"Obsessed with Nukes, Globally Isolated"... Foreign Media's Negative Assessment of 'Kim Jong-un's 10 Years'

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un is attending the Central Memorial Meeting held on the 17th at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, marking the 10th anniversary of his father, National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il. / Photo by Chosun Central TV capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Yeeun] Major global media outlets have issued negative assessments of the 10-year rule of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, who became North Korea's supreme leader at the age of 27.

On the 17th, marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, foreign media reports reflecting on the "10 years under Kim Jong-un" were released one after another.

AP News reported, "Chairman Kim has enhanced nuclear weapons capabilities and held summits with the U.S. president as North Korea's supreme leader, but now he is struggling to revive the economy, which has been devastated by strengthened sanctions, border closures, and mismanagement."

Chairman Kim was elevated to the top position as Supreme Commander of the People's Army on December 30, 2011, just 13 days after the death of his father, National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il. Since then, he poured resources into nuclear weapons development, achieving successive successes in nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches in 2016?2017.

However, AP News pointed out, "Since Chairman Kim's rise to power, North Korea's isolation in the international community has deepened, resulting in further strengthening of UN sanctions against North Korea."

British broadcaster BBC stated, "Many North Korean residents hoped for change with the emergence of a young leader, but North Korea has ultimately become a poorer and more isolated country," criticizing, "Chairman Kim had the power to grant freedom to the North Korean people, but the 25 million North Koreans have become more isolated from the international community than ever before instead of gaining freedom."

The British daily The Guardian also evaluated, "Under Kim Jong-un's leadership, North Korea has suffered unprecedented challenges caused by international sanctions, natural disasters, and COVID-19." It added, "The year that began with (Chairman Kim) being appointed to the position of General Secretary of the Workers' Party, a post held by his father, is ending amid fears over food shortages, a pandemic, and the economic situation."

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