Unveiling the Enigma: Exploring the Making of a Dictator in "Becoming Kim Jong Un"

In the shadowy annals of global politics, few figures cast as long a shadow as Kim Jong Un, the enigmatic Supreme Leader of North Korea. His rise to power has been shrouded in a veil of secrecy, with much of his life and motivations remaining a mystery to the outside world. But now, a groundbreaking book entitled "Becoming Kim Jong Un" sheds new light on the dictator's formative years, offering a gripping account of his upbringing, education, and the events that shaped his iron-fisted rule.

Delving into the Childhood of a Dictator

The book, meticulously researched by award-winning journalist Anna Fifield, delves into the early life of Kim Jong Un, a world shrouded in privilege and seclusion. Born in 1984 as the youngest son of Kim Jong Il, the former Supreme Leader, he was groomed from a tender age to inherit the reins of power. Fifield paints a vivid picture of a lonely and isolated childhood spent largely within the confines of the opulent Ryongsong Residence in Pyongyang, where he was educated by private tutors and forbidden from interacting with the outside world.

Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator

by Jung H. Pak

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	24851 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	315 pages

FREE

Education and Ideological Indoctrination

Kim Jong Un's education played a pivotal role in shaping his worldview and political beliefs. He was sent to Switzerland at the age of 12 to study at the prestigious Liebefeld-Steinhölzli School, where he reportedly excelled in mathematics and physics. However, Fifield reveals that his time in Switzerland was also marked by isolation and homesickness, factors that may have contributed to his later distrust of outsiders. Upon his return to North Korea, he was subjected to rigorous ideological indoctrination, absorbing the tenets of his grandfather Kim Il Sung's Juche philosophy, which emphasizes self-reliance and the supremacy of the North Korean state.

The Road to Power and the Consolidation of Control

The book charts Kim Jong Un's rise to power, a path marked by both ruthless ambition and shrewd political maneuvering. Following the death of his father in 2011, he swiftly consolidated his control over the military and the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Fifield provides a gripping account of the purges and executions that accompanied his ascent, as he eliminated potential rivals and asserted his authority with an iron fist. The book also delves into the development of North Korea's nuclear weapons program under Kim Jong Un's leadership, a policy that has brought the regime into direct confrontation with the international community.

A Complex and Contradictory Figure

"Becoming Kim Jong Un" paints a complex and nuanced portrait of the North Korean dictator. While exposing the brutality and authoritarian nature of his regime, Fifield also acknowledges Kim Jong Un's charm, intelligence, and keen interest in Western culture. She draws on interviews with former officials, diplomats, and defectors to provide a well-rounded perspective on his personality and motivations. The book highlights the paradoxes that define Kim Jong Un: a man who loves basketball and Disney movies yet rules with an iron fist; a leader who vows to defend his people from foreign aggression while simultaneously suppressing their basic freedoms.

A Timely and Essential Read

In an era marked by rising geopolitical tensions and nuclear proliferation, "Becoming Kim Jong Un" is a timely and essential read for anyone seeking to understand the enigmatic figure at the helm of one of the world's most secretive and isolated nations. Anna Fifield's meticulous research and captivating writing style make this book an invaluable resource for scholars, policymakers, and general readers alike. By shedding light on the making of a dictator, "Becoming Kim Jong Un" serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of human rights in the face of authoritarianism.

Book Details

• Title: Becoming Kim Jong Un
• Author: Anna Fifield
• Publisher: Scribner
• Publication Date: March 28, 2023
• : 9781982163207

Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator

by Jung H. Pak

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	24851 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	315 pages

FREE