Why Kim Jong Un never talks about his mother - or her controversial bloodline
The legitimacy of Kim's dictatorship rests heavily on his "Mount Paektu" bloodline - a lineage tied to the mythical founder of the Korean people. And in a country that prides itself on this hereditary purity, the identity of Kim's mother is not just a secret - but a threat to the regime itself. Thousands of years later, Kim Il Sung - the founder of North Korea - reportedly used the mountain as a hideout when fighting against the Japanese.
- ▪The legitimacy of Kim's dictatorship rests heavily on his "Mount Paektu" bloodline - a lineage tied to the mythical founder of the Korean people.
- ▪And in a country that prides itself on this hereditary purity, the identity of Kim's mother is not just a secret - but a threat to the regime itself.
- ▪Thousands of years later, Kim Il Sung - the founder of North Korea - reportedly used the mountain as a hideout when fighting against the Japanese.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Why Kim Jong Un never talks about his mother - or her controversial bloodlineBySangmi HanBBC News Korean, Reporting fromSeoulPublished6 hours agoAmong the many mysteries shrouding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the secrecy around his mother stands out.In his 15 years of rule, he has never once publicly mentioned her by name. The legitimacy of Kim's dictatorship rests heavily on his "Mount Paektu" bloodline - a lineage tied to the mythical founder of the Korean people. And in a country that prides itself on this hereditary purity, the identity of Kim's mother is not just a secret - but a threat to the regime itself.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at BBC News.