Kim Jong Un Shifts Image to Global Player From Isolated Pariah

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s presence amid the pomp of Beijing’s military parade marks another milestone in his transformation from isolated pariah to a global player benefiting from strengthened ties with his allies.

For much of the past decade, Kim has been the archetype of international isolation, a dictator locked out of international forums and subjected to biting sanctions. His country’s nuclear weapons development and human rights abuses cemented that narrative.