Thus, Kim Jong-un's birthday is not officially celebrated, although everyone knows that the date is on January 8. This year, Kim Jong-un is assumed to have turned 33, 34, or 35, according to various reports.
"If Kim's exact age is made public, he might have problems in dealing with officials who are 30 to 40 years older than him," Thae Yong Ho told the newspaper. "Kim is the absolute power in the North, so there should not be such things as officials raising [doubts about] his power because of his age."
Since taking office in late 2011, Kim Jong-un has had absolute authority in the country and executed over 100 military and government officials who dared to criticize him.
The current North Korean leader has an elder brother named Jong-chol, but the later doesn't have any special status in the government.
Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!
