25 Mind-Blowing Facts About Kim Jong-Un

5. His Half-Brother Had Been Favourite To Succeed Kim Jong Il

kim jong il tokoyo
wikipedia

The eldest half-brother of Kim Jong-un was widely expected to succeed Kim Jong-il as Supreme Leader of North Korea, but bizarre circumstances saw Kim Jong-nam fall out of favour. Kim Jong-nam was so obsessed with all things cartoon that in 2001 he attempted to enter nearby Japan... in order to visit Disneyland Tokyo!

Such an act cost Kim Jong-nam the favour of his father, and Kim Jong-un was instead surprisingly groomed as the next leader from late 2010 - and then named Kim Jong-il's "Great Successor" following the leader's death.

Kim Jong-nam would be killed in February 2017 in a suspected chemical attack ordered by the North Korean government.

4. Kim Jong Un Underwent Plastic Surgery In Order To Look Like More His Grandfather

Kim Jong Un Makeup Gif

Presumably due to the potential doubts over his legitimacy as Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un reportedly underwent plastic surgery in the early 2000s in order to alter his appearance so that he bore a greater resemblance to his grandfather Kim Il-sung.

Supposedly, Kim Jong-un was also attempting to make his appearance "more fatherly" so his subjects would become more receptive to his control.

Contributor
Contributor

NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.