North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, has made an unusual and striking display of personal loyalty by kneeling at the grave of Hyon Chol-hae, a senior military officer and long-time mentor who played a key role in shaping Kim’s rise to power.
State media released photographs showing Kim placing flowers at Hyon’s grave. The gesture marks the third consecutive year that Kim has publicly honoured Hyon, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 87. The rare act of kneeling — a posture almost never seen from the hereditary dictator of the world’s most secretive and repressive regime — provides a rare glimpse into Kim’s personality and leadership style.
Hyon Chol-hae was not only a veteran military officer but also a trusted aide to Kim’s grandfather Kim Il-sung and father Kim Jong-il. Known affectionately by Kim Jong-un as “Jong Unny,” Hyon helped to secure the young leader’s position as heir during a period when many doubted Kim’s youth and inexperience.
On the anniversary of Hyon’s death, Kim praised him as “a model military and political official” and “a paragon of a true person” whose memory “will live forever” and “encourage us in our sacred struggle for a great victory.”
Despite his influential role, Hyon lived largely out of the public eye, known mainly to insiders and dedicated analysts of the isolated regime. Even before his passing, he enjoyed reverence usually reserved for the ruling family. State media previously showed Kim at Hyon’s hospital bedside and acting as a coffin bearer at his funeral.
North Korea scholar Fyodor Tertitskiy described Kim’s kneeling as “an unprecedented act,” highlighting how it breaks from the usual cult of personality surrounding the leader.
A recent North Korean documentary titled Closest to the Sun revealed personal moments between Hyon and a young Kim, including a direct phone line between them and their use of familial nicknames, underscoring their close relationship.
Analysts believe the public veneration of Hyon serves a dual purpose: inspiring loyalty among North Korea’s current generation of cadres by emphasizing the rewards of dedication, and reflecting a genuine affection from Kim, who has shown more respect for the old guard than his predecessors.
“Contrary to expectations, Kim Jong-un appears to hold a deeper respect for the old guard compared to his father or grandfather,” Tertitskiy noted. “This defies the stereotype of a spoiled young prince, revealing a more complex leadership style.”
This intimate tribute to Hyon Chol-hae adds another dimension to understanding Kim Jong-un’s rule — one that balances ruthless power with personal loyalty and respect for his mentors.
