By David Wallechinsky
Published: February 17, 2008

Courtesy: Parade.com

1. Kim Jong-il 

Country: North Korea
Age: 66
In Power Since 1994
Last Year’s Rank: 2

Kim Jong-il runs the most isolated, repressive regime in the world. His citizens have no access to information other than government propaganda. His harsh system includes collective punishment (three generations of a family can be punished for one member’s alleged crime); detainment of roughly 200,000 citizens in labor camps; and the capture, torture and jailing of those who try to flee to China.

U.S. LINK: Last year, Kim’s government carried out its pledge to the U.S. and other nations to shut down its nuclear reactors. However, it missed December’s deadline to disclose its full nuclear inventory.

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