Five things you might not know about Kim Jong-Il

North Korean state media recently announced the passing of the country's beloved dictator Kim Jong-Il. Here are five of the stranger things you might not know about their Dear Leader.

He had a ‘supernatural’ birth

According to North Korean historical literature, also known as Kim’s dreams, Kim Jong-Il’s birth was somewhat Jesus-like. He was born in a log cabin inside a secret base on Korea’s most sacred mountain, Mt. Paekdu.

According to myth absolute fact, at the moment of his birth, a bright star lit up the sky, the seasons spontaneously changed from winter to spring, and a double rainbow appeared above his log cabin. This is a tad different from the Western accounts of his birth, which state that Dear Leader was born in a guerrilla camp in Russia, while his aul lad was on the run from the Japanese.

He loved Hennessy

Back in the early 1990s, drinks giants Hennessy that Kim Jong Il was their ‘best customer’. He reportedly spent about $600,000 to $850,000 annually on the liquor.

He was partial to the ‘Paradis cognac’, which can sell for over $700 per bottle. Due to medical reasons, he had to give up his beloved Hennessy and instead he quaffed bottles of vintage Bordeaux wine.

Cheers to the time I scored 11 holes in one in my only ever round of golf

We all love him, like really love him

According to state-run media, Kim Jong Il is the most popular statesman in the present world, and people in countries all over the world celebrate his birthday with films and festivals. The one in Temple Bar this year was unforgettable.

He didn’t want to be the only person addicted to drugs

According to a book written by one of Kim Jong Il’s ex-staff members, he was once injured after falling off his horse when it slipped on loose rocks. His doctors prescribed him a course of painkillers but ‘Lil Kim was afraid he’d become addicted to them. Not wanting to become addicted all on his lonesome, he had members of his administrative staff injected daily with the same dosages he had to take. He did this so he wouldn’t be the only one who had to kick the habit if he did become addicted.

He liked to look at things

When he wasn't scoring the best round of golf in history, sending all the short people in the capital off to uninhabited islands or firing random 'warning' shots into South Korea, Kim Jong-Il liked to just look at things. Seriously. He'd often take whole weeks off work to just have a stroll and a gander. Check out Emmet Purcell's article on some of the stuff that Kim Jong-Il liked to look at.