Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un is the supreme leader of North Korea, a nuclear-armed state. He is currently newsworthy due to a series of actions indicating a consolidation of power and an aggressive military posture. Recently, Kim has staged a public purge of senior military officials, signaling his intolerance for any perceived overreach of their economic power and reinforcing his absolute authority. Concurrently, he has announced plans to equip the navy with nuclear weapons and construct larger warships, demonstrating a commitment to expanding North Korea's nuclear capabilities. These developments occur amidst strengthening ties with Russia, with analysts suggesting potential ammunition shipments to Moscow and groundwork for a possible visit by Kim to Russia. Kim has also criticized Japan's military buildup and rebuked ASEAN's calls for denuclearization, highlighting North Korea's defiant stance on the international stage and its strategic hedging between Russia and China.