must take credible steps towards denuclearisation for any meaningful progress to be made.
Kim Jong Un’s current activity and motivations remain difficult to gauge. It appears that there is a shift in the strategy undertaken by North Korea and by the leader himself, but only time will tell whether they will be able to break free of their isolation and bring stability to the region.
The Perils of Assessing North Korea’s Foreign Policy
Various international stakeholders, including the US, Japan, South Korea and China, have attempted to assess North Korea’s foreign policy direction, yet even the most experienced experts struggle to deduce the country’s ultimate ambitions.
The lack of verifiable and objective data to assess North Korea’s actions only makes the task at hand even more difficult. Moreover, the fact that North Korea actively seeks to disrupt and diminish the outside world’s understanding of its actions serves as yet another hindrance.
This is compounded by the presence of a formidable internal censorship apparatus. Kim Jong Un’s inner circle of censors is highly efficient in hiding information and preventing the dissemination of sensitive material. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for external actors to gain reliable intelligence regarding the leader’s current activities and intentions.
That being said, when assessing North Korea’s future plans, the most reliable assessment is likely to come from the words of the leader himself. Unfortunately, since Kim’s activities and whereabouts remain largely unknown, this appears to be the only reliable way of gauging North Korea’s direction.
Looking at the Impact of North Korea’s Foreign Policy on the International Community
Whilst North Korea can be seen as an impoverished and isolated nation, it has in recent times been unable to fully escape the attention of the international community. Its foreign policy has had a far-reaching impact on the international community, seemingly out of proportion to its size and financial resources.
North Korea’s nuclear weapons program has resulted in various UN sanctions, which have impacted the global economy in a number of ways. Additionally, its continued provocation of the international community has resulted in increased tensions with the US, South Korea, Japan and other countries in the region.
The impact of North Korea’s foreign policy has also been felt further afield, with countries such as China, Russia and India taking measures to ensure that North Korean aggression is contained. It is argued that North Korea’s foreign policy has caused a severe disruption to global security, co-operation and stability.
As such, any analysis of North Korea’s foreign policy must take into account not only the security implications but also the wider global impact, as North Korea cannot be viewed in isolation.
Kim Jong Un’s Place in North Korean History and Political Culture
Whilst Kim Jong Un’s motives and ambitions can be difficult to ascertain, it is important to understand his place in North Korean history and political culture in order to appreciate the decisions he is likely to make.
North Korea is a state founded on the principles of dictatorship and communism, and the Kim family have held a revered status in the eyes of the North Korean people for generations. Kim Il Sung, the leader’s grandfather, is held as a national hero and is often referred to as the ‘Great Leader’. Kim Jong Un wields similar levels of support from his people, as is evidenced by public displays of loyalty and admiration.
Kim Jong Un has previously declared that his government is determined to reunify North and South Korea, and is often seen as the country’s hope for a brighter future. As such, it is unsurprising that Kim retains a high level of support among his people and is seen as a symbol of national pride.
This also goes some way to explain North Korea’s defiant stance towards the US, as the US is seen as an adversary, intent on destroying the North Korean way of life. As such, any analysis of Kim Jong Un’s current activity and whereabouts must take into account his place in North Korean history and political culture.
Exploring the Current Status of North Korea’s Military Posture
Whilst the agency of Kim Jong Un and the intentions of the North Korean government remain largely opaque, it is thought that North Korea can potentially remain in a state of ‘readiness’ in anticipation of any potential hostility from external actors.
North Korea has made significant investments in its military capabilities by modernizing both its Navy and Air Force. Additionally, North Korea has deployed a number of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and continues to pursue the development of a nuclear warhead capability.
Despite threats of US military action, North Korea has yet to be directly engaged in a military conflict since the end of the Korean War in 1953. However, the North Korean government’s focus on military preparedness serves to indicate its willingness to defend itself and its interests from external aggression.
Additionally, the military remains a powerful tool for Kim Jong Un to manipulate his people by whipping up national fervor and further entrenching his loyalty among the population. It appears that the North Korean people remain firmly under Kim’s control and are highly sensitive to any potential military threats.
The current status of North Korea’s military posture and its implications remain difficult to assess. There is no doubt that North Korea’s formidable military arsenal and its willingness to use it pose a threat to the region and the wider international community.
