Kim Jong-un Born: North Korea's Nuclear Ruler
Kim Jong-un inherited the world's most isolated dictatorship from his father in 2011 and rapidly consolidated power through purges, including the execution of his own uncle. Under his rule, North Korea accelerated its nuclear weapons program, conducting its most powerful tests and developing intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States. His 2018 summits with Donald Trump and Moon Jae-in produced dramatic optics but no lasting denuclearization agreement.
January 8, 1983
43 years ago
What Else Happened on January 8
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