North Korea has published rare photos of the dictator Kim Jong-Un as a fresh-faced teen.
In a documentary about Kim's late mentor Hyon Chol-hae, North Korea's state media published a series of photographs showing the young tyrant in his early teens.
Kim is seen spending time with Hyon in a number of images from the Closest to the Sun documentary.
In one photograph, a youthful Kim is flanked by his mentor, who died last month, as the pair stand behind his equally power-mad father Kim Jong-Il.
The pair are then seen standing beside each other alongside Kim's dad and sister Yo-Jong.
A South Korean intelligence source told Digital Chosun the choice to publish the images was likely to encourage the public to emulate the late statesman.
They said: "The aim seems to be to encourage North Koreans to emulate Hyon, who was absolutely loyal to the leader even when Kim was a child."
The film discusses how Kim was involved in deciding on how Hyon's "chronic" heart conditions should be treated and gave doctors detailed instructions despite having no medical training.
Hyon was first admitted to hospital in 2017, staying there until 2021 before his death last month.
He acted as Kim's main adviser, supporting the young dictator to take over North Korea as its "sole successor".
Last week, fears arose over the dictator's plans to launch a nuclear weapon as the global threat escalates.
The pariah state recently finished preparations for its first nuclear test launch since 2017, according to South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin, who also called for a political resolution to bring it to a halt.
Meanwhile, Kim has given a range of new powers to a much-feared general known in the country as the "Angel of Death" for his brutal eradication of his foes.
Jo Kyong-chol earned the nickname for his role in purging senior officials in the secretive nation, including Jang Song-thaek – the dictator’s uncle – who was killed in 2013.
The head of North Korea’s Military Security Command (MSC), he has now been promoted to North Korea’s Central Military Commission (CMC), one of the country’s most powerful decision-making bodies.
Michael Madden, a leading expert on North Korea’s elite, described the “shadowy” general’s responsibilities.
He said: "We can link him overall to supervising the process whereby top North Korean military officers and party cadres are incarcerated and executed.
“When we talk about prison for North Korean elites, we are talking about places where there is no natural light and if you go into one you do not leave there alive.”
He continued: “With regard to executions, they are typically done with three bullets from a firing squad.
“Of course we have accounts of more creative methods for putting down disobedient malcontents such as using anti-aircraft artillery fired at close range.
“Another account says that some military officers were restrained to the ground and run over by military tanks.
“But this is not the norm and more to send a message to North Korean elites to shape up under the principle of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.”
Mr Madden, a fellow of The Stimson Center in Washington DC, who also runs the North Korea Leadership Watch website, added the move looked like a crackdown.
He added: "This indicates Kim Jong-un tightening control.
“There could be a matter of he and General Jo cracking down on certain cohorts in the military.
“But that would be an incomplete picture. The CMC also has some oversight over civilian officials in the party and state.
“And the MSC which Jo leads can surveil or investigate civilian officials.
“In short, his appointment to the CMC is intended to serve as a warning to North Korean officials of all ranks and stations.”
