How a quiet boy from North Korea became one of the world's scariest dictators

Reuters/KCNA KCNA

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un greets a women's subunit during a rocket-launching drill.

For the past 50 years, the world has grown used to crazy threats from North Korea that don't lead anywhere.

But the threats have taken a decidedly sharper and more ominous tone under Kim Jong Un, the third supreme leader of the hermit kingdom.

On Friday, North Korea carried out a fifth nuclear test that was timed to coincide with the 68th anniversary of the founding of the nation.

The nuclear test was the largest yet from the nation, and heralded a worrisome milestone for the secluded nation. Based on some estimates, the blast from the warhead was more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

The nuclear test signals a commitment on the part of Kim to press forward with the armament of his nation. The test comes just four days after Pyongyang launched ballistic missiles in defiance of the UN Security Council.

With all this attention, still relatively little is known of Kim. However, here is what we do know of how Kim Jong Un grew to be one of the world's most concerning world leaders.