North Korean propaganda claims that whatever Kim Jong Un says will be done. Many foreign observers replicate this account of his absolute power without voicing any doubt or looking for proof.

For them, understanding Kim’s personality is the key to understanding how to deal with North Korea. They also regard top-down diplomacy with North Korea as highly promising: just convince this one guy and a deal is done! 

To support their claim, they refer to the way propaganda stages power by presenting Kim Jong Un as the sole ruler and to statements by North