ABSTRACT
Due to North Korea’s unique power structure centered on the top Kim leader, comprehending the sources of Kim Jong Un’s power and his leadership style is crucial to understanding the nature of Kim’s regime. Kim Jong Un’s greatest claim to succession is his “bloodline of Mt. Paektu,” a widely known reference to the Kim family. He started building his credentials in the military as the successor-designate. When Kim Jong Il died in December 2011, Kim Jong Un progressively gained all of his father’s titles in the party, state, and military. Kim Jong Un cemented his power in phases through the years, both through the institutions he sat atop and the elaborate propaganda campaigns that built his unique leadership brand. The three meetings with US President Trump in 2018 and 2019 helped him to consolidate his power domestically and gain greater acceptability abroad. Indirectly helped by Trump’s outreach to him, Kim also managed to overcome the poor relations with Beijing, which had characterized his rule until then despite the fact that China’s support was vital for North Korea’s economy.
