Name? Kim Jong-un
Westphalian identity? North Korean
Age? 37
Why is he in the news? It is the time of the year again when North Korea tests missiles to remind the world that it still exists. This time it comes a few days after North Korea’s National Holiday and marks the first weapons test in six months.
Why do we care? As we check in with all of our favourite individuals this week after our summer break, one detail caught our attention. The tests came as China’s foreign minister visited South Korea to discuss North Korea. An unusual move by Kim, who tends to avoid provoking his only ally, however, most of us will agree that this was rather a cry for attention than any provocation.
Why should you care? Honestly, apart from the cry for attention to its main ally China, there is nothing interesting Kim is doing. Obama told Trump that North Korea’s nuclear capabilities would be his main foreign policy priority, and boy was he wrong. Kim continues to be present and the North Korean population continues to suffer hunger, nothing new, you should care 2/10.
Who else cares? Queen Elizabeth the II of Great Britain. Last week Lizzy (as we get to call her) congratulated the North Korean people on their National Holiday. While some tried to be outraged for a minute that she supports dictatorships, her press office quickly calmed nerves, describing it as a standard procedure done yearly. So no reason to feel special for Kim.
Any further comments? Let’s have a quick update on Kim’s health as well. Because missiles aren’t the only way he has attracted attention lately. Since our last check-in with everyone’s favourite dictator, Kim has lost even more weight and now walks a lot more appropriately for his age. His health had become a centre of attention over the increased presence of his younger sister Kim Yo-jong who is a contender for Kim’s succession.
