Kim ruled North Korea as a repressive and totalitarian dictatorship. Kim assumed leadership during a period of catastrophic economic crisis amidst the dissolution of the Soviet Union, on which it was heavily dependent for trade in food and other supplies, which brought a famine. While the famine had ended by the late 1990s, food scarcity continued to be a problem throughout his tenure. Kim strengthened the role of the military by his Songun ("military-first") policies, making the army the central organizer of civil society. Kim's rule also saw tentative economic reforms, including the opening of the Kaesong Industrial Park in 2003. In April 2009, North Korea's constitution was amended to refer to him and his successors as the "supreme leader of the DPRK".
kim ruled north korea as a repressive and totalitarian dictatorship kim assumed leadership during a period of catastrophic economic crisis amidst the dissolution of the soviet union on which it was heavily dependent for trade in food and other supplies which brought a famine while the famine had ended by the late 1990s food scarcity continued to be a problem throughout his tenure kim strengthened the role of the military by his songun ("military-first") policies making the army the central organizer of civil society kim's rule also saw tentative economic reforms including the opening of the kaesong industrial park in 2003 in april 2009 north korea's constitution was amended to refer to him and his successors as the "supreme leader of the dprk"