Kim Jong-un is the current Supreme Leader of North Korea, a position he inherited from his father, Kim Jong-il. He is the world's youngest serving state leader and the first North Korean supreme leader to have been born after the nation was founded. Kim Jong-un became the Supreme Leader of the "hermit kingdom" shortly after his father's death in 2011, thereby assuming his father's responsibilities and duties. He is known to be an absolute dictator and is ruthless in his behavior. Since gaining power, he has eliminated several top leaders whom he considered threats to his position. He gained recognition for adopting a more open approach towards the public, making media appearances, interacting with workers and soldiers, and embracing a Westernized lifestyle compared to the traditional approach that prevailed during his father's reign. However, this North Korean dictator has struggled to overcome the challenges his father faced during his rule, including dire poverty, a ruined economy, and international tensions with the United States and South Korea.