In school, Kim Jong-un couldn't speak English, failed exams

He is the heir poised to become the next leader of rogue state North Korea.

But a probe into the school days of Kim Jong-un — youngest son of dictator Kim Jong Il, shows that couldn’t speak English, failed his exams, loved playing basketball and computer games.

The baby-faced 28-year-old first stepped out of his father's shadow in September last year to appear in public in the capital Pyongyang as thousands of goose-stepping troops marched by to mark the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers Party.

Kim Jong-un spent his youth in Switzerland and attended Liebefeld School near Berne, reports the Daily Mail.

Now, the world will have to see whether his prolonged exposure to the west and its values during his school days in Switzerland have imbued him with any democratic values that might bring his decrepit and starving country back into the international fold after years of isolation.

But the signs are not good. Despite having thousands of pounds lavished on his education at a top private school in Switzerland, he didn't leave with even the equivalent of a single GCSE.

When he was just 15 his father took him out of the costly International School Of Berne, where fees now cost around £16,000 a year.

He moved him to a nearby state school to save money but he was quickly put in the lower tier in class.

Wearing Nike trainers, a Chicago Bulls sweatshirt and jeans, he was introduced to Class 6A by the headmistress of Liebefeld-Steinholzi School near Berne.

She said: "Boys and girls, this is Un Pak. He comes from North Korea and he is the son of a diplomat."

Kim Jong-un took the empty seat next to Portuguese diplomat's son Joao Micaelo and the pair became friends.

Joao, who now works as a chef, said: "We weren't the dimmest kids in class, but neither were we the cleverest. We were always in the second tier."

Kim Jong-un was reportedly a huge basketball fan during his time in Switzerland, Michael Jordan being among his favourite players.

"He left without getting any exam results at all. He was much more interested in football and basketball than lessons.

The North Korean Embassy in Berne sent back reports on his son's friendships and influences to his father and intelligence chiefs back in North Korea. 

He in fact lived in a large flat at No 10 Kirchstrasse, a sedate suburban street with two pizza cafes, a bank and a co-op supermarket.