Rocket man: How Kim Jong-un emerged from his father’s shadow to silence the doubters

Once described by Kim Jong-il’s personal sushi chef as a "chip off the old block", Kim Jong-un has succeeded in carving out his own reputation as a ruthless leader to be taken seriously.

When his father died in December 2011, remarkably little was known of the heir apparent. He was believed to be in his 20s and, up until a year earlier, the only photograph of him was a grainy black-and-white snapshot taken when he was 11-years-old.

Almost seven years on, the young North Korean leader took centre stage in a diplomatic dance that gave him a new standing in international politics. 

The 34-year-old leader met Donald Trump, the US president, in Singapore after striking a deal with the South Korean…

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