EPISODE · May 4, 2026 · 21 MIN
The unlikely resurgence of Kim Jong Un
from Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
In 2020, North Korea was at a low point. Crippled by COVID border closures, its Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un tried and failed to negotiate sanctions relief. A tearful, apologetic speech at a military rally fuelled speculation that his leadership was in peril. But today, Kim is a resurgent figure, having fostered closer ties with Beijing and Moscow and seen off his internal rivals. With powerful neighbours and a developing nuclear arsenal, Kim appears willing to take more risks in the region. Guest: Dr Jung H. Pak, historian and analyst, former officer with the CIA and the US State Department, author of Becoming Kim Jong UnProducer: Jack Schmidt
What this episode covers
In 2020, North Korea was at a low point. Crippled by COVID border closures, its Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un tried and failed to negotiate sanctions relief. A tearful, apologetic speech at a military rally fuelled speculation that his leadership was in peril. But today, Kim is a resurgent figure, having fostered closer ties with Beijing and Moscow and seen off his internal rivals. With powerful neighbours and a developing nuclear arsenal, Kim appears willing to take more risks in the region. Guest: Dr Jung H. Pak, historian and analyst, former officer with the CIA and the US State Department, author of Becoming Kim Jong Un Producer: Jack Schmidt
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The unlikely resurgence of Kim Jong Un
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