kim jong-un
Medium (context-dependent, frequent in news/political discourse)Formal, journalistic, academic, political
Definition
Meaning
The third supreme leader of North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea), holding the titles of Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea. He is the son of former leader Kim Jong-il.
A proper noun referring specifically to the individual who has led North Korea since 2011. The name is often used metonymically in geopolitical discourse to represent the North Korean state, its authoritarian regime, its nuclear weapons programme, or its provocative international stance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a proper noun (name) and is always capitalised. It functions as a singular referent to a specific person. In media and political analysis, it often carries connotations of authoritarianism, nuclear brinkmanship, isolation, and dynastic rule.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use the name identically. Spelling of the name is consistent. The honorific 'Chairman' or 'Supreme Leader' may be used more consistently in formal North Korean context reporting.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: associated with dictatorship, human rights abuses, and nuclear threats.
Frequency
Frequency spikes identically in both varieties during periods of heightened geopolitical tension or North Korean missile/nuclear tests.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] criticised/condemned/praised/met Kim Jong-un.Kim Jong-un [verb: ordered/threatened/promised] to...The policies of Kim Jong-un...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A Kim Jong-un style haircut (informal, referring to his distinctive haircut)”
- “Playing a game of Kim Jong-un (informal, referring to unpredictable, high-stakes brinkmanship)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in risk analysis: 'Investments are risky due to the unpredictability of Kim Jong-un's policies.'
Academic
Common in political science, international relations, and Asian studies: 'The cult of personality around Kim Jong-un sustains the regime.'
Everyday
Primarily in news consumption: 'Did you see the news about Kim Jong-un's latest missile test?'
Technical
In intelligence/defence contexts: 'Satellite imagery suggests activity at a site linked to Kim Jong-un's strategic weapons programme.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The journalist was accused of attempting to Kim Jong-un the narrative, i.e., control it absolutely. (very informal, neologism)
American English
- You can't just Kim Jong-un your way through this project—you need team input. (very informal, neologism)
adjective
British English
- He has a rather Kim Jong-un approach to management: absolute and unchallenged. (informal)
American English
- The rally had a Kim Jong-un level of orchestrated enthusiasm. (informal)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Kim Jong-un is the leader of North Korea.
- This is a photo of Kim Jong-un.
- Kim Jong-un became the leader after his father died.
- The news reported a speech by Kim Jong-un.
- International sanctions have tightened during Kim Jong-un's rule in response to nuclear tests.
- Analysts are trying to predict Kim Jong-un's next strategic move.
- The cult of personality surrounding Kim Jong-un is meticulously maintained through state-controlled media and public displays of devotion.
- Diplomatic overtures from Kim Jong-un have often been followed by renewed provocations, complicating efforts at denuclearisation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'KIM' is the family name, 'JONG' is the generation name (shared with his father, Kim Jong-il), and 'UN' is his personal name. Remember the order: Family-Generation-Personal.
Conceptual Metaphor
KIM JONG-UN IS A PUPPETMASTER (controlling his state), KIM JONG-UN IS A HERMIT (leading an isolated country), THE STATE IS KIM JONG-UN (metonymy).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate the name. It is a direct transliteration: Ким Чен Ын. Avoid using Russian patronymics or grammatical case endings for this foreign name in English contexts.
- The title 'Chairman' (Председатель) is specific to his official posts, not a generic term.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'Kim Jong Un' (often missing the hyphen), 'Kim Jung-un'.
- Incorrect capitalisation: 'kim jong-un'.
- Using as a common noun: 'a Kim Jong-un' (incorrect unless in a very specific metaphorical sense).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct standard spelling of the North Korean leader's name?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In Korean naming convention, 'Kim' is the family name (surname). 'Jong-un' is his given name. He should be referred to as Kim Jong-un, or Mr. Kim.
The hyphen is used in the common Romanisation (McCune-Reischauer and modified systems) to link the two syllables of his given name, helping to indicate it is a single unit. Some style guides omit it, but 'Kim Jong-un' is widely accepted.
In British English, it is commonly /dʒɒŋ ˈʊn/ ('jong' as in 'long', 'un' as in 'book'). In American English, it is often /dʒɑːŋ ˈʊn/ (with a longer 'a' sound in 'jong').
Primarily, no. It is a proper noun for a specific person. However, in very informal or creative contexts, it might be used metaphorically to refer to absolute, autocratic control or a distinctive haircut resembling his.