This documentary looks inside North Korea through the men around its leader, Kim Jong-un, asking who really holds power in one of the world’s most closed states. It examines the small circle of advisers, generals, party officials and family members who help run the regime, and the loyalty, fear and ambition that bind them to the ruling Kim dynasty. Rather than focusing only on the leader himself, the film shows how a dictatorship depends on the people who carry out its orders, guard its secrets and compete for its favour.
The programme explores the history of the Kim family, from the founding of North Korea after the Second World War through the leadership of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il to the third generation under Kim Jong-un. It considers how the regime has survived war, famine, sanctions and international isolation, using tight control over information, a powerful security apparatus and a cult of personality around its leaders. It also looks at purges, promotions and rivalries inside the elite, and what they reveal about insecurity at the top.
For readers interested in socialism’s history and present, North Korea is a difficult and important case. It claims a socialist heritage, yet its hereditary leadership and harsh repression sit uneasily with many socialist ideals, and the film invites viewers to weigh that contradiction carefully. Understanding who the dictator’s men are helps explain how the system endures. The video below presents the full documentary.