PREVIEW — Bruce Bechtol — Kim Jong-un's Vital Role in the Axis of Evil. Bechtol discusses how Kim Jong-un, despite international perceptions of him as a "clownish figure," is regarded with strategic seriousness by the "axis of evil," which now encompasses four nations. This respect stems from Pyongyang's formidable military capabilities, including a sophisticated arsenal of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, coupled with its demonstrated ability to manufacture and proliferate vital weapon systems required by axis partners throughout the region.