1 00:00:12,426 --> 00:00:17,672 ♪ 2 00:00:22,712 --> 00:00:28,476 PETRAEUS: Kim Jong-Un is the sun around which all else revolves in North Korea. 3 00:00:29,753 --> 00:00:33,861 He has proven to be a vicious leader, 4 00:00:33,895 --> 00:00:37,037 not in the least reluctant to take very swift 5 00:00:37,071 --> 00:00:40,661 and very harsh action against those who are a threat to the state, 6 00:00:41,282 --> 00:00:45,045 which means a threat to him. 7 00:00:47,254 --> 00:00:52,569 NARRATOR: Age just 28, Kim Jong-Un became the leader of his country, 8 00:00:53,018 --> 00:00:56,504 only the third man to rule North Korea. 9 00:00:56,539 --> 00:01:00,198 He took over his father's nuclear weapons program and supercharged it. 10 00:01:03,891 --> 00:01:06,963 MADDEN: The accomplishments in terms of ballistic missiles 11 00:01:06,997 --> 00:01:09,586 and nuclear weapons in North Korea... 12 00:01:09,621 --> 00:01:13,107 that is a result of Kim Jong-Un's characteristics as leader. 13 00:01:14,039 --> 00:01:18,975 And he far exceeded the lifetime accomplishments of his father and grandfather. 14 00:01:23,221 --> 00:01:29,261 POST: You really can't understand this man without understanding the family into 15 00:01:29,296 --> 00:01:34,991 which he was born, and the impact of his grandfather upon him. 16 00:01:42,550 --> 00:01:45,519 LEE: To sit down with the U.S. President... 17 00:01:45,553 --> 00:01:49,212 that's something his father and his grandfather never were able to do. 18 00:02:01,811 --> 00:02:07,196 NARRATOR: In charge of the world's 4th largest army, who is Kim Jong-Un? 19 00:02:08,611 --> 00:02:13,271 This is the story of how the youngest Kim took control of his country, 20 00:02:13,892 --> 00:02:18,483 and used his family's legacy to put himself onto the world stage. 21 00:02:48,237 --> 00:02:53,414 [crying]. 22 00:03:09,879 --> 00:03:14,539 The sudden death of Kim Jong-Il, the second man to lead the country rocked the 23 00:03:14,573 --> 00:03:17,197 North Korean people. 24 00:03:17,887 --> 00:03:22,788 The future of this rogue state was now a global concern... 25 00:03:23,479 --> 00:03:28,622 and had become top priority for the then director of the CIA. 26 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,802 PETRAEUS: What I recall in particular was the uncertainty. 27 00:03:38,287 --> 00:03:42,843 What will Kim Jong-Un be like as a leader? 28 00:03:44,638 --> 00:03:49,746 He is quite young, late twenty-something, untested, 29 00:03:50,954 --> 00:03:53,819 said to be impulsive, 30 00:03:53,854 --> 00:03:56,581 said to be a bit headstrong. 31 00:03:56,615 --> 00:04:01,171 What will he do with respect to the nuclear program, the missile program? 32 00:04:03,312 --> 00:04:08,351 So all of these factors together give you considerable pause, 33 00:04:08,869 --> 00:04:12,252 and that's certainly how we felt at that time. 34 00:04:16,877 --> 00:04:19,466 NARRATOR: North Korea was a unique state. 35 00:04:19,500 --> 00:04:23,918 A communist country, but under the rule of one family. 36 00:04:27,681 --> 00:04:31,892 It was founded by Kim Jong-Un's grandfather, who outlasted every other 37 00:04:31,926 --> 00:04:37,898 communist dictator, before handing over to his eldest son, Kim Jong-Un's father. 38 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:44,387 His untimely death at the age of 70 meant there was little succession planning, 39 00:04:45,008 --> 00:04:48,184 before the third Kim was thrust into power. 40 00:04:55,191 --> 00:04:59,885 The CIA wanted to know who he was. 41 00:05:03,510 --> 00:05:06,961 PETRAEUS: Footage like this is always looked at and studied; and the analysts 42 00:05:06,996 --> 00:05:09,964 were pouring over it, trying to divine something out of it. 43 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,589 But there was no real solid basis... 44 00:05:13,623 --> 00:05:17,489 I mean trying to do a psychoanalysis of someone like this, 45 00:05:17,524 --> 00:05:22,114 about whom we had such few details, was almost mission impossible. 46 00:05:24,185 --> 00:05:28,535 NARRATOR: One reason the intelligence agency files were lacking in detail was that 47 00:05:28,569 --> 00:05:32,366 Kim Jong-Un was not always the obvious successor. 48 00:05:36,439 --> 00:05:41,858 His father had five known children, one of whom was a daughter, 49 00:05:43,204 --> 00:05:46,415 but no known photographs of her exist. 50 00:05:48,209 --> 00:05:50,902 His youngest child was also a daughter... 51 00:05:50,936 --> 00:05:54,630 but North Korea wasn't ready for a female leader. 52 00:05:56,217 --> 00:05:58,392 Of the three known sons, 53 00:05:58,427 --> 00:06:03,052 Kim Jong-Nam was the eldest and once seemed like a good option. 54 00:06:04,398 --> 00:06:06,227 REPORTER: Are you Mister Kim Jong-Nam? 55 00:06:06,262 --> 00:06:09,438 JONG-NAM: If you are not sure, why you follow me? 56 00:06:10,646 --> 00:06:14,512 NARRATOR: In the early 2000s, he left North Korea for China, 57 00:06:14,546 --> 00:06:17,411 a move that put him out of contention. 58 00:06:19,309 --> 00:06:23,969 The next son, Kim Jong-Chul, had no interest in politics, 59 00:06:24,004 --> 00:06:26,455 preferring to play guitar in a band. 60 00:06:26,489 --> 00:06:28,146 REPORTER: Why are you in London please Mr. Kim? 61 00:06:28,180 --> 00:06:30,976 NARRATOR: He's a reclusive figure but has since been spotted abroad, 62 00:06:31,011 --> 00:06:32,633 attending rock concerts. 63 00:06:32,668 --> 00:06:35,602 REPORTER [over TV]: This is believed to be Kim Jong-Chol. 64 00:06:35,636 --> 00:06:40,400 He's seen smiling, as he enjoys an Eric Clapton concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. 65 00:06:45,991 --> 00:06:48,338 NARRATOR: Which left Kim Jong-Un. 66 00:06:48,822 --> 00:06:51,756 On paper, the third in line for the throne, 67 00:06:51,790 --> 00:06:55,276 and the only option to continue the family dynasty. 68 00:07:01,317 --> 00:07:06,046 LEE: My first impression was how vulnerable he was. 69 00:07:07,047 --> 00:07:11,016 But I did wonder: is that grief tinged with fear? 70 00:07:14,157 --> 00:07:19,059 It's not like it's taking over leadership of a country that is rich, 71 00:07:21,095 --> 00:07:24,340 and surrounded by creature comforts. 72 00:07:26,169 --> 00:07:31,692 This is a country that has chronic food shortage, doesn't have much electricity, 73 00:07:33,038 --> 00:07:35,558 is isolated from the outside world. 74 00:07:37,042 --> 00:07:41,184 It's not an easy job to take on. 75 00:07:45,257 --> 00:07:49,607 I was the first American journalist accredited to work in the local 76 00:07:49,641 --> 00:07:51,747 Pyongyang press corps, 77 00:07:51,781 --> 00:07:57,649 and I was able to talk to North Koreans about what they were being told about who 78 00:07:57,684 --> 00:08:01,481 this young man was or at least in terms of the propaganda. 79 00:08:02,792 --> 00:08:07,072 [cheering]. 80 00:08:07,417 --> 00:08:11,732 We were told that Kim Jong-Un would be very different from his father; 81 00:08:12,146 --> 00:08:16,116 more like his grandfather, who was legitimately loved by his people, 82 00:08:17,151 --> 00:08:20,948 and extremely charismatic by all accounts. 83 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,885 He wanted to show the people that he was a people person, like his grandfather. 84 00:08:27,161 --> 00:08:32,339 And so, he would often get down on the ground and bring children into his lap and 85 00:08:33,167 --> 00:08:37,275 bring them into his arms and that's very strategic: 86 00:08:37,309 --> 00:08:41,003 to mold him in the image of his grandfather. 87 00:08:41,037 --> 00:08:44,834 He does happen to look a lot like his grandfather, and so that helps. 88 00:08:45,214 --> 00:08:49,149 But adding all the accessories: the straw hat, which is identical to the 89 00:08:49,183 --> 00:08:53,118 straw hat that the grandfather wore; kind of replicating the gait. 90 00:08:55,914 --> 00:08:58,538 North Koreans are going to remember that. 91 00:09:00,470 --> 00:09:04,751 So that's a way that Kim Jong-Un piggy-backs on his grandfather's legacy, 92 00:09:04,785 --> 00:09:08,030 to legitimize his role as the leader. 93 00:09:09,410 --> 00:09:14,277 NARRATOR: Kim Jong-Un was keen to use the god-like status enjoyed by his father and 94 00:09:14,312 --> 00:09:17,626 grandfather, but he wanted to be a god for the 21st century. 95 00:09:17,660 --> 00:09:21,250 Showing the North Korean people, a sense of modernity. 96 00:09:27,463 --> 00:09:31,674 LEE: His campaign to show that he was a different kind of leader also included bringing 97 00:09:31,709 --> 00:09:35,160 his wife out into the public. 98 00:09:35,609 --> 00:09:40,787 That was so significant because his father was very rarely out in the public; 99 00:09:41,788 --> 00:09:46,137 we didn't know who his wife was because he never presented his family. 100 00:09:46,965 --> 00:09:51,556 And so now they had Kim Jong-Un's wife, she was beautiful, elegant. 101 00:09:52,661 --> 00:09:57,148 And that's actually powerful in a society like this, that meant that the people were 102 00:09:57,182 --> 00:10:01,186 encouraged to show a little bit more individualism. 103 00:10:02,602 --> 00:10:06,571 NARRATOR: Some of the intelligence agencies put this kind of modern openness down 104 00:10:06,606 --> 00:10:10,575 to Kim's formative years outside North Korea. 105 00:10:15,545 --> 00:10:19,998 In his early teens, he spent nine years at school in Switzerland. 106 00:10:20,620 --> 00:10:25,417 After Kim Jong-Un became leader, media interest focused on this time, 107 00:10:25,970 --> 00:10:30,008 with news agencies quick to interview his former classmates for any kind of insight. 108 00:10:32,908 --> 00:10:38,396 -Most of the time he was shy, not loud; a quiet guy. 109 00:10:40,778 --> 00:10:46,646 But when we played basketball, he came up, he could be very aggressive but in a positive 110 00:10:47,267 --> 00:10:50,650 way, and loud, and a little bit of trash-talk. 111 00:10:54,170 --> 00:10:57,518 NARRATOR: According to his minders in Switzerland, he was so obsessed with the 112 00:10:57,553 --> 00:11:02,144 Chicago Bulls that he slept with a basketball by his side. 113 00:11:03,455 --> 00:11:07,597 LEE: I think we're all very curious to know how much Kim Jong-Un's time in Switzerland 114 00:11:07,632 --> 00:11:11,705 has shaped who he is, because we would think that that would expose 115 00:11:11,740 --> 00:11:14,639 him more to Western ideas. 116 00:11:15,813 --> 00:11:18,850 Pretty early on in his reign we started to see that. 117 00:11:22,751 --> 00:11:26,996 It's interesting, he had his own personal pop group, 118 00:11:28,066 --> 00:11:31,794 this girl band called the Moranbong Aktan. 119 00:11:31,829 --> 00:11:35,695 And it was all the buzz in Pyongyang at the time and these girls were wearing these 120 00:11:35,729 --> 00:11:39,664 really revealing dresses, you know like, strapless, really short mini-skirts, 121 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:43,875 and playing these electric instruments. 122 00:11:44,427 --> 00:11:48,811 We heard them playing the theme song to Rocky, which is a very American movie. 123 00:11:50,468 --> 00:11:55,715 So, really fresh, really modern, very, for North Korea, very cutting edge. 124 00:12:06,691 --> 00:12:11,696 -Kim Jong-Un! Kim Jong-Un! Kim Jong-Un! 125 00:12:15,044 --> 00:12:19,669 NARRATOR: Kim kept the same military parades established by his father and grandfather, 126 00:12:21,085 --> 00:12:25,883 but he used his power to indulge some of his own personal interests. 127 00:12:26,676 --> 00:12:31,509 In 2013, he asked for one of his heroes to come and see him. 128 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:43,072 RODMAN: My name is Dennis Rodman. 129 00:12:43,107 --> 00:12:47,939 Used to play basketball for the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, L.A. Lakers. 130 00:12:49,389 --> 00:12:52,150 Done movies. Wrote books. 131 00:12:53,807 --> 00:12:57,569 REPORTER [over TV]: It's a great cover and quite a title: I Should Be Dead By Now. 132 00:12:58,501 --> 00:13:00,676 RODMAN: You name it, I've done it. 133 00:13:02,126 --> 00:13:03,955 -Yeah! 134 00:13:04,956 --> 00:13:08,166 RODMAN: I'm that guy, Dennis Rodman. 135 00:13:08,891 --> 00:13:11,791 I had no clue about North Korea. 136 00:13:16,381 --> 00:13:20,627 I guess something came up in 2013. 137 00:13:21,352 --> 00:13:24,873 Something about that the leader of North Korea wanted to meet someone from the 138 00:13:24,907 --> 00:13:30,568 Chicago Bulls and I got wind later that they asked Michael Jordan first, 139 00:13:32,432 --> 00:13:34,883 and he said no, he didn't want to go. 140 00:13:34,917 --> 00:13:37,955 So, I guess I was the second option; and they said, 141 00:13:37,989 --> 00:13:39,991 'Dennis, would you like to go North Korea?' 142 00:13:40,026 --> 00:13:44,030 I said, 'Yeah, sure.' I wasn't worried. 143 00:13:45,203 --> 00:13:47,619 I was just pretending like I was going to Vegas. 144 00:13:47,654 --> 00:13:51,347 One of my crazy wild trips you know, hanging out with a couple of hookers or whores or 145 00:13:51,382 --> 00:13:54,730 something, you know hanging out in the pool, you know, thinking I'm going to do some 146 00:13:54,764 --> 00:13:56,836 real cool [bleep] you know. 147 00:13:56,870 --> 00:14:00,253 So, it's like, okay, let me add this to my resume. 148 00:14:00,598 --> 00:14:02,358 That was my whole idea right there. 149 00:14:02,393 --> 00:14:06,915 Just go and play basketball, that was it, shake some hands, take some pictures: done. 150 00:14:08,123 --> 00:14:10,988 I was in for a really big shock. 151 00:14:24,070 --> 00:14:27,728 NARRATOR: Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was about to participate in the 152 00:14:27,763 --> 00:14:30,559 strangest away match of his entire career. 153 00:14:40,914 --> 00:14:45,574 RODMAN: I walked in on the stadium and then one of the, one of the leaders said... 154 00:14:47,783 --> 00:14:49,474 I'm like, 'What's going on?' 155 00:14:49,509 --> 00:14:52,615 He said, "Well, why don't you come and sit over here.' 156 00:14:52,650 --> 00:14:54,169 I said, 'Okay, great.' 157 00:14:54,203 --> 00:14:57,793 So I still have no clue, no clue what's [bleep] going on. 158 00:14:58,449 --> 00:15:02,487 That's when the people start to stand up and start to clap. 159 00:15:06,595 --> 00:15:08,700 And I'm thinking they clapping for me. 160 00:15:08,735 --> 00:15:12,773 So I'm saying, I'm thinking like I'm as cool as [bleep], right. 161 00:15:12,808 --> 00:15:17,226 I realize, I look to my left, I'm like oh, that's who they clapping for? 162 00:15:17,261 --> 00:15:20,264 And I still don't know who this guy is. 163 00:15:42,044 --> 00:15:46,669 Oh I know this. I said... oh, that's crazy. 164 00:15:49,431 --> 00:15:53,331 Wow, that brings you back a little bit, that says how powerful this guy is. 165 00:15:55,161 --> 00:15:59,717 And this right here went on for 10, 15 minutes. 166 00:15:59,751 --> 00:16:01,305 And I'm sitting there doing the same thing. 167 00:16:01,339 --> 00:16:03,479 I'm thinking like, 'What the [bleep] am I clapping for? 168 00:16:03,514 --> 00:16:05,965 So I'm an American, I'm like, 'I don't know what the hell I'm doing!' 169 00:16:05,999 --> 00:16:09,727 So it's like, alright, well I might as well just join in. 170 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:18,460 And I was just at awe to see these people crying. 171 00:16:18,494 --> 00:16:21,842 I've seen a lot of weird things in my life, I've seen a lot of people, 172 00:16:21,877 --> 00:16:25,191 I've seen presidents, I've seen a lot of stuff but that right there blew me away. 173 00:16:27,124 --> 00:16:30,713 That's when I finally sort of realized what's going on. 174 00:16:30,748 --> 00:16:33,578 -Team on three. One, two, three, yeah. 175 00:16:37,997 --> 00:16:41,793 RODMAN: Once the game started then he started just to talk to me. 176 00:16:41,828 --> 00:16:43,381 I don't know what the hell he's saying. 177 00:16:43,416 --> 00:16:45,314 You know he's talking in, you know, Korean. 178 00:16:45,349 --> 00:16:47,765 He just went on and on about basketball the whole game. 179 00:16:47,799 --> 00:16:50,319 We kept talking the whole game. 180 00:16:50,630 --> 00:16:53,529 I think that he is such a fan of basketball in America 181 00:16:53,564 --> 00:16:56,705 and he's such a great supporter of the Chicago Bulls. 182 00:16:57,740 --> 00:17:01,192 And we just pretty much hit it off like that and we just talked, we laughed, 183 00:17:01,227 --> 00:17:05,093 and he said, 'Whatever you want it's yours, you know.' And the interpreter was 184 00:17:05,127 --> 00:17:11,030 saying, 'Wow, Dennis, you're one of the very few people ever to come to our country, 185 00:17:11,064 --> 00:17:15,724 and I think you're one of the very few people to ever sit beside our leader. 186 00:17:21,074 --> 00:17:24,422 For some reason he actually likes you.' 187 00:17:28,357 --> 00:17:31,533 You guys have been very, very kind to me, 188 00:17:31,567 --> 00:17:37,056 and to my compadres from America, sir, thank you. 189 00:17:39,058 --> 00:17:42,061 You're a friend for life. 190 00:17:45,340 --> 00:17:50,517 Now I'm getting to feel like I'm getting comfortable now and we're just having a good 191 00:17:50,552 --> 00:17:53,762 time, like we've been best friends for years. 192 00:17:54,901 --> 00:17:57,973 And he asked me, he said, 'Dennis, please please please come back anytime. 193 00:17:58,007 --> 00:18:00,009 I want you to come back as much as you can.' 194 00:18:00,044 --> 00:18:02,805 I said, 'Okay, great, okay, I'll come back every three months.' 195 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,705 And he said, 'Yeah, do that!' 196 00:18:09,157 --> 00:18:12,021 REPORTER [over TV]: Dennis Rodman is back in North Korea. 197 00:18:12,056 --> 00:18:15,301 And he'll meet with his friend, the dictator Kim Jong-Un. 198 00:18:16,854 --> 00:18:18,856 -Mr. Rodman is on a private trip. 199 00:18:18,890 --> 00:18:24,206 Our views about North Korea have not changed. 200 00:18:28,176 --> 00:18:31,765 RODMAN: Look I'm not a president, I'm not a politician. 201 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,183 He's just more like you, or him, or anybody. 202 00:18:35,838 --> 00:18:39,670 He just wants to let his hair down, whatever, great, cool. 203 00:18:41,948 --> 00:18:45,641 One day, and we're sitting outside smoking cigars, drinking tequila, 204 00:18:46,055 --> 00:18:51,509 vodka and I think that's the first time he asked me about he would love to come to America. 205 00:18:53,891 --> 00:18:57,481 He said I would love to come to America to watch a basketball game. 206 00:18:57,515 --> 00:18:59,034 I said, 'What game you wanna see?' 207 00:18:59,068 --> 00:19:02,658 He said, 'I want to go to the Madison Square Garden building.' 208 00:19:02,693 --> 00:19:05,972 He kept saying it over and over: 'Madison Square Garden building'. 209 00:19:06,386 --> 00:19:08,526 He kept doing his hands like that, you know. 210 00:19:08,561 --> 00:19:10,079 I said, 'You can do anything you want. 211 00:19:10,114 --> 00:19:12,323 He said, 'I would love to go but I can't.' 212 00:19:12,358 --> 00:19:15,913 And he said, 'Well, you know, because people don't like me.' 213 00:19:15,947 --> 00:19:19,158 And I'm like wow. 214 00:19:20,159 --> 00:19:21,815 -How was your trip? 215 00:19:21,850 --> 00:19:23,231 RODMAN: It was awesome man. 216 00:19:23,265 --> 00:19:25,750 -Awesome. Kim, Kim Jong-Un. How awesome was it? 217 00:19:25,785 --> 00:19:28,650 RODMAN: I'll be coming back in about a week! 218 00:19:29,892 --> 00:19:32,550 REPORTER [over TV]: Is Dennis Rodman the man right now who knows more about 219 00:19:32,585 --> 00:19:34,311 Kim Jong-Un than any American? 220 00:19:34,345 --> 00:19:37,659 -He is that man, there is nobody at the CIA who could tell you more 221 00:19:37,693 --> 00:19:40,040 personally about Kim Jong-Un than Dennis Rodman. 222 00:19:40,075 --> 00:19:42,146 And that, in itself, is scary. 223 00:19:42,181 --> 00:19:45,287 ♪ RODMAN: Happy Birthday to you. ♪ 224 00:19:46,702 --> 00:19:50,292 ♪ Happy Birthday to you. ♪ 225 00:19:51,086 --> 00:19:55,297 ♪ Happy Birthday dear Marshall. ♪ 226 00:19:55,332 --> 00:19:58,818 ♪ Happy birthday to you. ♪ 227 00:20:06,032 --> 00:20:08,690 NARRATOR: Rodman's visit to Pyongyang fulfilled 228 00:20:08,724 --> 00:20:11,279 a childhood dream for Kim Jong-Un. 229 00:20:12,763 --> 00:20:15,317 [shouting in Korean]. 230 00:20:15,973 --> 00:20:19,148 But being an all-powerful dictator of the most secretive state on 231 00:20:19,183 --> 00:20:22,393 earth was not without its challenges. 232 00:20:24,775 --> 00:20:28,951 Generals at the heart of the regime were trying to outmaneuver the young Kim, 233 00:20:29,745 --> 00:20:33,232 in an effort to topple the inexperienced leader. 234 00:20:35,613 --> 00:20:39,376 But Kim Jong-Un was about to show that he was just as ruthless as 235 00:20:39,410 --> 00:20:41,999 any Kim had been before. 236 00:21:06,955 --> 00:21:10,545 NARRATOR: Kim Jong-Un is a 21st century dictator. 237 00:21:14,031 --> 00:21:17,552 He's happy to embrace certain kinds of progress, 238 00:21:18,104 --> 00:21:22,798 but retaining complete control is fundamental, 239 00:21:23,420 --> 00:21:26,768 as is loyalty from his inner sanctum. 240 00:21:28,148 --> 00:21:31,842 LEE: One of the things I pushed for when I was working as a journalist in 241 00:21:31,876 --> 00:21:35,673 North Korea, was to be allowed into a private or closed meeting. 242 00:21:37,019 --> 00:21:40,264 I wanted to see what things were like behind closed doors. 243 00:21:40,299 --> 00:21:44,613 And you get to see a lot more than they show you on TV. 244 00:21:46,615 --> 00:21:51,068 They know that when the song comes in for Kim Jong-Un, that they have to leap up 245 00:21:51,102 --> 00:21:53,967 and start cheering. 246 00:21:54,002 --> 00:21:57,074 But one of the things I noticed then, and it really struck me, 247 00:21:57,108 --> 00:22:02,321 was that somebody did not jump up and clap the way that everybody else did. 248 00:22:03,667 --> 00:22:06,290 And this was noticeable. 249 00:22:07,084 --> 00:22:10,294 Jang Song-Thaek just stayed seated. 250 00:22:19,510 --> 00:22:22,927 NARRATOR: Jang Song-Thaek was Kim Jong-Un's uncle. 251 00:22:24,860 --> 00:22:30,452 In the early 1970s, he married Kim Kyong-Hui, the only sister of Kim Jong-Un's father. 252 00:22:32,143 --> 00:22:35,561 He had joined the Kim's family firm; and thanks to his unrivalled access 253 00:22:36,493 --> 00:22:40,117 to the Kim's, he became one of the regime's most powerful figures. 254 00:23:23,712 --> 00:23:27,406 LEE: He was almost always right behind Kim Jong-Un's shoulder whenever 255 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,788 I saw Kim Jong-Un. 256 00:23:35,793 --> 00:23:37,381 He's an interesting person. 257 00:23:37,416 --> 00:23:39,866 He had been educated in Russia. 258 00:23:39,901 --> 00:23:43,594 So he had been exposed to the outside world quite a bit. 259 00:23:43,629 --> 00:23:47,598 He also had good relations with China so he's somebody who had built 260 00:23:47,633 --> 00:23:50,463 a lot of connections to the outside world. 261 00:23:50,498 --> 00:23:55,123 And that may have been seen by Kim Jong-Un 262 00:23:56,055 --> 00:23:59,576 as suspicious and threatening. 263 00:24:29,019 --> 00:24:33,886 NARRATOR: Uncle Jang continued to travel to and from China. 264 00:24:34,265 --> 00:24:38,442 But in December 2013, at a governmental meeting in Pyongyang, 265 00:24:38,477 --> 00:24:42,653 he realized that his role within the party was over. 266 00:25:30,321 --> 00:25:33,186 NARRATOR: An article in the state newspaper listed crimes 267 00:25:33,221 --> 00:25:35,292 like gambling state funds, 268 00:25:35,326 --> 00:25:38,122 embezzlement, and even adultery. 269 00:25:38,433 --> 00:25:41,263 Jang wasn't allowed to mount a defense. 270 00:25:41,298 --> 00:25:45,060 This was a show trial, and the judges made a swift decision. 271 00:25:52,033 --> 00:25:55,312 REPORTER [over TV]: Kim Jong-Un's uncle has been executed. 272 00:25:55,346 --> 00:25:58,349 TODD [over TV]: The official North Korean news agency report on this, called him, 273 00:25:58,384 --> 00:26:01,456 quote: 'despicable human scum, and worse than a dog.' 274 00:26:27,068 --> 00:26:31,659 LEE: It certainly sent not only a chill through me, but I know it sent a chill through 275 00:26:31,693 --> 00:26:33,764 the elites of North Korea. 276 00:26:33,799 --> 00:26:37,734 And it was meant to serve as an example that no-one's untouchable. 277 00:26:43,567 --> 00:26:47,709 NARRATOR: Kim marked the execution with a new song, performed by North Korea's 278 00:26:47,744 --> 00:26:49,677 favorite girl-band. 279 00:27:21,743 --> 00:27:28,025 BAEK: Every image, everything that people are exposed to is just crafted. 280 00:27:30,925 --> 00:27:35,723 There are hired artists, hired musicians, who are supported by the government to produce 281 00:27:35,757 --> 00:27:41,245 artwork, music, poetry, all to support the larger narrative. 282 00:27:45,594 --> 00:27:50,772 North Korea's the greatest country in the world, and the Kim Dynasty is the gods that 283 00:27:50,807 --> 00:27:54,086 are leading the North Korean people. 284 00:28:05,649 --> 00:28:09,342 NARRATOR: Kim wanted his people to buy in to the new vision of 285 00:28:09,377 --> 00:28:13,001 a 21st century North Korea. 286 00:28:15,038 --> 00:28:18,006 But it wasn't really optional. 287 00:28:19,007 --> 00:28:24,426 Expressing any doubts in Kim, or the regime, or attempting to contact the outside world 288 00:28:25,496 --> 00:28:27,947 would be a fatal error. 289 00:28:27,982 --> 00:28:32,641 In the early years of Kim's reign, the rate of public executions tripled. 290 00:28:38,613 --> 00:28:43,929 BAEK: In the executions, they're shot three times, usually in the head, chest, gut. 291 00:28:47,415 --> 00:28:50,729 BAEK: They're tied up so they can't you know run around or flail, but the idea is, 292 00:28:50,763 --> 00:28:55,078 if someone is shot, especially in the stomach, you just, you fold over. 293 00:29:00,669 --> 00:29:05,467 BAEK: Some of my North Korean friends who have seen executions say it's just crazy, 294 00:29:05,502 --> 00:29:11,853 that even in the moment of death, a North Korean person is forced to bow to the state. 295 00:29:19,516 --> 00:29:24,555 BAEK: From the moment someone is born, to the moment that someone is killed 296 00:29:26,143 --> 00:29:29,526 it's all in the name of the Kim family. 297 00:29:45,093 --> 00:29:49,270 LEE: There is a story in ancient Korean history that most Koreans will know, 298 00:29:51,375 --> 00:29:54,378 that is the story of the first king of the Joseon dynasty. 299 00:29:56,346 --> 00:29:58,935 He had a number of sons. 300 00:29:58,969 --> 00:30:04,526 When it came time for him to hand power, he picked one son and that triggered a rivalry, 301 00:30:08,634 --> 00:30:11,740 one of them ended up killing the other. 302 00:30:14,916 --> 00:30:19,714 This parable is known as the Hamheung-chasa. 303 00:30:19,748 --> 00:30:24,339 When I heard that story it just kind of sent chills up my spine because I thought, 304 00:30:25,202 --> 00:30:29,828 this history of brothers vying for the throne, 305 00:30:30,725 --> 00:30:34,556 of fratricide within the royal family, 306 00:30:34,591 --> 00:30:37,525 is a part of their ancient history. 307 00:30:41,184 --> 00:30:45,567 NARRATOR: The Kim family was about to add a 21st century chapter to the fabled stories 308 00:30:45,602 --> 00:30:48,536 of the Korean dynasties. 309 00:30:48,570 --> 00:30:52,057 Kim Jong-Un had an older half-brother, Kim Jong-Nam. 310 00:30:52,989 --> 00:30:57,165 He was their father's first son, and a man never afraid to speak his mind. 311 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:14,976 MADDEN: I became interested in North Korea about ten years ago, 312 00:31:16,046 --> 00:31:19,256 developed a specialty in North Korean politics, 313 00:31:19,705 --> 00:31:23,709 collecting information and there's a lot of people with skin in 314 00:31:23,743 --> 00:31:26,470 the North Korea game, and I'm in touch with them. 315 00:31:33,753 --> 00:31:36,273 JONG-NAM: I think it's a very ridiculous question. 316 00:31:36,308 --> 00:31:38,206 REPORTER: Ah okay, sorry sorry. 317 00:31:39,035 --> 00:31:43,177 MADDEN: Kim Jong-Nam had studied in Europe for about ten years, 318 00:31:43,211 --> 00:31:47,526 and he had absorbed certain aspects of Western culture that are not necessarily in 319 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:50,632 line with North Korea's political priorities. 320 00:31:51,910 --> 00:31:55,016 NARRATOR: Kim Jong-Nam used a fake passport to travel the world, 321 00:31:55,914 --> 00:32:00,021 but was caught entering japan on his way to Tokyo Disneyland. 322 00:32:00,711 --> 00:32:04,577 A major embarrassment for the family, and the start of a bitter rift. 323 00:32:06,545 --> 00:32:10,342 MADDEN: Kim Jong-Nam started living outside of North Korea in the early 2000s. 324 00:32:11,205 --> 00:32:15,726 Now that didn't prevent Kim Jong-Nam from having a certain power base and having ties to 325 00:32:15,761 --> 00:32:22,078 other North Korean elites, but it does, you know, it does eliminate him from the day to 326 00:32:22,112 --> 00:32:27,048 day grind of the North Korean regime, and if you're going to become a successor you can't 327 00:32:27,738 --> 00:32:30,672 be that removed from it. 328 00:32:31,328 --> 00:32:33,158 [inaudible]. 329 00:32:38,025 --> 00:32:42,374 NARRATOR: As the eldest child, Kim Jong-Nam often aired his views on North Korea 330 00:32:42,408 --> 00:32:44,169 and its future. 331 00:32:44,203 --> 00:32:46,965 From a new base in China, he spoke to journalists. 332 00:32:47,413 --> 00:32:51,107 He made sure that the location was hidden so his whereabouts were unknown. 333 00:33:30,353 --> 00:33:34,012 NARRATOR: In 2011, Kim Jong-Nam agreed to an in-depth interview, 334 00:33:34,046 --> 00:33:36,842 in the Asian gambling capital, Macau. 335 00:34:12,981 --> 00:34:16,364 NARRATOR: Their correspondence continued over email. 336 00:34:17,331 --> 00:34:21,438 Kim Jong-Nam was clearly not in favor of perpetuating the Kim dynasty. 337 00:34:29,377 --> 00:34:33,933 So when Kim Jong-Un became leader, the correspondence gained significance, 338 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:37,903 and Gomi asked permission to publish their private emails. 339 00:35:08,554 --> 00:35:12,593 NARRATOR: Later that year, South Korean intelligence claimed to have intercepted 340 00:35:12,627 --> 00:35:15,354 a memo written by Kim Jong-Un. 341 00:35:29,437 --> 00:35:34,062 CCTV footage showed Kim Jong-Nam arriving at Kuala lumper airport, 342 00:35:34,994 --> 00:35:36,962 and entering the departures hall. 343 00:35:40,138 --> 00:35:45,350 Two women come out of nowhere, each with separate elements of the VX nerve agent on them. 344 00:35:46,213 --> 00:35:50,562 They both rub their hands on his face, combining the chemicals, 345 00:35:50,596 --> 00:35:53,289 and creating a deadly poison. 346 00:35:53,910 --> 00:35:57,293 In distress, Kim Jong-Nam appeals for help, 347 00:35:59,536 --> 00:36:03,402 but just minutes later, he's dead. 348 00:36:29,566 --> 00:36:33,156 REPORTER [over TV]: South Korea said it is highly likely the North was behind this 349 00:36:33,191 --> 00:36:35,986 cloak-and-dagger type killing. 350 00:36:36,021 --> 00:36:39,300 LEE: We don't know if this was an order that was issued by Kim Jong-Un. 351 00:36:41,751 --> 00:36:46,825 But it was very clear that he found his brother's presence to be a nuisance. 352 00:36:49,862 --> 00:36:53,797 NARRATOR: The assassination of his half-brother, didn't necessarily stop criticism 353 00:36:54,453 --> 00:36:57,801 from within the Kim family. 354 00:36:59,009 --> 00:37:02,116 REPORTER [over TV]: Nearly a month after the half-brother of North Korea's dictator was 355 00:37:02,150 --> 00:37:07,466 poisoned to death in Kuala Lumpur airport, this video emerged showing the murdered 356 00:37:08,087 --> 00:37:10,435 man's son, Kim Han Sol. 357 00:37:10,469 --> 00:37:14,093 HAN SOL: My name's Kim Han Sol, uh, from North Korea. 358 00:37:14,818 --> 00:37:17,131 Part of the Kim family. 359 00:37:17,165 --> 00:37:19,098 Here's my passport. 360 00:37:20,341 --> 00:37:24,552 LEE: He is in his early 20s, has his whole life ahead of him, 361 00:37:25,933 --> 00:37:29,454 very promising from all we can tell and from those around him, 362 00:37:30,731 --> 00:37:35,253 but perhaps is going to be on the run for the rest of his life. 363 00:37:36,081 --> 00:37:40,085 Because he does pose a potential challenge to that throne. 364 00:37:42,570 --> 00:37:46,574 He is a member of the Kim family and he does have the bloodline. 365 00:37:47,092 --> 00:37:49,853 HAN SOL: My father has been killed a few days ago. 366 00:37:49,888 --> 00:37:52,615 I'm currently with my mother and my sister. 367 00:37:52,649 --> 00:37:57,067 And um we hope this gets better soon, yeah. 368 00:38:03,281 --> 00:38:07,077 NARRATOR: The assassination of his half-brother and the execution of his uncle meant 369 00:38:07,112 --> 00:38:10,633 that Kim Jong-Un could now make some changes to his inner circle. 370 00:38:13,083 --> 00:38:15,258 He brought in his younger sister, 371 00:38:15,293 --> 00:38:19,124 and gave her a pivotal role in the party's politburo. 372 00:38:20,781 --> 00:38:25,337 The young leader's next move was to raise his profile on the global stage. 373 00:38:26,373 --> 00:38:29,410 He achieved this with a number of missile launches, 374 00:38:29,445 --> 00:38:32,551 showing the regime's growing military capabilities. 375 00:38:37,694 --> 00:38:40,041 REPORTER [over TV]: North Korea launched a long rang rocket.... 376 00:38:40,076 --> 00:38:41,905 REPORTER [over TV]: One more rocket launched in this weekend's barrage... 377 00:38:41,940 --> 00:38:44,908 COREN [over TV]: This is North Korea showing the United States that it is 378 00:38:44,943 --> 00:38:47,463 a force to be reckoned with. 379 00:38:49,327 --> 00:38:51,881 NARRATOR: Kim was baiting America. 380 00:38:52,744 --> 00:38:56,644 This was a move straight out of the family playbook. 381 00:38:57,990 --> 00:39:02,340 But for Kim Jong-Un this tactic appeared to be backfiring. 382 00:39:03,168 --> 00:39:06,827 OBAMA: North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons is a path that leads only 383 00:39:06,861 --> 00:39:09,899 to more isolation, it's not a sign of strength. 384 00:39:12,902 --> 00:39:16,630 NARRATOR: Just when it seemed that Kim Jong-Un had taken North Korea 385 00:39:16,664 --> 00:39:19,460 into the diplomatic wilderness... 386 00:39:19,495 --> 00:39:21,876 -USA! USA! USA! 387 00:39:21,911 --> 00:39:25,155 NARRATOR: A new kind of politician entered the fray. 388 00:39:28,435 --> 00:39:30,368 TRUMP: One of the papers called the other day. 389 00:39:30,402 --> 00:39:34,751 And they said: "Would you speak to the leader of North Korea?" 390 00:39:36,235 --> 00:39:39,377 I said, "Absolutely why not, why not?" 391 00:39:39,411 --> 00:39:42,587 Who the hell cares, I'll speak to anybody! 392 00:39:50,595 --> 00:39:54,357 -Kim Jong-Un! Kim Jong-Un! Kim Jong-Un! 393 00:39:54,392 --> 00:39:58,361 NARRATOR: Kim Jong-Un had spent his first five years in charge purging his 394 00:39:58,396 --> 00:40:00,915 inner sanctum of dissenting voices. 395 00:40:04,954 --> 00:40:07,715 -Kim Jong-Un! Kim Jong-Un! Kim Jong-Un! 396 00:40:08,406 --> 00:40:11,409 NARRATOR: He then turned his attention to the international stage. 397 00:40:12,444 --> 00:40:13,721 REPORTER [over TV]: Good Morning America. 398 00:40:13,756 --> 00:40:15,516 The most stunning upset in American history: 399 00:40:15,551 --> 00:40:18,726 Donald J. Trump elected the 45th President of the United States. 400 00:40:18,761 --> 00:40:22,454 -USA! USA! USA! USA! 401 00:40:22,489 --> 00:40:26,424 TRUMP: If you look at North Korea, this guy, this, ma, I mean he's like a maniac. 402 00:40:27,528 --> 00:40:29,392 And you gotta give him credit. 403 00:40:29,427 --> 00:40:31,946 How many young guys, and you know it's pretty amazing when you think of it, 404 00:40:31,981 --> 00:40:35,225 how does he do that, he goes and he takes over and he's the boss. 405 00:40:35,260 --> 00:40:37,538 He wiped out the uncle, he wiped out this one, that one, 406 00:40:37,573 --> 00:40:40,092 I mean this guy doesn't play games. 407 00:40:41,473 --> 00:40:43,406 [speaking in Korean]. 408 00:40:43,441 --> 00:40:46,547 REPORTER [over TV]: North Korea's first missile launch on President Trump's watch. 409 00:40:49,170 --> 00:40:52,380 NARRATOR: The early months of Trump's presidency were punctuated by 410 00:40:52,415 --> 00:40:56,730 a series of launches, culminating on Independence Day 411 00:40:56,764 --> 00:41:00,665 with the test of a rocket capable of reaching Alaska. 412 00:41:08,224 --> 00:41:10,571 [singing in Korean]. 413 00:41:12,262 --> 00:41:17,164 NARRATOR: The regime called the launch 'a gift to the American bastards'. 414 00:41:19,269 --> 00:41:23,688 TRUMP: The United States has great strength and patience. 415 00:41:24,723 --> 00:41:30,384 But if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but 416 00:41:31,868 --> 00:41:34,871 to totally destroy North Korea. 417 00:41:45,295 --> 00:41:51,198 Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself, and for his regime. 418 00:41:59,102 --> 00:42:01,173 NARRATOR: While Trump laid down the law, 419 00:42:01,208 --> 00:42:04,798 North Korea was about to reach a crucial milestone. 420 00:42:13,151 --> 00:42:15,671 REPORTER [over TV]: The new threat from North Korea: they have tested a powerful 421 00:42:15,705 --> 00:42:19,398 new missile; experts say it could reach the entire U.S. mainland. 422 00:42:19,744 --> 00:42:22,332 [speaking in Korean]. 423 00:42:25,128 --> 00:42:27,406 NARRATOR: Kim Jong-Un released a statement, 424 00:42:27,441 --> 00:42:30,996 saying his nuclear missile program was complete. 425 00:42:31,031 --> 00:42:33,343 He was ready to talk. 426 00:42:36,623 --> 00:42:39,729 He began by visiting his South Korean counterpart. 427 00:42:42,042 --> 00:42:44,734 After a successful summit, he then managed to broker 428 00:42:44,769 --> 00:42:47,841 a meeting in Singapore with President Trump. 429 00:42:51,430 --> 00:42:55,365 LEE: Just remember that when we first saw him in 2010 and 2011 he was just this 430 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:59,162 fresh-faced, baby-faced young man that no one knew. 431 00:43:00,647 --> 00:43:04,271 Didn't have a whole lot of credibility. 432 00:43:06,445 --> 00:43:12,451 He is now a leader who has a verifiably threatening nuclear arsenal. 433 00:43:14,453 --> 00:43:18,078 That puts him in a very different position when it comes to negotiating and 434 00:43:18,112 --> 00:43:20,908 interacting with other countries. 435 00:43:38,029 --> 00:43:39,962 RODMAN: I knew things were gonna change. 436 00:43:39,996 --> 00:43:44,449 I knew it, I was the only one, but I never had no one to hear me. 437 00:43:44,483 --> 00:43:48,695 I got so many death threats, but I was sitting there protecting everything and I 438 00:43:48,729 --> 00:43:50,593 believe in North Korea. 439 00:43:50,628 --> 00:43:55,356 But today is a great day for everybody: Singapore, Tokyo, China, everything. 440 00:43:55,736 --> 00:43:57,842 It's a great day! 441 00:43:59,809 --> 00:44:01,880 LEE: The way the North Koreans will be looking at it is: 442 00:44:01,915 --> 00:44:04,434 this tiny country with so little. 443 00:44:04,469 --> 00:44:05,850 TRUMP: Thank you very much. 444 00:44:05,884 --> 00:44:09,474 LEE: Is so important that their leader is able to sit down with 445 00:44:09,508 --> 00:44:12,373 the President of the United States. 446 00:44:14,444 --> 00:44:17,896 That's something his father and his grandfather never were able to do. 447 00:44:19,104 --> 00:44:20,450 [inaudible]. 448 00:44:20,485 --> 00:44:22,832 TRUMP: Very good. Very, very good. 449 00:44:23,661 --> 00:44:26,491 Excellent relationship, thank you, thank you very much. 450 00:44:28,493 --> 00:44:32,842 NARRATOR: Kim Jong-Un had achieved a massive coup, persuading the leader of the 451 00:44:32,877 --> 00:44:36,881 free world to sit down and meet him on equal terms. 452 00:44:41,368 --> 00:44:46,684 For over 70 years, the grandfather, father and son 453 00:44:48,099 --> 00:44:51,999 have convinced the North Korean people that they are gods. 454 00:45:14,781 --> 00:45:20,441 BAEK: For Kim Jong-Un the country's Achilles heel is its citizens 455 00:45:21,615 --> 00:45:23,755 accessing foreign information. 456 00:45:23,790 --> 00:45:26,447 -How much for a DVD? 457 00:45:27,379 --> 00:45:31,556 BAEK: And so the more and more citizens listen and read and watch foreign media, 458 00:45:32,626 --> 00:45:36,595 and the more and more they're starting to question their reality in North Korea, 459 00:45:36,630 --> 00:45:40,634 the more they question the political legitimacy of the state. 460 00:45:41,014 --> 00:45:44,672 It puts Kim-Jong Un in a very dangerous position. 461 00:45:46,433 --> 00:45:52,750 If people stop believing that these are Gods, that is pretty much eroding the single 462 00:45:54,027 --> 00:45:57,306 foundational belief for this country. 463 00:45:57,340 --> 00:46:02,621 Once that political legitimacy is eroded, then he has nothing to stand on. 464 00:46:22,262 --> 00:46:27,267 ♪ 465 00:46:28,026 --> 00:46:33,342 NARRATOR: For over 70 years, the Kim family have literally kept their people in the dark. 466 00:46:36,069 --> 00:46:39,831 The most secretive state on earth remains cut off from the outside world. 467 00:46:41,453 --> 00:46:47,252 The Hermit Kingdom, still under the rule of one family. 468 00:46:48,391 --> 00:47:03,406 ♪ 469 00:47:03,406 --> 00:47:07,825 ♪ 470 00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:10,413 Captioned by Cotter Captioning Services.