National Geographic goes Inside North Korea's Dynasty in a revealing new 4-part documentary series from November.

A new 4-episode documentary series from 72 Films about North Korea will make its debut on National Geographic ((DStv 181 / StarSat 220 / Cell C black 261) on 18 and 25 November giving the world an eye-opening look into the notorious hermit kingdom and the secretive Kim dynasty.

Inside North Korea's Dynasty will unspool with 2 episodes on National Geographic on 18 November at 21:00 and 22:00, and on 25 November at 21:00 and 22:00, with a collection of archival footage, rare firsthand testimonies and secret audio tapes from inside the brutal North Korea regime.

The groundbreaking four-episode documentary series examines the extraordinary history of the world’s only communist dynasty, three generations in the making, and took a year to produce.

The 4-part series documents the birth of the Kim dynasty by examining the rise and rule of the founder of North Korea, Kim Il Sung; his son, Kim Jong Il; and his grandson and the current leader, Kim Jong Un.

"Much of the world got its first real glimpse of North Korea's elusive current leader, Kim Jong Un, earlier this year when he met with the American president Donald Trump in Singapore," says National Geographic in a statement announcing the documentary series.

"But to really understand Kim and his place in the history of North Korea, you need to go back more than 70 years, to when his grandfather, and then father, were the leaders of the 'hermit kingdom'. It is a story of how a minor guerrilla fighter emerged from the battlefield to take control of a country desperate for leadership, and of a family dynasty unlike any the world has seen in modern times."

National Geographic says Inside North Korea's Dynasty "is the ultimate story of a family’s power, and the relationship among a father, a son and a grandson".

"The series provides a look at the Kim dynasty more complex and comprehensive than ever attempted before, revealing the workings behind the formidable family dynamics at the heart of an extraordinary country. Viewers will be immersed in the family’s dark and surreal story, bringing a fresh perspective on a nation ruled for over seven decades by one dynasty," says National Geographic.

"National Geographic was clear from the start - they wanted a definitive documentary on the Kim dynasty, unlike anything produced before," says 72 Films.

"We immersed ourselves in this project for a year, looking through archives that have not been viewed in decades and interviewing almost 50 people with perspectives that could shed light on this dynasty. Going in via the family was a fresh way to unlock North Korea."

"All three leaders are fascinating in their own right. They have all chosen to use their extraordinary power in different ways. The result is a film that is as unique in scope and depth as it is in insight and relevance."

Historic moments in the Kim family’s trajectory are captured with nearly 30 firsthand testimonies and rare interviews presented in the series, including from Shin Jyeung-Kyun, son of kidnapped South Korean filmmakers; Choi Jae Wook, press secretary for the South Korean president; and retired Col. Victor Vierra, in his first television interview, who was stationed at the Demilitarised Zone at the time of the axe murders of August 1976.

Also speaking are Kang In-Deok, director of the Korean CIA, North Korea bureau; Ko Young-Hwan, interpreter for Kim Il Sung; MichaelYi, interrogation specialist for the American CIA; Kim Hyun Hui, former North Korean espionage agent and the bomber of Korean Airline Flight 858; and the American basketball star Dennis Rodman, about his relationship with the current leader.

Producers culled through nearly 400 hours of tapes to assemble a collection of archival footage to drive the narrative of the story.

The episodes include the following:

Kingdom of the Kims
Sunday 18 November 21:00
For decades, Korea and its people laboured under Japanese imperialist rule.
But in 1912, in a small town outside Pyongyang, a child is born - Kim Il Sung, coinciding with an omen of imperialism’s doom.
This is the story of how an unknown guerrilla fighter rises to power, takes complete control of his country and makes himself a god in the eyes of his people.


The Son of God
Sunday 18 November 22:00
Unpacking the unique Kim father-son relationship further, this episode tracks the decline of Kim Il Sung and the rise of his son, Kim Jong Il.
It tells how he uses filmmaking and propaganda to win his father’s approval and power. Beginning in the 1970s, this film explores Jong’s rise to power as the heir apparent of North Korea.


Nuclear Family
Sunday 25 November 21:00
This episode begins as the Cold War ends - and North Korea has lost Soviet patronage, and with it, the security it guarantees and the economic support that has sustained the country for nearly half a century. 
As Kim Jong Il takes complete control of the country, he also starts a nuclear weapons program.
He also employs a private sushi chef, and hosts lavish banquets and parties while the country continues to struggle economically.


Rocket Man
Sunday 25 November 22:00
The final episode starts with the death of Kim Jong Il and the rise of the new leader of North Korea: his son, Kim Jong Un, taking power at the age of 28.
Using exclusive interviews, firsthand testimony and expertly curated archive material, the episode charts Un’s reign from 2011 to present day; delves into how Un consolidated power, by killing his uncle and his half-brother; and breaks down the historic 2018 summit with America's president Donald Trump.