The Supreme Leader

 
 
 

Vocabulary

enemy	arsenal	heir apparent
heir	convince	charge (2)
dare	open up	brand (2)
hope	missile	mainland
purge	test (2)	in charge
partly	engage	execution
brutal	isolated	on his watch
tip (3)	dialogue	adversary
offer	sanction	state (2)
traitor	agency	approach (2)
rogue	mental	deranged
rather	suicide	according to
pacify	mission	intelligence (2)
NBA	regime	generation
public	private	press the flesh
herald	dub (2)	propaganda
prove

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

Kim Jong Un. A young leader with many enemies and a nuclear arsenal.

Very little was known of the man when he was first introduced to the world in 2010 as heir apparent — a year later, he was in charge.

Partly educated in the West, some even dared to hope he would start to open up one of the world’s most isolated countries.

But then came the missiles, the nuclear tests, the purges. His rule is brutal: executions are common . . . he even had his uncle killed, and branded a traitor in state media.

On his watch, there have been four nuclear tests, dozens of missile tests.

He’s a leader in a hurry to get to his stated goal of being able to hit Mainland United States with a nuclear-tipped missile — or at least convincing his adversaries that he is able to do.

No amount of international sanctions and offers of dialogue, even threats of war have managed to pacify Kim’s approach.

Engaging in a war of words with US President Donald Trump, Kim has called Trump mentally deranged, a rogue, a gangster. Trump has called Kim a madman, even dubbing him Rocket Man.

Donald Trump, US President: “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself.”

Kim Jong Un has a wife and three children, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency. He also has a liking for basketball, as proven by his rather unlikely friendship with former NBA star Dennis Rodman.

And in pubic, he is often all smiles, pressing the flesh with his people. The North Korean propaganda machine heralding Kim Jong Un as a god-like leader, as it did with his father and grandfather, the third generation of a dictatorial regime.

Questions

1. Was Kim Jong Un’s rise to power gradual or quite swift?

2. There was much optimism when Kim assumed power. True or false? Why was there optimism in the beginning?

3. Has the world become alarmed by Kim? Why did they change their view of him?

4. What is his ultimate goal?

5. So far has the international community managed to dissuade Kim?

6. Have the North Korean and US leadership been diplomatic when dealing with each other?

7. Is there anything surprising about Kim?

8. He has a great relationship with North Koreans. His people love and adore him. Yes, no, in the middle, in between, perhaps, maybe?

 

A. What do people in your community think of Kim Jong Un?

B. Do you think he was always like this, or did he change over the years?

C. I have known people like Kim. Yes or no?

D. What might happen in the future? Will there be more leaders like Kim?

E. Should the outside world negotiate and cooperate with Kim? How should Kim be dealt with?