GZERO World with Ian Bremmer North Korea's nuclear gamble pays off, with the WSJ's Jonathan Cheng
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Apr 18, 2026 
Jonathan Cheng, Beijing bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal and author of Korean Messiah, draws on on-the-ground reporting about the Kim dynasty. He discusses North Korea as a religiously framed state centered on a god-king. He talks about how nukes became Pyongyang’s insurance, visible succession planning for a young heir, and shifting regional alignments with China and Russia.
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Cult Rituals Produce Authentic Belief
- The cult's rituals and omnipresent imagery create genuine belief for many citizens who lack alternative information sources.
- Cheng compares the emotional displays for the Kims to real celebrity fandom and notes constant exposure to portraits, songs, scripture, and bowing reinforces faith.
Visits Were Carefully Curated Performances
- Jonathan Cheng visited North Korea twice and describes tightly controlled tourist/journalist experiences with staged banquets and selective site visits.
- He requested churches, nuclear sites, and an interview with Kim Jong-un; officials showed Italian restaurants and curated splendors instead.
Nukes Are Pyongyang's Ultimate Insurance
- Nuclear weapons have become North Korea's insurance against external intervention and punishment.
- Cheng says nukes and lifelines through China and Russia mean sanctions and threats 'can't touch us' in Pyongyang's calculus.