North Korea releases rare glimpse of Kim Jong Un touring secret nuclear weapons facility
USA TodaySEP 2024
N.Korea Releases First Images of Uranium Enrichment Facility
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The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Though Kim may seem like an irrational actor, he's simply using the only leverage he has in dealing with South Korea and the US. His nuclear ambitions are designed to seek political gains and sanctions relief after successive American administrations have derailed diplomatic routes to denuclearization.
Pro-establishment narrative
As much as North Korea wishes to flex its military potential and engage in bombastic rhetoric, it would be best for Pyongyang not to push this too far. The North is well known to suffer extreme economic hardship, and it's near-impossible for them to keep masking vulnerabilities with dangerous propaganda and military activity.