Daniel W. Drezner links to Simon Sebag Montefiore's op-ed, which points to Stalin as the role model for Saddam and Il-jong.

[W]hat most unites this trinity of rulers is their will to lead a nuclear Great Power. Saddam and Kim see Stalin as the personification of success against overwhelming odds - and much more sophisticated countries - through the ruthless use of state power and by his own will.