North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been in power for about two and a half years now, and the family tradition of "field guidance" trips shows no sign of abating. Kim Jong Un, like his father and grandfather before him, visits hospitals, factories, and military facilities, giving on-the-spot advice, which is dutifully recorded by the many note-takers in attendance at every event. Gathered here are just a few of the photos of these visits, released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) over the past 12 months.
Kim Jong Un's Busy Year
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (front) in the conning tower of a submarine during his inspection of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Naval Unit 167 in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on June 16, 2014. #
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Kim Jong Un, surrounded by admirers, guides a multiple-rocket launching drill by women's sub-units under KPA Unit 851, in this undated photo released by KCNA on April 24, 2014. #
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Students at Mangyongdae Revolutionary School greet Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Children's Union in Pyongyang on June 7, 2014. #
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju, applauds as they attend an art performance by the Moranbong Band at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang on May 20, 2014. #
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Posing for a souvenir photo, Kim Jong Un stands with Dennis Rodman and his former U.S. NBA basketball colleagues after a basketball game against North Korean players of the Hwaebul team of the DPRK at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on January 9, 2014. #
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Kim Jong Un applauds during a photo session with war veteran delegates who took part in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the truce of the Korean War on July 30, 2013. Kim Jong Un, reportedly 5 ft, 9 in tall, appears to tower over most of the veterans in attendance. #
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gives field guidance to the Hydro-meteorological Service in Pyongyang on June 10, 2014. He was apparently unhappy with the performance of the forecasters, reportedly criticizing their "many incorrect forecasts", and saying that "only when meteorological observation and forecast are done properly, is it possible to protect the lives and properties of the people from disasters caused by the abnormal climatic phenomenon and prevent various fields of national economy including agriculture and fishery from natural disasters in good time." #
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Soldier-builders of KPA Units 966, 462, 101, 489, who took part in building the workers' hostel of Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Textile Mill, applaud during a photo session with Kim Jong Un on May 6, 2014. #
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Kim Jong Un is surrounded by female participants of the first meeting of the airpersons of the Korean People's Army (KPA) during a photo session in Pyongyang on April 17, 2014. #
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Kim Jong Un inspects KPA Unit 863 on June 14, 2014. Note the image used as wallpaper in the background is the same photo discovered to have been digitally altered last year. #
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