Photo Gallery Could North Korea See New Reforms?
Kim Jong Un doesn't seem as unapproachable as his father, Kim Jong Il, who died in December 2011. North Korea's new leader gives a smile now and then, even unbottoning his uniform jacket and allowing himself to be embraced by his subjects.
His recent decision to appear in public with a mysterious young woman (shown here) has sparked a fury of speculation. She is believed to be a pop star.
Then he appeared at a performance by the band Moranbong at a gala in Pyongyang featuring performers dressed as Disney characters. Since these figures come from the United States, an enemy of North Korea, having them there was considered curious.
Here, Kim Jong Un is seen looking relaxed with an unbottoned jacket and straw hat while surveying a park in an undated photo released in early July.
It's still too early to judge whether the rotund young man with an odd haircut will turn out to be a reformer in this quasi-religious state. Also unclear is whether he can or wants to free himself from the circle of the elite relatives and military figures surrounding him. But there are tiny signals that indicate this could be the case.
This photo shows North Korean studets performing in June. Students are reportedly wearing more fashionable outfits, and young men are said to be gelling their hair in the style of South Korean actors and singers. At private markets imported clothing has also reportedly become popular.
But North Koreans still can't use the Internet. Students like these at the Kim Il-Sung University in Pyongyang must used restricted private networks for their research.
This image from April shows a parade in honor of North Korea's late founder Kim Il Sung. Could an increase of information and Kim Jong Un's new style ultimately destabilize the regime in Pyongyang?
