Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
What if the key to understanding North Korea lies not in its missiles or diplomacy but in its unlikely historical connections to faith? Wall Street Journal China Bureau Chief Jonathan Cheng argues that the Kim regime is best understood as a quasi-religious movement, whose origins intersect with the legacy of American missionaries in early 20th-century Korea. Mr. Cheng’s new book, Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea’s Personality Cult, traces how Pyongyang's rich spiritual history intertwined with the rise of a dynasty that has maintained power for eight decades. Drawing on fresh archival discoveries, Mr. Cheng reconstructs the origins of North Korea. Join us for a discussion about the myths and realities behind the world's most secretive state.
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#aei #news #politics #government #education #livestream #live #northkorea #communism #dictatorship
What if the key to understanding North Korea lies not in its missiles or diplomacy but in its unlikely historical connections to faith? Wall Street Journal China Bureau Chief Jonathan Cheng argues that the Kim regime is best understood as a quasi-religious movement, whose origins intersect with the legacy of American missionaries in early 20th-century Korea. Mr. Cheng’s new book, Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea’s Personality Cult, traces how Pyongyang's rich spiritual history intertwined with the rise of a dynasty that has maintained power for eight decades. Drawing on fresh archival discoveries, Mr. Cheng reconstructs the origins of North Korea. Join us for a discussion about the myths and realities behind the world's most secretive state.
Subscribe to AEI's YouTube Channel
youtube.com/user/AEIVideos?sub_confirmation=1
Like us on Facebook
facebook.com/AEIonline
Follow us on Twitter
twitter.com/AEI
For more information
aei.org
AEI operates independently of any political party and does not take institutional positions on any issues. AEI scholars, fellows, and their guests frequently take positions on policy and other issues. When they do, they speak for themselves and not for AEI or its trustees or other scholars or employees.
More information on AEI research integrity can be found here: aei.org/about
#aei #news #politics #government #education #livestream #live #northkorea #communism #dictatorship
