Jonathan Cheng
China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal and author researching North Korean history, discussing the Christian roots of Kim Il-sung and the personality cult in his book Korean Messiah.
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Mar 17, 2026 • 38min
IDF and Lebanon, Ukraine’s Fears, AI Data Centers, and a Korean Messiah
Jonathan Cheng, Wall Street Journal China bureau chief and author exploring North Korea’s history, explains Pyongyang’s surprising Christian roots. He connects missionary-era rituals to the formation of Kim Il-sung’s personality cult. Short conversations cover how religious language was repurposed, archival surprises, and why the cult endured across generations.
