Years in power
2011 — present
LivingNorth Korea
Kim Jong Un
2011 — present · A concise record of the regime, documented abuses, and the public sources behind this profile.
Estimated toll
100k+ in camps, famine
Timeline events
5
Linked sources
5
Chronology
Rise, rule, and aftermath
2011–2013
Power consolidation
2011
Succeeds father Kim Jong Il, declared Supreme Leader
Kim Jong Un was named successor in 2010. After his father's death in December 2011, he became First Secretary of the Workers' Party, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission, and Supreme Commander of the KPA.
2013
Executes uncle Jang Song-thaek
Jang Song-thaek, Kim's uncle and a key power broker, was purged and executed for 'anti-state activities'. Dozens of his associates were also eliminated.
2013–2020
Nuclear brinkmanship
2017
Kim Jong Nam assassinated with VX in Malaysia
Kim Jong Un's half-brother was killed at Kuala Lumpur airport by women who smeared VX nerve agent on his face. South Korean and US intelligence attributed the hit to Pyongyang.
2018
Summits with Trump, no denuclearisation
2020–2025
Isolation and military build-up
2024
Russia-North Korea alliance, arms for Ukraine war
Kim met Putin in Russia; North Korea supplies artillery shells and missiles for Russia's war in Ukraine in exchange for food and technology. Violates UN sanctions.
Evidence ledger
Read the sources
This project summarizes public information. Follow the original reporting and institutional records before relying on a claim.
- Source 01Wikipedia: Kim Jong Unen.wikipedia.org ↗, opens in a new tab
- Source 02Wikipedia: Assassination of Kim Jong-namen.wikipedia.org ↗, opens in a new tab
- Source 03Britannica: Kim Jong-Unbritannica.com ↗, opens in a new tab
- Source 04BBC: Jang Song-thaek executionbbc.com ↗, opens in a new tab
- Source 05Wikipedia: North Korea–Russia relationsen.wikipedia.org ↗, opens in a new tab
Dictator Gone is a satirical civic project, not a news service. Estimates vary; time-sensitive claims should be checked against current reporting.