You've seen the headlines. Another missile test. Another grainy photo of a command center. But honestly, if you're still looking at North Korea through the lens of 2018 or even 2022, you’re missing the actual story. Kim Jong Un 2025 isn't just a continuation of the old "hermit kingdom" tropes; it’s the year the regime fundamentally pivoted.
The guy has been busy. In fact, Kim logged more public appearances in 2025 than he has in nearly a decade. We’re talking 131 reported outings. That’s a lot of ribbon-cutting and "on-site guidance" for someone the internet periodically rumors to be on his deathbed.
The Russia Pivot: It’s Not Just About Shells
People keep talking about the artillery shells. Yes, North Korea sent millions of them to Russia. But by late 2025, this relationship morphed into what Kim himself called a "most sincere" alliance. This is a big deal. For decades, North Korea played China and Russia against each other. Now? They’ve picked a side.
In April 2025, Pyongyang finally admitted what intelligence agencies had been whispering about for months: they sent actual boots on the ground to Russia. Not just a few advisors, but thousands of soldiers, including the elite "Storm Corps."
What does Kim get for sending his young men into a meat grinder? It's not just cash. He’s getting Russian "know-how." We're seeing the fingerprints of Russian tech in their new Hwasong-20 solid-propellant ICBMs. This isn't just speculation; the 38 North analysts have been tracking the rapid-fire hardware reveals that happened throughout the final quarter of 2025.
🔗 Read more: Johnny Somali AI Deepfake: What Really Happened in South Korea
Domestic Chaos: The Rice and Won Problem
While Kim is playing global statesman, the situation at home is, frankly, kind of a mess.
If you want to know how North Korea is actually doing, look at the price of rice. In 2025, the price of a kilogram of rice hit roughly 19,000 KPW. Two years ago? It was 5,000. That is a staggering level of inflation. The North Korean won basically collapsed against the dollar, plummeting from 8,000 to 36,000 in a year.
To fix this, Kim is trying something weirdly pragmatic. He’s basically ditching the old socialist ration system. Instead of the state handing out food (which it doesn't have), it's starting to pay workers and farmers in actual cash. It’s an ad-hoc capitalism that the regime is forced to tolerate because the alternative is total starvation and collapse.
The 20x10 Policy: Kim's Signature Obsession
You might have heard of the "Regional Development 20x10 Policy." It sounds like corporate jargon, but it’s basically Kim's attempt to prove he’s a "father of the people." The goal is to build modern industrial factories in 20 counties every year for ten years.
💡 You might also like: Sweden School Shooting 2025: What Really Happened at Campus Risbergska
In late 2025, Kim spent an enormous amount of time visiting these sites. He even publicly "rapped" (state media’s word, not mine) officials for delays on the Pyongyang General Hospital. He’s trying to shift the narrative from "Nuclear Dictator" to "Builder of Hospitals."
- September 2025: Kim visits the hospital site, berating officials for their "desire for fame" over actual results.
- October 2025: The "Development of Light Industry-2025" exhibition opens in Pyongyang, showcasing 68,000 daily necessities.
- December 2025: Kim declares the five-year plan "fulfilled," though the reality on the ground in rural areas remains pretty grim.
The "Little General" is Growing Up
We have to talk about Kim Ju Ae. The daughter.
By the end of 2025, she had made over 600 public appearances since her debut. She’s not just a "cute kid" in the background anymore. She is being framed as the successor. Intelligence reports from late 2025 show her standing in places previously reserved only for the leader. Kim is using her to humanize the regime, but also to signal to the old-guard generals that the Kim bloodline isn't going anywhere.
Why 2025 Was a Turning Point
For the first time since the 2019 summit with Trump failed, Kim seems to have stopped waiting for the West. The "Kim Jong Un 2025" strategy is one of total self-reliance backed by a Russian safety net.
📖 Related: Will Palestine Ever Be Free: What Most People Get Wrong
He’s not looking for a deal anymore. He’s looking for recognition as a "de facto" nuclear power, similar to Pakistan.
What to watch for next:
- The 9th Party Congress: Expected in early 2026, this is where Kim will unveil the next five-year plan. Expect even more focus on conventional weapons modernization.
- Submarine Tech: In late 2025, Kim was spotted overseeing an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine. If that thing becomes operational, the security math in the Pacific changes overnight.
- South Korean Instability: With the political upheaval in Seoul during 2025, Kim has found a vacuum. He is institutionalizing a "state-to-state" relationship with the South, effectively treating them as a foreign enemy rather than "misguided brothers."
If you’re trying to keep up with North Korea, stop waiting for a "collapse." Start looking at the new "Northern Axis" of Russia, China, and Iran. Kim Jong Un is no longer a rogue actor on the fringes; he’s an integrated partner in a new global friction point.
To stay ahead of these developments, monitor the official KCNA readouts for mentions of "tactical nuclear missions" for the Air Force—a new doctrine Kim pushed in late 2025 that suggests he's ready to use smaller nukes on the battlefield, not just as a deterrent.