How did the young, unqualified Kim Jong-un leader of North Korea?
North Korea has, in effect, a hereditary monarchy. The founding leader of the country created by the division of Korea in 1945 was Kim Il-sung, who promulgated a personality cult that made him virtually a god in a North Korean political religion. Kim Il-sung handed the paramount leadership position to his son Kim Jong-il, who in turn handed it to his son Kim Jong-un. Having Kim Il-sung’s grandson as the head of the Party dictatorship gives the government legitimacy despite the government’s abysmal performance in providing for the North Korean people. Although state propaganda attributes incredible leadership talents to Kim Jong-un, he got the job because of his bloodline, despite his lack of accomplishments.
