Kim Jong Un's Clothing Has Serious Symbolic Meaning

• Kim Jong Un's fashion choices give insight into the North Korean leader's self-perception, relationship with adversaries, and changes in North Korea.
• Kim has favored Mao suits similar to those worn by his grandfather, the country's first leader.
• "Kim Jong Un's got some cool clothes. If he were from America, he would be one of these fellas we see in Portland, in Brooklyn, one of these hipster guys. He's into the vintage look and I don't blame him," one analyst told Insider. 
• Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories. 

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Kim Jong Un came to power in 2011 after a lifetime spent sequestered in a plush Pyongyang compound and as an anonymous schoolboy in Switzerland. From his child-sized general's uniform to a daring black leather trench coat, Kim's sartorial decisions often convey how he sees himself, his leadership, and his place in the world.

He bears more than a passing resemblance to his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, the first leader of North Korea — a fact many analysts believe he plays up for his benefit, wearing 1950s-style eyeglasses and Mao suits to heighten the resemblance. 

Here's a look at what Kim Jong Un's clothing tells us about the leader, his country, and his relationship to his country's adversaries.  

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