Podcst

The Religious Cult Behind North Korea’s Power (#303)

3 Takeaways™

Lynn Thoman

May 26, 2026

Show Notes

We think of North Korea as a communist dictatorship. But Jonathan Cheng, the Wall Street Journal’s China Bureau Chief and former Korea Bureau Chief, says that misses the real story.

He argues North Korea functions more like a religion - complete with rituals, worship, and a ruling family treated like immortals. Once you hear it, you can’t unsee it.

His new book is Korean Messiah.

The Religious Cult Behind North Korea’s Power (#303) — Podcst