Seoul, Dec. 28 (IANS) – In a year that has seen a surge in his public profile, North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un has stepped out in front of the country more often than he has in the last nine years, according to data released by the Korea Institute for National Unification on Sunday.
By the end of November, state media had reported 118 appearances by Kim; this number climbed to 131 by December 27 after additional events were listed. The total is a modest uptick from 127 in 2024 and ties the high figure first reached in 2016. The institute noted that Kim’s public presence dipped to just 55 in 2020 during the COVID‑19 pandemic but has been on a steady rise since then.
The spike in appearances comes as Kim aims to widen his diplomatic footprint – including his first multilateral outing – and to drive forward Korea’s five‑year development plan, which is set to close this year, Yonhap reports.
Of the 131 appearances up to December 27, 30 were public ceremonies, 23 were on‑site inspections, and 21 were military‑related events. Kim spent much of the year visiting construction sites and launch ceremonies for facilities built under his “Regional Development 20 X 10 Policy,” a flagship program aimed at boosting regional infrastructure.
Military‑related activities fell from 31 last year to 21 this year. A highlight of Kim’s diplomatic agenda was his headline‑grabbing debut on the international stage in September, when he joined a large Chinese military parade in Beijing alongside other leaders. He also held five summit talks this year, speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and meeting in person with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as the leaders of Laos and Vietnam. In addition, Kim hosted ten separate meetings with high‑ranking foreign officials and emissaries, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu.
The data show that party secretary Jo Yong‑won led the rank of aides accompanying Kim, appearing on 22 occasions. He was followed by Pak Jong‑chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea, who joined Kim 19 times, and Defence Minister No Kwang‑chol, who saw him 11 times.
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