Kim Jong Il inherited power during one of the most difficult periods in North Korea’s history. The collapse of the Soviet Union deprived the country of economic support, while floods, droughts, and long-standing structural problems contributed to a devastating famine known as the “Arduous March.” His government accepted international food aid, tolerated the growth of informal markets, promoted the Songun (“military first”) policy, and expanded North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
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