The hidden human cost of Kim Jong Un’s newfound power

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae attend a commissioning ceremony for the destroyer Kang Kon at Wonsan Port in North Korea's Kangwon Province on Sept. 6. | KCNA / KNS / VIA AFP-JIJI

Sep 20, 2026

Seoul – His nation is now a de facto nuclear power. Its economy is growing at the fastest pace in years. He has been courted by the leaders of China, Russia and the United States.

Kim Jong Un, the North Korean dictator, has emerged as an unlikely winner of the post-pandemic era. And his newfound strength rests on the systematic exploitation of his own people, which is actively facilitated by Moscow and Beijing.

By supplying troops and ammunition for Russia’s war in Ukraine, Kim is estimated to be reaping billions of dollars. Russia is repaying Pyongyang in advanced military technology and critical commodities like flour, pork and oil — goods his regime can then resell at home for profit.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.