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April 15, also known as the Day of the Sun, is a national holiday in North Korea dedicated to celebrating the nation's founder, Kim Il-Sung. So when his grandson, the ‘Supreme Leader’ Kim Jong-Un, was absent from the public festivities, speculation ran wild. Was he alive? Was he dead? Given the absence of independent media in North Korea, it’s always difficult to verify rumors originating from Pyongyang.
With the risk of making some powerful enemies, here’s a list of 10 of the most intriguing rumors about ‘The Marshal,’ Kim Jong-Un.
10. His Haircut is Required
In 2014, Radio Free Asia reported that male university students in North Korea were obligated to adopt Kim’s signature hairstyle. His cut is a military-inspired look with shaved sides, a long top, and a center part—far from the height of fashion.
Reports indicate that the alleged mandate sparked mixed reactions, with some people dismissing the hairstyle as a “Chinese smuggler haircut.” However, it remains unclear whether the mandate ever existed, as visitors to North Korea did not observe a widespread shift toward the style. Despite this, North Korean TV has previously launched campaigns against long hair. More recently, authorities have reportedly cracked down on what they term “non-socialist behavior,” such as unapproved haircuts. It is said that men are now limited to 10 approved hairstyles, while women are restricted to 18.
9. The CIA Hired A North Korean Lumberjack To Kill Kim
In May 2014, the North Korean government claimed that the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) worked together to recruit a North Korean lumberjack based in Russia to assassinate Kim Jong-Un. The alleged method of assassination involved a “biochemical substance” that was both radioactive and nano-poisonous. Reports suggested it could take months for the weapon to take effect.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited no evidence but published an 1800-word report accusing a “horrific terrorist group” of conspiring to target the Supreme Leader during a military parade. While international media outlets were unable to verify the claims, it’s worth noting that the allegations surfaced during a period of heightened tensions between the nations. North Korean officials vowed to seek the extradition of anyone involved in the foiled assassination attempt. The only person identified in the report was a man named “Kim,” a worker in the timber industry based in Khabarovsk, Far East Russia, though few details were provided.
8. The Kippumjo or ‘Pleasure Squad’
It is claimed that a group of roughly 2,000 women exists, maintained to provide entertainment and pleasure—often sexual—for high-ranking officials of the Workers' Party of Korea and distinguished guests. This group is known as the Kippumjo, or the Pleasure Squad, Pleasure Brigade, or Joy Division.
While it is believed this group was disbanded after the death of Kim Jong-Il, reports in 2015 suggested that Kim Jong-Un began recruiting new members as young as 13 or 14. The women staffing Kim’s train are said to be certified virgins. It is understood that many of these women “retire” in their twenties and are married off to military officers.
It’s notable that Kim is married to former singer Ri Sol-Ju, and they are said to have three children, though even this information remains unverified.
7. NBA Obsession
Kim Jong-Un’s unexpected friendship with former NBA player Dennis Rodman stems from his passion for basketball. During his time studying in Switzerland, he became increasingly obsessed with the sport, particularly Michael Jordan. A former classmate recalled that Kim's room was filled with NBA memorabilia. He also proudly displayed photos with Kobe Bryant and Toni Kukoc after allegedly being taken to Paris for an exhibition game as a child.
It’s unclear which team Kim officially supports, but he has shown a strong affection for both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2013, Rodman visited North Korea with three Harlem Globetrotters at Kim’s invitation. Other basketball players have also visited the country on subsequent trips.
In 2019, Kim reportedly asked U.S. President Donald Trump to arrange for “famous basketball players” to join nuclear weapons discussions. This interest in basketball seems to run in the family, as Kim’s father, Kim Jong-Il, once expressed a desire to meet Michael Jordan, though the six-time NBA champion declined. Whether Kim is skilled at basketball remains a mystery.
6. He Blew Up A South Korean Warship
In 2010, before Kim took over leadership from his father, he was allegedly involved in the sinking of the South Korean warship ROKS Cheonan, which was carrying 104 personnel near the maritime border between North and South Korea. The attack resulted in the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors in what was considered an unprovoked international incident. The incident was believed to have been orchestrated to enhance Kim’s military reputation ahead of his succession.
After an investigation, international experts concluded that a North Korean torpedo was responsible for sinking the warship. North Korea denied any involvement, even offering to assist in the inquiry, but South Korea responded by imposing sanctions, halting economic relations. China and Russia both rejected South Korea’s accusations. A subsequent Russian investigation proposed that the sinking might have been caused by the warship accidentally detonating a mine. To this day, the exact cause of the Cheonan’s sinking remains disputed.
5. The Compassionate Side?
In contrast to the image of a 'crazy dictator,' Kim is said to have a more compassionate side and has worked to improve North Korea's international relations since taking power. One instance of this occurred in 2014 when a 23-story apartment building in Pyongyang collapsed, killing over a hundred people. The KCNA reported that poor construction and negligent supervision by officials were to blame.
Following the tragedy, Kim issued a rare public apology for the 'unimaginable' disaster. Reports suggest that Kim was deeply affected by the incident, staying up all night in pain after hearing the news. However, critics noted that it took five days for state media to report the incident, and the official death toll was never disclosed.
4. The Secret Hangover Cure
Much like his father, Kim is reportedly fond of partying and indulging in luxury. Known for his extravagant preferences, his preferred drinks include Johnny Walker whisky and Hennessy gin, and he has been seen sipping cognac aboard luxury yachts. Under his leadership, North Korea's imports of wine and other alcoholic beverages have notably increased.
However, his marathon drinking sessions allegedly led to Kim organizing the import of sauna equipment from Finland and Germany to alleviate his hangovers and fatigue, with the idea of sweating out the previous night's excesses. The effectiveness of saunas for hangover relief, though, remains a topic of debate.
Clearly, the issue of hangovers was significant for Kim, as in 2016, North Korean scientists claimed to have developed a revolutionary liquor that would prevent hangovers. This 'Koryo Liquor' is made by blending six-year-old ginseng and scorched rice, notably eliminating sugar.
3. The Flame-Thrower Execution
In a story reminiscent of a scene from ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,’ it’s alleged that Kim ordered the execution of a deputy security minister by flame-thrower during a political purge in 2014. O Sang-Hon, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of People’s Security, was believed to have aligned himself with Kim’s uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, who was executed earlier for treason. It’s said that O had transformed the Ministry into a personal protection force for Jang.
North Korean defector Kang Chol-Hwan claimed: “Kim Jong-Un personally hated him, so he personally ordered him to be executed by a flamethrower.” To add a touch of cinematic drama, it is said that the man's lifeless body was also run over by a tank.
2. The Luxury Private Island
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman formed an unlikely friendship with the “Great Successor” and visited North Korea in 2013. Following his trip, Rodman described Kim’s private island as ‘like Hawaii or Ibiza, but with only him living there.’ The exact location of the island, which allegedly features a marina and is guarded by 24-hour armed troops, remains a mystery, though it’s believed to be near the port of Wonson.
Rodman also compared the island to a ‘seven-star party’ with endless drinks and jet skis. He shared that to reach the island, he boarded Kim’s 95-foot yacht, which he described as a ‘cross between a ferry and a Disney boat.’
1. He’s Executed Members Of His Family
In North Korea, no one is safe! In December 2013, Kim’s uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, was accused of treachery and branded a 'traitor' at a military tribunal. He was then executed by firing squad. It is believed that Kim sought to erase Jang from history by ordering the removal of thousands of news articles about him, as well as executing members of his family, including his children and grandchildren.
Despite the efforts of state propagandists to erase Jang from the public memory, a few years later, Jang’s image resurfaced on state-run media in a one-hour documentary featuring 11 historical North Korean figures. The editor of the documentary may have faced imprisonment for this mistake.
Kim's estranged half-brother, Kim Jong-Nam, was assassinated in 2017. Malaysian authorities reported that he was attacked at a busy terminal in Kuala Lumpur International Airport when two women smeared his face with a chemical substance. Kim Jong-Nam reportedly told an airport receptionist that 'someone had grabbed him from behind and splashed a liquid on his face,' before he tragically died during his transfer to the hospital.
