The video provides an in-depth look into the life and rule of Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, detailing his struggle between maintaining his family’s authoritarian legacy and the potential need for modernization for global legitimacy. As the third-generation leader of one of the world's most secretive regimes, Kim faces critical decisions that could determine both his future and that of North Korea.

It is essential viewing as it meticulously charts Kim Jong-un's upbringing, his family's historical rule, his exposure to Western culture, and the subsequent political and personal dilemmas he faces in navigating leadership. The narrative explores the dichotomy between Kim's oppressive domestic policies and his orchestrated overtures towards modernization, including the role of his sister, Kim Yo-jong, in the regime.

Main takeaways from the video:

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Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. dynasty [ˈdaɪnəsti] - (noun) - a line of hereditary rulers of a country. - Synonyms: (lineage, house, bloodline)

And that dilemma, you know what? It could be the end of the Qin dynasty.

2. illicit [ɪˈlɪsɪt] - (adjective) - forbidden by law, rules, or custom. - Synonyms: (illegal, unlawful, prohibited)

The only way that it can make hard currency is by illicit trade.

3. treasonous [ˈtriːzənəs] - (adjective) - betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government. - Synonyms: (traitorous, disloyal, perfidious)

This would also have been considered very treasonous by Kim Jong un.

4. assassin [əˈsæsɪn] - (noun) - a person who murders an important person for political or religious reasons. - Synonyms: (killer, murderer, gunman)

Now, for the first time on television, one of the assassins tells her full, extraordinary story.

5. apprehend [ˌæprɪˈhɛnd] - (verb) - to arrest someone for a crime. - Synonyms: (catch, seize, detain)

They are soon apprehended by the local malaysian police.

6. ruthless [ˈruːθləs] - (adjective) - having or showing no pity or compassion for others. - Synonyms: (merciless, cruel, severe)

This video evidence helped to build a picture of a ruthless political assassination.

7. parallel [ˈpærəˌlɛl] - (adjective) - occurring or existing at the same time or in a similar way; corresponding. - Synonyms: (analogous, comparable, equivalent)

North Korea has a separate, parallel geography that exists outside of anything north korean citizens would know about.

8. indoctrinate [ɪnˈdɒktrɪneɪt] - (verb) - to teach a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. - Synonyms: (brainwash, condition, inculcate)

The early years of Kim Jong un's childhood indoctrinated him in the ways of the Kim dynasty.

9. tyrant [ˈtaɪrənt] - (noun) - a cruel and oppressive ruler. - Synonyms: (dictator, despot, autocrat)

As Kim Jong un attempts to transform himself from God like tyrant to an approachable human leader, he needs backup within the family to maintain the dynasty's grip on power.

10. provocation [ˌprɒvəˈkeɪʃən] - (noun) - action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately. - Synonyms: (incitement, instigation, irritation)

It's classic north korean provocation.

Dictator's Dilemma (Full Episode) - North Korea - Inside the Mind of a Dictator

This is Kim Jong un, ruler of North Korea. He's just 36 years old, but he commands the world's fourth largest military. He has nuclear weapons, and his family has ruled over their people using violence and terror for over 70 years. But Kim is man torn between two worlds. The traditions of his brutal communist past and the need to become a legitimate, modern leader. That is his dilemma. Am I going to come out and become a cleaner, softer dictator, or am I going to continue to retain this criminal regime that I inherited from my grandfather and my father? And that dilemma, you know what? It could be the end of the Qin dynasty.

Kim Jong un is only the third man to rule North Korea. He is following his grandfather and father in the role of supreme leader. They rule over their people as gods. In the 10th year of his rule, Kim Jong un is at a crossroads. He's a dictator with a decision to make. Should he try to drag North Korea into the modern world and become a legitimate country, but risk losing his grip on power? Or should he continue to run a rogue state like his grandfather and father before him? If I compare it to a movie, I would say it's godfather three. And that's when Michael Corleone wants to become a legitimate businessman and head of a business conglomerate, out from the shadows of the mafia regime that he inherited.

But without the mafia state, the Kim regime would not function. Why? Because it is under heavy sanctions. The only way that it can make hard currency is by illicit trade. The north korean regime is, in many respects, a huge criminal cartel. Guns, drugs, counterfeit cash, and cybercrime bring in an estimated $2 billion a year for Kim to spend. That's his personal piggy bank. And that is when we, the Kim Jong regime, sustained.

Recently, Kim has shown signs of modernizing. He's been stepping out with his first lady and meeting other world leaders. But in 2017, he was dragged back into his family business is his elder half brother, Kim Jong nam, who was overlooked for succession. He left North Korea for a quiet life in China, surfacing on camera from time to time to speak out against the regime.

But then it seemed Kim Jong nam crossed a line. During the course of my reporting, I was told by a person with good connections to the intelligence community in the United States that Kim Jong nam had, in fact, been an informant to the CIA and was supplying information about Kim Jong un to them. These CCTV images show him meeting his suspected handler. A fascinated news media shadowed his every move. He still had very good connections to the regime. So for the CIA to be able to recruit Kim Jong nam as an informer and to get whatever information he had, it would have been a huge deal for them. This would also have been considered very treasonous by Kim Jong un. It seems the time. The time had come for Kim to deal with his older brother.

February 13, 2017. Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Kim Jong un's brother enters the terminal unaware that two female assassins are also at the airport. Now, for the first time on television, one of the assassins tells her full, extraordinary story. It begins with her being recruited by a man who claimed to be a tv producer. For months, Kim Jong un's agents groomed city and another young woman to ambush unsuspecting members of the public and smothered their faces with cosmetic creams in what they thought were hidden camera show stunts. The Pakehembodi baby git. Baby oil. City's handler arranges a meeting at a cafe in the airport. There she is to receive details of the target.

Umu, acting young iniya katana bagus ini nanti komunkinan bosuga akankasikamu bonus lagi ito orangya pastu sabilang young mana getukan itu young pak jakatu abu katana gitokan yang mana ito yang botak vilangan saya gito. This time it isn't baby oil, but a deadly nerve agent. As Kim Jong un's brother heads to his flight, the two women make their move. Seeking help, Kim Jong nam heads for the airport's medical facility. So at this point, Kim Jong nam is in the infirmary and he is behind the door. And this is where this image gets very scary. There's a gentleman in all black walking near this door, okay? And he's got a rolly suitcase.

He's checking in to make sure that Kim Jong nam is receiving medical treatment. This is one of the operatives. It's a very elaborate operation. It's very old school. The operation plays out like a cold war spykeeper. They're our lookout men, a chemist to handle the nerve agent, a getaway driver, and a team leader code named grandpa. The young women have no idea what they've done. They are soon apprehended by the local malaysian police. Ole Adequny president. The trial creates shockwaves around the world.

She's been charged for the most serious crime in the country, the crime of murder. For the offense of murder, there's only one punishment, and that is death by hand. Soon, the chemist of the gang is also apprehended. He is caught on camera getting his story straight with north korean embassy officials. This video evidence helped to build a picture of a ruthless political assassination. Both women were released after spending two years in prison. Kim Jong un's troublesome older brother was no more. Kim Jong un's half brother died in such a terrible, humiliating way. On camera. And Kim probably was very pleased that he was able to watch all of this.

Amid sobering scenes broadcast around the world, Kim Jong nam's body is brought back to North Korea. It's accompanied by the same men spotted in the airport on the day he was murdered. It was absolutely to send a message to do in such a public way to everybody in North Korea and elsewhere that Kim will find you. To understand Kim Jong un, it's helpful to know the world he grew up in. Deep beneath the surface of North Korea, his father created an elaborate hidden kingdom that his children inhabited. North Korea has a separate, parallel geography that exists outside of anything north korean citizens would know about. It's a secret network that includes roads, railways, and tunnel systems. It's a way of concealing Kim's whereabouts from spy satellites.

Currently, we're looking at Kim Jong un's Gangdong vip complex. Gangdong complex is one of the favorite complexes of the Kim family. Kim Jong un spent a lot of time there as a child. So this is a portal tunnel. We could see the tunnel entrance as a road that goes under the Taedong river. So what Kim Jong un could do is instead of going across that bridge, he would go through that tunnel, and that tunnel would take him under the Taedong river into tunnels under mountains to some unknown locale, and I call it the road to nowhere. It's believed there are some 8000 tunnels in North Korea, reaching up to 1000ft below the surface. Some tunnels are thought to extend more than 30 miles, including an emergency escape route into China. So basically, Kim Jong un can work in his office, take an elevator to a sub basement level, get into a small motorcade, drive underground. And that explains a lot about Kim Jong un's personality. Kim Jong un grew up like that. This has been his entire life.

The early years of Kim Jong un's childhood indoctrinated him in the ways of the Kim dynasty. Kim Jong un grew up in this extremely dysfunctional, paranoid, secretive family. It was impossible for Kim Jong un to be a normal child. He was named the little general. He had a real cult pistol, you know, he had real generals bowing to him. His father was Kim Jong il, one of the most notorious dictators in history, a man with a passion for banquets, cognac, and bond.

Movies. Kim Jong il was generally paranoid around this period of time for Kim Jong undeveloped. There's a lot of restrictions on his movements and activity, and they have to bring in playmates. Well, you'd think they bring in other seven or eight year old children, but you're starting to talk about 30 or 40 year old bodyguards. And so Kim Jong un grows up very close to his bodyguards because these are his playmates. Of all of Kim Jong il's bodyguards, only one is known to have escaped North Korea. Um, Chomie Bang Bang. Kim Jung Iron Song. The bodyguard also remembers the current ruler of North Korea, Bejang. And I want to get in. IO u g hang chibanis katie Union or union? Chica tango heavo melon mani verojo.

Today, Kim Jong un still surrounds himself with these bodyguards. He has expanded the program, adding an elite unit to handle internal threats. The guys that protect him, despite the fact that they wear suits, these people are very similar to SAS or Navy Seals in terms of their skills and training. They inspect his food. If you had a sack of rice, that sack of rice is scrutinized and inspected for any irregular grains, and so every bag of rice is a perfect bag of rice. They bring his toilet. There is a portable toilet, because they don't want a foreign intelligence agency getting a hold of his feces and then analyzing the blood contents for whatever diseases he might have.

So Kim Jong un's psychology is deeply rooted in his father's totalitarian regime. But there is another side to Kim's experience. His school days in the west. Kim Jong un is changing his country with a new style of leadership. It includes photo ops, north korean style. Many think he's been influenced by the time he spent as a teenager in Switzerland, living in the care of his maternal aunt and uncle. Kim Jong un attended a regular public school in Bern.

My name is Nikola Kovaciewicz, and, well, I know Kim Jong un from my school in Switzerland. This is pretty much un, as I remember him, wearing a typical sports outfit. Very american. He was wearing Chicago Bulls shirts, shorts, and Michael Jordan shoes. We were quite impressed by that. We were playing basketball, and un was looking for people to play with. I'll never forget him with a, you know, cheeky smile on his face. You know, at the basketball court, we pretty much just played constantly. He was very, very passionate. You could clearly see that he wants to win. He was very good, very quick. He was on a completely different level than you might think by looking at the pictures from today. We all liked having him in our team.

We did have interesting chats about North Korea. There was one occasion where I was just asking something like, how is it there? And I remember him saying that North Korea is very advanced. It's going to be a big player in the future. You can definitely say that he was proud of his country. He really enjoyed kind of the life of being a rich kid. In Europe, he saw NBA games in Paris. He went off skiing in the Swiss Alps. But back in North Korea, there are changes inside the family. Kim Jong un's mother is dying of cancer, which means Kim's aunt and uncle are about to lose their connection to the dynasty.

Fearing they may be cast aside, they decide to act. Slipping out of the house under cover of darkness, his aunt and uncle take refuge in the us embassy. Claiming political asylum, they are spirited away to a military base in Germany. Kim Jong un was at home. They did not say goodbye. They left him in the middle of the night. It must have been an extremely traumatic experience for Kim Jong un to be abandoned like that. After debriefing by the CIA, Kim's aunt and uncle are given new identities, flown to the US and vanish from sight. For the past 20 years, they have been living this completely anonymous life in middle America, running a dry cleaners, so nobody knows their true identities. But journalist Anna Fifield tracked them down and arranged a meeting. I did not expect them to show up.

And even like that morning when they called to say they were on their way to where we'd agreed to meet, you know, I was surprised when they showed up. Kim Jong un's aunt walked into the cafe like I caught my breath because she looked exactly like her sister. Kim Jong un's mother and I spent the entire weekend with them talking about Kim Jong, undeveloped about, you know, what he was like as a child. And they described him as a normal kid who was a little bit misunderstood, quite strange. I distinctly remember sitting on the couch there with them. At the time Kim Jong un was launching missiles. The projectile was fired from a 2000 ton submarine. And south korean military officials believe the missile's rocket booster did ignite.

There's Kim Jong un in a submarine looking at missiles. And the uncle said, they never say anything good about him. Kim Jong un never completes his studies in Europe. Age 17, he's recalled to North Korea. Within a decade, Kim will find himself the supreme leader of the most repressive dictatorship on earth. He had lived in the west. He had seen freedom up close. So when he took over, a lot of people thought that he would be a reformer. And in fact, early on in his tenure, he stood out to, and he said that North Koreans would never have to tighten their belts again. So if he wants to remain in power for decades, he can't just hold on like his father did. He really has to show an improvement in the standard of living inside North Korea.

Kim Jong un is the only ruler of North Korea to have lived in the west, and his time in Switzerland left its mark on the supreme leader, Kim Jong un. In the early years of his rule, I saw this desire for his country to be more worldly, for his people to be more worldly. In 2012, Kim ordered the construction of a ski resort near his capital, Pyongyang. More alpine centers followed, complete with all the Apreski perks. I was one of the first foreigners to visit a little piece of Switzerland in North Korea. I could see the wheels turning and Kim Jong undeveloped. Around that time, there was a lot of hope and speculation that this would be a moment for a very different type of North Korea.

Kim builds his citizens theme parks and shopping malls, all in the name of North Korea's brightenhouse economic future. So we see the development of things like amusement parks, high end restaurants, department stores. All of these things are also part of the Kim brand. It's designed to show his people that Kim is going to move the country forward. In the drive to rebrand his kingdom, Kim has an ally.

His celebrity wife, Ri Sol ju, was a famous singer in North Korea. She would be instantly recognizable to any North Korean who's ever watched tv. In 2018, Kim changes his wife's official title from comrade to first lady. She has a very distinct role. She's very much like the Kate Middleton of North Korea. She is there to kind of humanize her husband. But also the two of them together are supposed to be a kind of modernization, aspirational couple. They're showing the future of North Korea.

Leading North Korea into the future presents Kim with another challenge. In a digital age shaped by the Internet and social media, Kim is under pressure to ensure his people aren't left behind. If he's going to rule for decades to come, he has to build his loyalty base. He wants to woo his generation. So he started experimenting with Internet access, expanding cell phone access. Those are all monumental changes for a country like North Korea.

Recently, Kim has gone further. North Korea's very own social media stars. This is where a big concert is going to take place. The occasion is to celebrate the music. They even have their own influencers now. What they are portraying is a socialist fairyland. It's just absolutely amazing. And it's so carefully cultivated. Their role is to seduce people to fall in love with the country. It's a smart strategy. But on the other hand, access to information is one of the most dangerous things for a leader like Kim Jong un.

Because if people see what life is like outside North Korea, the illusion could be broken. And that, of course, for Kim Jong un, is terrifying. For 75 years, the Kim family has relied on strength and terror for their survival. As Kim Jong un attempts to transform himself from God like tyrant to an approachable human leader, he needs backup within the family to maintain the dynasty's grip on power. But who can he rely on?

Around 2001, Kim Jong un's father takes a train across Russia. The russian ambassador is having conversations with him, and he asks him about succession. And he asks Kim Jong il, who are your favorites as successor? And Kim Jong il said, well, my sons are all idle blockheads, okay? It's my daughters that have the heart and intellect and mindset to be in politics. Born four years after Kim Jong un in 1988, Kim yo jong is nicknamed the Sweet Princess.

Until the death of her father in 2011, Kim yo jong's existence was a closely guarded secret, even inside North Korea. After Kim Jong il died, with the succession of her brother, there was probably a conversation. Do you want to do this? Do you want to be involved in the nitty gritty of north korean politics? Some people don't have the ice in their veins to do it.

Some people do. She said, yes. And that's where we find ourselves today. Quietly, Kim Yo Jong rose through the ranks to become her brother's propaganda chief. In 2018, he deployed his sister on her first foreign assignment, a mission inside enemy territory. It was a really huge occasion when Kim yo jong arrived into South Korea, because she was the only member of the Kim family who had arrived in the south since the Korean War ended in 1953. So it was a really big deal.

The occasion was the Winter Olympics, dubbed the Peace Olympics, as athletes from north and South Korea competed together for the first time. There was an ice hockey game where the two korean teams joined together as one, and she was in the stands in the vip section. I was able to walk down to see her in the flesh. She was very kind of enigmatic. She always had this kind of sphinx like smile on her face.

She said very little, so she became a real object of fascination at that time amongst South Koreans. But Kim's sister hasn't just come south of the border to show face with the eyes of the world on her. She opens peace talks with the south korean leadership, Kim yo jong is becoming indispensable to the family firm. She is the one that approves all the media and press and writing that comes out in English in North Korea. Any piece of paper and any email that gets directed to Kim Jong un is most likely viewed by her. And that's a critical thing to have. The sweet princess is only Kim Jong un's right hand woman. Recently, she's become a deadly player in her own right.

I believe there have been people that have been shot on the orders of Kim yo jong. That's Kim yo jong's psychology. She's a shark. In the sign of her growing power, in 2020, Kim Jong un promotes his sister over his own generals to the highest level of the politburo. Kim Yo Jong's prominence has dramatically increased in 2020.

The thing that's most striking is she's gone from a role of being in the background to actually being a voice of the regime. Kim's sister goes on the attack, threatening south korean activists who continue to drop propaganda leaflets over the border. She is the only individual who has been able to put out a personal opinion in north korean state media. Even the leader himself very rarely is going to express any sort of personal opinion. This means that she has a unique, special, and privileged role in the north korean regime.

Amid rising tensions between north and South Korea, in June 2020, Kim yo jong sends South Korea a message, blowing up the government complex used for talks between the two sides. Korean experts say the explosion was designed to cement the growing power of Pyongyang leader Kim Jong un's younger sister, Kim yo jong. In recent years, state media has referred to her as a central party cadre, indicating her tightening grip on power. This year, she took over some of her brother's roles in party affairs and foreign relations. Sources suggest she is now the real power holder in Pyongyang. Now she is continually, even outside of her actual rank, in position, bashing South Korea and the United States.

This is a role that normally is reserved only for the supreme leader. It's classic north korean provocation. It seems Kim is on his way to resolving his dilemma. How to modernize the country without losing control. The answer, a dual dictatorship. His sister keeps order with the traditional tools, fear, aggression and discipline, while Kim Kim reinvents himself as a modern politician with a kinder, gentler image.

We have to remember when we're talking about Kim Jong un. His main aspiration and his main focus as a leader right now is resetting the north korean political system so that he becomes more above the fray and doesn't necessarily have to sign off on any individual public execution. Kim Jong un does not want to be seen as a person who criticizes and bad mouths, you know, other leaders. So he leaves the dirty work, in some respects, for Kim Yo Jong to do.

Kim Yo Jong is the bad cop. Kim Jong un gets to look like a cool headed leader in his bid to secure the dynasty and hang on to power, Kim is only halfway to the summit. To transform North Korea into a truly modern society, he must step onto the global stage and bring an end to seven decades of isolation from the outside world.

Leadership, Politics, Global, Dictatorship, Kim Dynasty, North Korea, National Geographic