When Kim Jong Un stepped across the DMZ to meet Donald Trump, or sat courtside with Dennis Rodman, the same question bubbled up in every newsroom and across every social media thread: Does Kim Jong Un speak English?
It's a weirdly fascinating thought. We’re used to seeing him through the lens of state-run propaganda—stern, speaking in deep, gravelly Korean, and always surrounded by a phalanx of stone-faced generals. But then you see him leaning in to whisper a joke to a former NBA star, and you’ve gotta wonder what language that joke is in.
Honestly, the answer is a lot more "shades of gray" than a simple yes or no.
The Switzerland Years: Where the English Started
Most of the "evidence" we have for Kim's linguistic abilities stems from his mysterious childhood. Between 1993 and 2000, Kim lived in Switzerland under a pseudonym ("Pak-un"). He wasn't living in a palace; he was attending public and private schools in the Bern area.
His former classmates at the International School of Berne and the Liebefeld-Steinhölzli public school remember him as a kid who loved Michael Jordan and spent more time drawing basketball players than hitting the books.
- German was the primary language of instruction at the public school, and reports suggest he struggled with it initially.
- However, he also took English classes.
- Michel Riesen, one of his former teachers, has gone on record saying Kim was a "good student" and likely understands much more than he lets on.
While his grades in German and English weren't exactly "Straight A" material according to some school records leaked to the press, he spent seven formative years in a European environment where English is the lingua franca for international students. You don't live in that bubble for nearly a decade without picking up a decent amount of conversational flow.
What Happened at the Summits?
If you watched the 2018 Singapore Summit closely, there was a tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. As Kim Jong Un approached Donald Trump for that historic first handshake, he reportedly said, “Nice to meet you, Mr. President.” In English.
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It was a power move, really. By leading with a few words of English, he established a brief, direct human connection before the wall of translators moved in.
But throughout the actual negotiations, Kim stuck strictly to Korean. Why? Because when you’re discussing nuclear denuclearization and international sanctions, "kinda" knowing the language isn't good enough. One misinterpreted verb could literally start a war.
Dr. Lonnie Edge, a linguistics expert at Hankuk University, has pointed out that using a translator is a strategic choice. It gives a leader double the time to think. While the interpreter is repeating the other person's words, Kim is already crafting his rebuttal. It's a classic diplomatic tactic used by many world leaders who are actually fluent in English but refuse to speak it officially.
The Dennis Rodman Connection
Perhaps the best "insider" look we have comes from the bizarre friendship between Kim and "The Worm," Dennis Rodman. Rodman has visited Pyongyang multiple times, and their interactions are famously informal.
Rodman has told reporters that while they use translators for the heavy lifting, Kim "understands bits and pieces" of English, especially when the topic is basketball. If you’re talking about a pick-and-roll or a three-point shot, Kim is right there with you.
This makes sense. English is the global language of sports and pop culture. For a man who grew up obsessed with the 90s Chicago Bulls, the terminology of the game is practically his second mother tongue.
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The Swiss-German Accent Rumor
One of the funniest details to emerge from the 2018 Inter-Korean summit was the reaction of South Koreans hearing Kim speak for the first time. Because North and South Korean dialects have drifted apart over 70 years, his speech already sounded "different."
But linguists noticed something else: a Swiss-inflected lilt.
Some observers claim that when he does use foreign loanwords or speaks in private, he carries a faint Swiss-German accent from his teenage years. It’s a bizarre mental image—the leader of North Korea sounding like he’s about to order a fondue in Bern—but it highlights how deeply those years abroad shaped him.
Why He Hides It
So, if he can speak it, why the secrecy? Basically, it’s all about the "Strongman" brand.
In North Korea, the Supreme Leader is the embodiment of Korean nationalism. Speaking the language of the "American Imperialists" in a public address would undermine the image of self-reliance (Juche) that the regime spends billions to maintain.
He wants to be seen as the peer of world leaders, not a student of their culture. By using an interpreter, he maintains a distance that commands respect. He listens, he understands, but he only responds on his own terms, in his own tongue.
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The Reality of English in North Korea Today
Interestingly, while Kim keeps his own English skills under wraps, he’s actually pushed for better English education across North Korea since taking power in 2011.
Under his father, Kim Jong Il, Russian was often the prioritized foreign language. Under Kim Jong Un, English has become the primary foreign language taught in schools. He recognizes that for his elite "scientific and technological" revolution to work, his top students need to be able to read international research papers—and those are written in English.
Summary of what we know:
- Education: Seven years in Switzerland with English and German lessons.
- Proficiency: Likely "conversational" but not "negotiation-ready."
- Usage: Used for greetings and sports talk; never for official business.
- Strategy: Uses translators to gain thinking time and maintain a "strong" nationalistic image.
If you’re looking for a video of him giving a TED Talk in English, you’re never going to find it. But if you were trapped in an elevator with him and started talking about the 1996 NBA Finals? He’d probably understand every word you said.
If you're curious about how this affects North Korean diplomacy, keep an eye on his future meetings with Western officials. Watch for the "untranslated" smiles or nods—they usually happen a second before the translator even opens their mouth. That’s the real giveaway.
Explore more about the secretive lives of world leaders by checking out the latest diplomatic leaks or declassified intelligence reports on East Asian leadership dynamics.