You’ve probably seen the memes. Kim Jong Un riding a majestic white horse through the snow on Mount Paektu, or stories about him driving a truck at age eight. To a lot of people in the West, it’s just internet comedy. But on the ground in Pyongyang, this stuff isn’t a joke. It’s the literal glue holding a nuclear state together.
North Korea is basically the world’s most intense theater production, and Kim Jong Un is the leading man, the director, and the guy who writes the script.
The "Divine" Childhood Narrative
Most of the propaganda about Kim Jong Un actually started before he even took power. In 2009, when his father, Kim Jong Il, was clearly failing in health, the state media machine had to go into overdrive. They didn't have much time. They had decades to prepare the public for Kim Jong Il, but with the youngest son? They had maybe two years.
So, they got creative. Fast.
The stories they pumped out were wild. We’re talking about a kid who allegedly hit a lightbulb with a pistol from 100 meters away at age three. By age eight, he was supposedly tearing across the countryside in a heavy truck at 80 miles an hour.
- The "Genius" Label: They didn't just call him a leader; they called him a "genius among geniuses" in military strategy.
- The Paektu Bloodline: This is the big one. In North Korean lore, Mount Paektu is the sacred birthplace of the revolution. By constantly filming Kim Jong Un there, state media is saying, "He has the blood of the gods."
Honestly, it’s easy to laugh at the idea of a toddler being a master marksman. But for a North Korean citizen who has been cut off from the global internet since birth, these stories build a "Great Leader" persona that is meant to be unquestionable. It’s about creating a sense of destiny.
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The 2026 Shift: From "General" to "Father"
Lately, something has changed. As we've moved into 2026, the propaganda about Kim Jong Un has taken a softer, almost cuddly turn. If you look at the Rodong Sinmun (the state’s main newspaper) these days, you’ll see way more photos of him surrounded by kids or crying with soldiers than you will of him looking "tough" at a missile site.
It's a "Father of the Nation" rebrand.
Analysts like Anna Fifield have pointed out that Kim Jong Un deliberately mimics his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, because people actually liked the grandfather. He wears the same style of suits. He’s gained weight to look more like him. He even smokes the same way.
Why the Shift Matters
The state is leaning hard into the "Social Political Organism Theory." It sounds like a sci-fi term, but it basically means the Leader is the head, the Party is the body, and the people are the limbs. If the head dies, the body dies. By framing Kim as a "father," they make loyalty a family obligation, not just a political one.
Sorting Fact from Tabloid Fiction
Here is where it gets tricky. We talk about North Korean propaganda, but there is also a massive amount of "Western propaganda" (or just bad journalism) about North Korea.
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You’ve heard the one about North Koreans being told Kim Jong Il never went to the bathroom? Or that they think they found a unicorn lair?
Most of that is nonsense.
- The Bathroom Myth: This was largely a joke or a mistranslation that took on a life of its own in Western tabloids.
- The Unicorn Lair: This was actually a misinterpretation of an archaeological find related to the legend of King Tongmyong. They found a "Kirin" (a mythical creature) site, not a literal "unicorn."
- The Haircut Rule: Remember the story that all men had to get Kim Jong Un’s haircut? It wasn't true. While there are "approved" styles, that specific mandate was a tabloid fabrication that went viral.
It’s a "black box" country. Because we know so little, we’re willing to believe almost anything. But when we believe the fake stuff, we actually miss the real, scary ways the propaganda about Kim Jong Un actually works—like the "Self-Evaluation" meetings where citizens have to confess their "sins" against the state every week.
The Daughter: A New Era of Propaganda
One of the most fascinating developments recently is the public introduction of Kim’s daughter, Ju Ae. She’s being used as a human prop.
By bringing her to missile launches and New Year celebrations, the regime is telling the people: "This revolution isn't just for me. It’s for your children, and my children will be here to lead them."
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She’s already being called the "Morning Star" and a "Computer Genius." Sound familiar? It’s the same playbook they used for her father. It's meant to signal that the Kim family isn't going anywhere. It provides a sense of "stability" in a country where life is anything but stable.
How to Spot the Narrative
If you’re trying to understand what’s actually happening, you have to look at the intent behind the media. North Korean propaganda isn't trying to convince you. It’s trying to keep the internal population from realizing there’s another way to live.
- Watch the terminology. If they call him "The Respected Comrade," it’s official business. If they call him "The Fatherly Leader," they’re trying to soften a domestic crisis (like a food shortage).
- Look at the background. A photo of Kim at a fertilizer factory is often a signal that the economy is struggling. They want to show him "fixing" things.
- Check the sources. If a story comes from a random tabloid with no named sources, be skeptical. If it comes from a defector-led outlet like Daily NK, it’s usually much closer to the truth, even if it’s less "viral."
The reality of propaganda about Kim Jong Un is that it’s a tool of survival. It’s not just "weird" stories; it’s a sophisticated psychological system designed to make a 21st-century monarchy seem like the only logical way to exist.
To get a better handle on what’s real and what’s "fake news" regarding the DPRK, start following reputable trackers like the 38 North project or NK News. They look at satellite imagery and official state transcripts rather than just relaying sensationalist rumors. When you see a "wacky" headline about Kim Jong Un, always ask: Who does this story benefit? Usually, if it makes him look like a cartoon, it's ignoring the very real and calculated way he maintains power.