Kim Jong-un's Vow for 'Real War'
In video footage released from North Korea, the isolated country’s new and inexperienced leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to wage a real war if “enemies dared to intercept” a long-range rocket emanating from North Korea.
The footage, which was captured in 2009, aired on state television on Sunday in what many experts believe is an attempt to parade Kim Jong-un’s military experience and role in the North Korean military prior to his father's death.
The documentary shows Kim Jong-un emerging out of a military vehicle, observing firing exercises, and mingling with some members of North Korea's 1.2 million-strong army.
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The footage, which was shot while Kim Jong-il was still alive, labeled the young leader a “military genius.”
“I had determined to enter a war if the enemies dared to intercept,” Kim said in the footage.
Kim Jong-un inherited the coveted position of “supreme leader” upon his father’s Dec. 17 death.
Kim was announced the leader of the ruling Workers’ party, military, and the people at a memorial service held for his late father on Dec. 29 in Pyongyang at Kim Il-sung square.
It is believed that Kim Jong-un is in his late 20s and was born in 1983 or early in 1984. Jong-un also has two older brothers: Kim Jong-nam, who is a half-brother, and Kim Jong-chul, who is a full brother. Kim Jong-un is the offspring of Kim Jong-il’s alleged favorite third wife, Ko Yong-hui.
In 2009, he was appointed as a four-star general and vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission.
Despite his age and Western education, it is believed that Kim Jong-un’s leadership will not differ greatly from the 17-year iron-fisted rule of his father. North Korea has sought to reiterate this reality saying that Kim Jong-un will be following in his father’s footsteps by maintaining a “military-first” policy.
