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

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.