Rollercoasters, horses and weight loss: 10 years of Kim Jong-un image politics

As North Korea marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il, we look at how official portraits of his son and successor have sought to portray him as both increasingly authoritative and popular

Three generations of the Kim family have ruled North Korea with absolute authority since 1948, and analysts say the regime has used carefully crafted images to ensure their power.

Outsiders regard Kim as a ruthless tyrant with an undying obsession about developing the country's nuclear weapons, even at the cost of starving the population. But North Korea's tightly-controlled state media shows something softer: Kim caressing weeping orphans, being mobbed by gushing female soldiers, or smiling broadly on a mound of potatoes.