Jonathan Cheng on the Realities of Uncovering North Korea

Today on the Gist, exploring the consequences of relocating Afghan allies to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Then, Wall Street Journal China Bureau Chief Jonathan Cheng is back to discuss the complexities of reporting on a closed society like North Korea, the strategic thinking behind the Kim dynasty's ruthless tactics, and what it’s actually like to attend church in Pyongyang. He is the author of Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult . Finally, in the spiel, we dive into the fascinating, brutal, and ultimately ineffective history of expert Korean stone throwers. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at ⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠ For Mike's daily takes on Substack,

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Jonathan Cheng on the Realities of Uncovering North Korea is an episode from The Gist by Mike Pesca.

This episode is 00:33:36 long.

This episode was published on Apr 21, 2026.

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