McKenzie Redmond

Kim Jong-Un inherited leadership of North Korea after his fathers death on the 17th of
December 2011. Kim was born in 1983 or 1984, the youngest son to Kim Jong II and the
youngest to ever rule the country. His abusive reign started in 2013, two years after he first
assumed the position as dictator to North Korea. Kim Jong-Un has picked up where his father
and grandfather left off, by overseeing a system of public executions, extensive political prison
camps, and brutal forced labor. Kim uses prison camps to ensure fear for opposing the rules and
regulations that he has set. Kim Jong-Uns public purge and execution of his uncle, Jang Song-
Thaek, previously a top-level official in the government, help to further reinforced that fear and
prove that Kim Jong-Un has no boundaries when it comes to opposing the government. The
move, Kim explained, helped strengthened the nation "by 100 times," and was necessary in light
of looming threats Kim believed were present from outside powers that were attempting to rein
him in. In the two years since he came to power, Kim Jong-un has made significant changes on
his nation. Few of those changes have benefited his 24.76 million subjects he dictates. North
Korea has tightened control over the countrys Northern border, he has reduced flights that come
in and out of Korea, and has placed systematic interrogation and torture of North Koreans caught
and forcibly returned from China.
The North Korean dictator's childhood is shrouded with mystery. There are many things
we are unsure of about the dictator such as his exact birthplace and date of birth. But we do know
that he is the youngest son of Kim Jong-il and both his father and his mother were opera singers.
Out of all his siblings, Kim was picked for the successor as dictator of Korea because his father
saw a silimar temperament in him as in himself. Kim studied at Kim-II Sung Military University
(names after his grandfather) to prepare for his rule as dictator of North Korea. In late 2012 it
was reported that Kim had taken a wife, Ri Sol-ju. There exact marriage is another piece of
information shrouded with rumors and secrets but presumably they married in 2009. Overall
there is little information released about the dictator's personal life and early childhood.
Studies suggest that more than half of the population of North Korea approves of Kim
Jong-Uns rule. More than 60% of the people surveyed agree and say the population supports his
rule, which is more than the 55% that Kims father had had. But since Kims rule has tightened
among North Korea, people have different opinions. The Wall Street Journal says "It points to a
successful consolidation of power for the young leader, who took over with the death of his
father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. That seemed uncertain a year ago, at least based on the
institute's previous report on defector interviews. Speaking then with 122 people who had fled
North Korea between January 2011 and May 2012, it found that 58% were unhappy with the
choice of the young Mr. Kim as successor. (Of course, people who flee the country may tend to
be more dissatisfied with it than people who remain.).

Korea, formally possession of Japan, had been divided into two zones of occupation after
the events of World War II. The division however would soon become permanent with the
Soviets assisting North Korea, and the US assisting the Southern part of Korea.U.S. forces
accepted the surrender of Japanese forces in Southern Korea, while Soviet forces did the same in
northern Korea. On June 25, 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States, acting
under the auspices of the United Nations, quickly came to the defense of South Korea and fought
a bloody and frustrating war that would last for the next three years.As a result of the battle,
more than 2,800,000 people died, of these being over 55,000 American troops killed in the
conflict. This battle would soon be known as the Korean War. In 1953, the United States and
North Korea had signed a cease-fire that ended the bloody conflict. The cease-fire also resulted
in the continued division of North and South Korea at just about the same geographical point as
before the conflict.

Recently, there had been a family reunion between North and South Korean Families that
had been separated by the split of the country. Eighty two South Koreans and 180 North Koreans
had reportedly met at a resort on the east coast of North Korea named Mount Kumgang. although
the event was heavily guarded, the day was full of emotion and joy. Though this joy did not last
long because of the realization that this might be the last time that they will ever see or come into
contact with their relatives again. Both North and South Korean governments have banned phone
calls and mail contact between the two Koreas. Lee Sang Chul, a representative of the
Association of Divided Families in South Korea says, Millions of Koreans were separated in the
1950s conflict. Most have died without ever seeing their relatives again. Since 2000, about
130,000 South Koreans have put their names on a reunion waiting list. Just over half are still
alive. Many of these people are in their 80s. They have given up hope of seeing their loved
ones. North Korea has reportedly threatened to deny and cancel family reunions on multiple
occasions.

In more recent news, Kim Jong-un used his 2014 New Year's Day speech to once more
call his executed uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, "filth" and threaten that any aggression from the
United States or South Korea would lead to a "deadly nuclear catastrophe. Arguing that it was
these other nations that were bloodthirsty and hoping to attack North Korea, Kim threatened that
should the United States or South Korea act on this desire for war, "it will result in a deadly
nuclear catastrophe and the United States will never be safe.". The US responded by saying that
they needed to recognize how great an adversary North Korea is. Its the fifth largest military
force in the world and has chemical, nuclear, biological and nerve weapons that are potential
dangers. Based on satellite reports, the U.S says that North Korea can fire missiles at any time
they want. Since these conclusions are based off of satellite imagery and not off of ground work,
we cannot prepare or anticipate when to expect the missile strike. The U.S. also suspects that
there will be no broadcast or warning coming from North Korea on the matter when and if it
does happen. The satellites will detect the path of the missiles right after they launch and will be
able to conclude whether or not they will land in open waters or not.

The threat calls U.S. attention and is being discussed in the White House as whether to
fire missiles ourselves or to wait to see if North Korea follows up on their words. So far, North
Korea has warned South Korea and other countries to protect themselves in case of a strike and
this is catching the U.S. attention also. This threat to U.S. National Security has caused us to
believe that North Korea has their long range missiles fueled up and ready. The United States has
stated that theyre pretty confident that they could protect themselves and their neighbors in case
of the strike and are taking the necessary precautions. This is not the first threat that North Korea
has sent to the U.S, and being so, we expect that this might once again be another bluff.




Not even the army officials in North Korea are safe from the rule of Kim Jong-Un. South
Korean media stated that the vice minister of the army, Kim Chol was sentenced to execution
after reportedly drinking and carousing during the mourning period after Kim Jong-ils (Supreme
Leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) death. Kim Chol was executed by a
mortar round; an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as (mortar) bombs at
low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories, which just goes to show you
the brutality of the Korean leader. An article was released on this topic stating, On the orders of
Kim Jong-un to leave no trace of him behind, down to his hair, according to South Korean
media, Kim Chol was forced to stand on a spot that had been zeroed in for a mortar round and
obliterated. This is just one example of what can happen when someone threatens the regime
of Kim Jong-Un in his country. This is said to be one out of fourteen other executions from this
year alone.
And in even more recent news, On May 22nd 2014, North and South Korean warships
reportedly exchanged artillery fire in disputed waters off of the western coast. South Korean
military officials said that this event is the latest sign of rising animosity between the bitter
rivals. The South Korean navy ship was said to be engaged in a routine patrol near the countries'
disputed maritime boundary in the Yellow Sea at the time when a North Korean navy ship fired
two artillery shells at their ships. It was said that the shells did not hit the South Korean ship and
had fallen in the waters near it. The North Korean ship then was said to have fired another set of
artillery rounds which had also missed the navy ships. Hundreds of residents on the frontline
island were then evacuated to nearby underground shelters after an order on the loudspeakers
was sounded. A sea-boundary is not clearly marked to separate the waters of the two so nothing
could be done about the situation. North Korea then reportedly had conducted a string of artillery
drills and missile tests and had unleashed racist and sexist rhetoric at the leaders of South Korea
and their ally the US. In retaliation, South Korean navy ships fired warning shots to repel three
North Korean warships that had briefly violated the waters. Analyzing North Koreas history,
they are sure to retaliate.
Kim Jong-Un has been known to dislike the U.S ever since the Korean War, but he has
an unlikely friendship with one American basketball star. Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired
American basketball player who was on the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls,
LA Lakers, and the Dallas Mavericks. Rodman's unlikely friendship with Kim dates back to
February last year when he accompanied the US documentary maker Vice to North Korea with
the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. The two vowed eternal friendship at a basketball
game in Pyongyang, after the game, Rodman made a speech addressing Kim as a friend for
life. Rodman also has been reported saying that Kim is an awesome guy and that his father
and grandfather were both great leaders. It is almost universally accepted that North Korea
has the worst human rights record in the world. As many as 200,000 political prisoners are
locked up in labour camps around the country. Escapees have said that torture is routine. Asked
whether he would bring up the subject of labour camps, Mr Rodman said it was not his job.
Given that he is the only American with such unprecedented access to Mr Kim, Sky News put it
to him that it was his responsibility to raise the issue. That's not my job, he said. The only
thing I am doing right now, I am only doing one thing: this game is for his birthday. It's for his
birthday.
Not to long ago an American visiting North Korea was called out for committing acts
inconsistent with the purpose of a tourist visit. The citizen, Jeffrey Edward Fowle was then
arrested and held in the detention center of North Korea. This would be the third American
citizen arrested this year and kept captive to the country. Some say that this is just another
attempt to get the attention of the outside world, knowing North Koreas unlawful history of
mischievous activities. From 2009 to now, North Korea has reportedly held a total of 13
American citizens captive. If this is just another attempt to get outside attention to feed the
countries need for revolution then North Korea will need to try harder. Although it has caught
the eyes of the U.S. government, we will not take evasive actions until a major threat is proposed
to our nation or our allies. North Koreas threats are minor as opposed to the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan that our government is juggling with. Now, with the war in Iraq over and the war
in Afghanistan winding down, the U.S. has announced its return to Asia with the so-called Asian
Pivot. To North Koreas disappointment, this has little to do with North Korea and everything to
do with a rising China.


SOURCES

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/04/04/how-should-the-united-states-respond-to-north-koreas-
threats-of-nuclear-attack
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/01/02/Kim-Jong-Un-Threatens-Deadly-Nuclear-
Catastrophe-To-U-S-In-New-Year-s-Address
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/korean-war-begins
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/separated-families-meet-in-north-korea-
reunion/1858982.html
http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/21/north-korea-kim-jong-un-deepens-abusive-rule
http://fox4kc.com/2013/04/09/north-korea-warns-foreigners-to-protect-themselves-threatens-u-s-
security/
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/166959#.U43m3vm-2So

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9630509/North-Korean-army-
minister-executed-with-mortar-round.html
http://www.biography.com/people/kim-jong-un-21125351#awesm=~oGgdcmwUCn7s5p
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/07/is-north-korea-collecting-american-
hostages.html