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Kim Jong-un, North Korea's supreme leader, is known for keeping his hands on cigarettes, especially during the latest public event, Navy Day celebrations. The daughter Jin Zhuai, who was walking with him, actually handed him a matchbox. This image seems to completely deviate from Kim Jong-un's practice of imposing a smoking ban in November 2020, which has attracted widespread attention from foreign media.
Since the Kim Il Sung family, tobacco addiction has been inherited, whether it is Marshal Kim Il Sung or General Kim Jong Il, they are all smokers. In contrast to General Kim Jong-il's quit smoking in his later years, however, Kim Jong-un became a "smoking gun" at the beginning of his political career, clutching cigarettes whether it was watching performances, military inspections, hospital inspections, or even missile bases. His addiction to smoking became apparent at a young age, and he even hired embassy staff to buy cigarettes for him while studying in Switzerland. Despite an order banning officials from smoking foreign cigarettes, he insisted that North Korean cigarettes were of high quality, that foreign cigarettes were not necessary and that foreign cigarettes were a symbol of unpatriotism.
According to reports, Kim Jong-un usually likes to smoke North Korea's homegrown 727 cigarettes, which are one of the highest grade cigarettes in North Korea and symbolize status. In the eyes of ordinary people, smoking 727 cigarettes is also a status symbol, comparable to China's Chinese brand cigarettes.
Not only Kim Jong-un, but many North Korean officials are also smokers and especially like foreign cigarettes. Since foreign cigarettes require foreign exchange to buy, many officials have relative difficulty in obtaining foreign cigarettes, so it is generally easier for members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain foreign cigarettes. When foreign officials come to inspect work, the first thing they usually do is ask for cigarettes as gifts.
Mr. Kim tried to quit smoking, went months without a look, but then started again. Perhaps because the work pressure is too much, smoking has become a way for him to relax. His addiction to smoking was evident, and he smoked a cigarette even before delivering his New Year's message.
In 2019, Kim Jong-un traveled to Vietnam for the second DPRK-U.S. summit with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, and when the special train arrived at Nanning Station, he got off the bus to rest and began smoking. In the photo, his sister, Kim Yo-jung, First Deputy Minister of Justice, holds an ashtray and asks her brother to put a cigarette butt in it.
Even during the 2018 inter-Korean inter-Korean talks, South Korean officials discouraged Kim Jong-un from quitting smoking, but his wife, Ms. Lee Seol-joon, said: "I kept urging him to quit, but he didn't listen." ”
Despite North Korea's smoking ban, data shows that about 55 percent of North Korean men smoke, one of the highest in the world. Because North Korea's compulsory military service system lasts for 10 years, many people develop the habit of smoking during military service, and it is difficult to get rid of it even after leaving the military. Despite limited wages, North Korean men are not stingy about buying cigarettes and choose to buy a cigarette to satisfy their addiction if they are struggling financially. The North Korean government began implementing a series of policies to control tobacco consumption in 2020, but Kim Jong-un does not appear to be bound by these policies. Perhaps, he smokes not just for the sake of smoking, but to relieve loneliness, stress and thinking.
Revelation:
The Kim Jong-un family's love of tobacco has become a well-known fact. This phenomenon sheds light on several important points about leadership behavior and policy.
First, the actions of leaders have a profound impact on society. Mr. Kim and his family's addiction to smoking has, in a way, sent a message to ordinary people that smoking is somehow considered a symbol of social status. This symbolic act has a profound impact on social values and behaviors, and is even reflected in policy. Mr. Kim's order banning officials from smoking foreign cigarettes and emphasizing the use of domestically produced cigarettes suggests that leaders' preferences can shape national policy, whether it is justified or not.
Second, the effectiveness of the anti-smoking policy deserves reflection. Although Kim Jong-un has imposed a smoking ban, he has reportedly failed to quit smoking. This suggests that prohibiting a certain behavior does not necessarily lead to rapid change in the individual, especially when the individual has a strong interest and enthusiasm for the behavior. This situation should give rise to deep thought for the policymaking of national leaders, because the implementation of policies requires more consideration and flexibility.
Finally, Kim Jong-un's addiction to smoking also makes us reflect on the way leaders cope with stress. Smoking is often used as a way to cope with stress, and Mr. Kim's frequent smoking in public may indicate the stress he is under is enormous. It is also a reminder that mental health issues among leaders have potentially important implications for national policies and security. Governments and society should pay more attention to the mental health of leaders to ensure that they can effectively carry out their duties.
Summary:
The addiction of Kim Jong-un and his family members is a fascinating phenomenon that provides important insights into leaders' behavior and policies. First, the actions of leaders have a profound impact on society and can shape social values and policies. The Kim Jong-un family's love of tobacco partly conveys the message that smoking is a symbol of social status. Second, the effectiveness of the anti-smoking policy should be rethought, because even leaders have difficulty quitting strong addiction. This suggests that policy formulation requires more flexibility and integrated consideration. Finally, Kim Jong-un's smoking behavior has also sparked a reflection on the way leaders cope with stress, as well as concerns about their mental health. Governments and society should pay more attention to the mental health of leaders to ensure that they can effectively carry out their responsibilities and guarantee the security and stability of the country. This view reminds us that the actions of leaders are not just a matter of individuals, but also of the interests of the country and society as a whole.
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