Journey deep into the world of Kim Jong-un, one of the most ruthless men on the planet

Somehow, North Korea It is the closest thing there is to Unknown land In the twenty-first century.

While it is possible to locate it on a map, and basic information is available for anyone who wants to search for it, the country has been ruled by the Kim family ever since. More than 70 years ago It remains a mystery to be born Magic and horror In equal parts.

And within this scenario, there is no greater mystery than the puzzle surrounding its current leader, Kim Jong Un.

Motivated by the desire to spy behind the Korean veil, National Geographic set out to produce the series North Korea was hitAnd the It consists of five documentaries. The first of them opens on February 1.

Between nuclear weapons and cyberattacks, a ring cannot be devoted to Kim, the current 36-year-old strongman of the “hermit empire” who is only the third person to rule the country.

Titled The mind of a dictator, The 120-minute documentary that traces Kim’s life from his Korean childhood and adolescence in Switzerland to the present, which has already been shaped into perhaps The most mysterious and ruthless leader on the planet.

Our intention was to try to compile a file A slightly more complex picture of this guyWe sometimes judge him in a one-dimensional way, “said the documentary’s executive producer, Kate QuinnIn a press conference via Zoom participated in it Clarion.

“We are committed to investigating the years he spent in Switzerland, which we believe are essential to understanding his identity, and what dilemmas he faces,” he added.

A story that includes the crimes with which the regime supports itself economically with Leader’s dedication to Hollywood movies. “We found out that Kim’s bodyguards run alongside a limousine because they love the Clint Eastwood movie, In the line of fire. A way to replicate Hollywood in its own way, “explains David Glover, documentary producer who was also part of the interview.

If there’s something special about Quine and Glover, it’s their predisposition for it See Kim as a complex and contradictory manTied, if you want, between two poles, they shaped it and coexisted inside it.

On the one hand, the brutal family inheritance he got from his grandfather and father, the fierce Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, who created and perfected the reign of terror that reigns in North Korea.

His place within this dynasty contrasted with the experiences he went through during the years he lived in Switzerland, where he could be an ordinary young man in a western country who would go to school and smoke with his friends and He lived his passion for basketball without worry.

Kim Jong Un passes through a dilemma: He wants to be a legitimate ruler, But at the same time he is deeply affected by his family history, ”Quine releases via the summary.

Dream about Madison Square Park

Like all humans, many clues about Kim Jong Un They are in their infancy. The documentary traces the formative years of the Korean leader as Kim Jong Il’s spoiled son, a childhood full of luxury but apparently devoid of affection.

Young Kim was not allowed to interact with other kids and their kids His first companions were his bodyguards. In fact, the documentary features an interview with a bodyguard who spent time with him during his childhood, and managed to escape from North Korea.

Perhaps the most famous thing the documentary has found is testimonials from people who shared Kim’s life during his years in Switzerland. The story of a former colleague is being told publicly for the first time On his visit to the leader in North KoreaIn addition to the abandonment that Kim suffered from by his uncles who in those years pretended to be his parents.

“One fine day, his uncles decided to flee to the United States. They left in the middle of the night without saying anything And they left Kim, who at that time was about 13 years old. “It’s impossible to tell how a ring like this should have distinguished him at such a young age,” says Quine.

Despite this incident, the impression of his years in Switzerland left an indelible mark on Kim. The only person in the world who is a friend of Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump is Dennis Rodman. One of Kim’s dreams, Rodman says, is to be able to see one day NBA game at Madison Square GardenGlover Comments.

He continues, “It is clear that there is a psychological push in him, and this is really a personal opinion, but I think his attempts to reform North Korea are real, and are based on his own experiences.”

Despite these inquiries about the leader’s dilemmas, the Brutality of the Korean regime Always fly over. Stories of the purges, torture and disappearances of disgraceful political figures pervade all the important political events that are narrated.

Within this universe, the killing of Kim, Jong Nam, Kim Jong Un’s half-brother, at Kuala Lumpur Airport in 2017 appears to be the most important event due to The complexity of the coordinated attack by North Korean agents.

The story of the woman who is recruited to kill Kim’s brother is awesome. I thought she was participating in a TV show pranking the streets, and He never knew he was going to kill someone. When you read that, you can’t believe it is true. Upon meeting her, and the circumstances she was going through, one came across an incredibly touching story, ”explains Quinn, who adds that she will appear in the documentary. All airport filming Where the attack appears.

Although there was only speculation about the possible reasons for killing Kim Jong Un’s half-brother, the suspicion that he was. Pass the information on to the CIA About the Kim family comes first as a compelling reason when you think about North Korea’s history.

“Hostility toward the United States is a factor that appears as a family legacy, which is understandable at one point. North Korea was brutally bombed during the war in the 1950s with some even saying that the country looked like it was “The surface of the moon” “, Glover says.

From Trump to the future

The three confrontations with Donald Trump were Kim Jong Un’s first serious foray on the world stage.

According to the data collected by the documentary filmmakers, the Korean leader had high expectations at the Hanoi summit that he would be able to reach some kind of agreement with the former president of the United States that would allow him Lift penalties Against North Korea.

The details of the Hanoi summit are incredible. Kim took the initiative, but it did not work. The frustration is evident in the reality of that They immediately got up and did not touch the food. John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, told us what it was like to experience that moment in Hanoi when everyone realized that no settlement could be reached. “It was a dramatic moment,” says Quinn.

Without Trump in the White House, it is difficult to predict what will happen to the US negotiations with North Korea. However, the documentary filmmakers believe there is still a An open window for potential negotiation.

North Korea: The Mind of a Dictator The show premiered on Monday February 15th at 10 pm on National Geographic.