North Korea has flexed its muscles again today, carrying out a nuclear hydrogen bomb test that has prompted international outcry.

But what do we really know about the leader of the notoriously secretive country, Kim Jong-un ?

Much of Kim's early life remains a mystery but he is thought to have been born in 1983 or 1984.

History: It is not known exactly how old Kim is, but estimates say he's in his early 30s

He was the third and youngest son of his late father - and even more notorious - Kim Jong-Il and was born to his second mistress, Ko Young Hee.

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When he's not threatening the US or South Korea, Kim turns up in some very bizarre headlines as stories of his strange behaviour seep out.

Here we look at some of the oddest tales associated with the despot.

Secret education

Schooling: As a boy he attended a number of schools in Europe

Kim secretly attended two schools in Switzerland under the pseudonym Pak-un, where he is said to have been good at music and technical studies - and bad at maths and science.

During his time at the Liebefeld-Steinholzi school, staff had not idea who his father was.

They were continually fobbed off with various excuses by the teenage pupil’s shadowy chaperones about why his parents could not attend end of term meetings.

He once got in trouble when a teacher, checking pupils’ bags for cheat notes before an exam, caught him with a bondage porn mag.

He loves Manchester United

Football: Kim Jong-Un is a Manchester United supporter, it emerged

North Korea's head was outed as a Manchester United fan in 2014.

He ordered state TV to broadcast the team's matches, which observers claim are being illegally streamed.

Other changes to the normally staid TV schedules include the introduction of shows on how to ride a horse, how to play golf, and, from Germany’s Bundesliga, even more football.

Flash food and paranoia

Diet: Kim inspecting Kumkop General Foodstuff Factory for Sports Persons (
Image:
Rex)

Former chef Kenji Fujimoto revealed the leader has expensive tastes, drinks bottles of £175 Cristal Champagne and eats expensive Kobe steak.

Thanks to his time in Switzerland he has a passion for Emmental cheese and reportedly imports it specially.

When it comes to more mundane food, Kim is said to demand every piece of lettuce is meticulously inspected before it passes his lips as he lives in fear of being poisoned.

The North Korean dictator's paranoia has apparently soared to such a lofty level that has ordered scientists to examine all vegetables under a microscope.

All the vegetables Jong-un eats are grown on his own exclusive farm, called "6.17", in Pyongyang, but a source close to him says he's taking no chances.

Medical miracles

Healthy: North Korea has made a number of claims to curing diseases no-one else has

Kim claims his scientists have invented an app to diagnose most diseases.

The dictator also boasts of synthetic foods designed to solve the country’s chronic shortages and a snow-plough that runs on water.

Kim says the Myonguiwon 3.0 phone app can pinpoint 1,200 diseases, offer preliminary diagnosis concerning 30 major symptoms and offer help for at least 350 other general illnesses.

He also claims to have produced a single drug which can prevent and cure Aids , Ebola, Sars and Mers.

The official Korean Central News Agency said scientists developed miracle drug Kumdang-2 from ginseng and other ingredients - without saying which.

North Korea claimed the same drug cured deadly bird flu outbreaks in 2006 and 2013.

Taste in women

Chosen: North Korea's premier pop group, the all-girl Moranbong band (
Image:
AFP/Getty Images)

Kim pulled the plug on a girl band's tour of China after rumours circulated he was sleeping with one of the singers.

The despot hand-picked the 21 member group from army personnel for three concerts to build ties between the two countries, before cancelling at the last moment.

He also demanded female stewards on board his country's airline wear shorter skirts.

Kim called for women cabin crew on Air Koryo to show more leg after personally overseeing a change in the company's uniform.

They now wear figure-hugging blue uniforms with short skirts and high heels for journeys on the fleet of outdated planes, despite the average ticket price being 250 times the average monthly wage for a worker in the country.

He loves basketball

Friends:Kim and former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman at a basketball game (
Image:
Getty)

Kim supports the Chicago Bulls, with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant among his heroes.

The dictator is friends with former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who has been to visit Kim in North Korea several times.

School friends say he was “obsessed” with basketball and showed “absolutely no interest” in politics.

He was the “fiercely competitive” star of his school team, and 'hated to lose'.

Film fan

Kung-fu: Kim is reportedly a big fan of Jackie Chan films

His favourite film star during his time at school was kung fu king Jackie Chan and he spent hours watching his action movies.

He also watched a lot of James Bond films, it is claimed.

Sibling rivalry

Kim's sister was reportedly sacked from her job overseeing his security after a series of mishaps.

In one incident, the secretive state's brutal leader was almost hit in the face with a guitar.

Kim Yo-jong, 26, managed the security of her brother's operation alongside a role of managing his image throughout North Korea.

Ambitious plans

Schemes: Despite its reputation, Kim is said to want to bring more tourists into North Korea (
Image:
getty)

North Korea gives much of the rest of the world the cold shoulder, but Kim still hopes to attract more tourists with a number of ambitious - if not bizarre - plans.

For one thing, he wants to turn his hermit state into the surfing capital of the world.

He has given permission for a surfing camp to be held on the state’s east coast, with the help of 20 advanced surfers from the US, Italy, China and Germany.

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