Part 10/14:
Kim Il-sung’s death in 1994 left North Korea at a crossroads. Kim Jong-Il, his son, inherited the mantle amid economic collapse and famine. His rule was marked by paranoia, repression, and economic desperation, with millions facing starvation. In the shadows of this crisis, Kim Jong-Il’s obsession with movies and clandestine dealings—such as counterfeiting US currency and smuggling drugs—became tools to sustain the regime.
Kim Jong-Il’s efforts to solidify legitimacy included a relentless personality cult, statue-building, and orchestrated propaganda campaigns. His military provocations, including missile tests and political assassinations, made him a figure of both fear and intrigue—similar in some ways to a Hollywood villain.