For a certain segment of the population, knowledge of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il is probably limited to the raunchy puppet movie Team America: World Police. Obviously, this is bad. But it can be hard to understand why we should care about other countries? leadership, even if we know we should. (Many people have a similar philosophy about eating broccoli.)

Tonight, the National Geographic Channel will make it easy to learn ? with the TV equivalent of hot, melted cheese for your veggies ? with Explorer: Inside North Korea.

Correspondent Lisa Ling goes undercover in the heavily fortified country with a Nepalese eye surgeon. The story of a doctor restoring sight to patients with cataracts is heartwarming, but you?ll need the warm fuzzies to shake the chill of seeing what life is like in the world?s most secretive country.

North Koreans compete to heap praise upon their "Dear Leader" and show gratitude for all he has done for them ? as the camera shows how little that truly is.

Especially chilling is one man?s story about escaping the country ? by wriggling under an electric fence.

Scarier than a horror movie, the episode will air at 9 tonight on National Geographic.

? Speaking of barbarians, the History Channel is showing some love to the brutes this week with nightly specials.

The Vandals, Saxons, Huns, Mongols ? all the real baddies ? will be featured at 8 and 9 nightly. For a full lineup, visit www.history.com.

? February is over, and some network cupboards are bare after all the "sweeps" stunts. Grey?s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Men in Trees and Desperate Housewives ? all on ABC ? are repeats, as are The Office and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC.

But Jericho (CBS), Lost (ABC), Heroes (NBC) and Medium (NBC) are all new, so the TV week isn?t a total loss. Also, Crossing Jordan moves to 9 p.m. Wednesdays; and Friday brings the season finale of the recently renewed Las Vegas at 9 p.m. on NBC, including WCMH-TV (Channel 4).

My final plea is to watch Tina Fey?s comedy 30 Rock before it leaves the schedule next week. Bonus: A new episode will air at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, with a repeat at 10:30, on NBC.

Each Monday, Dispatch TV writer Molly Willow previews the coming week.

mwillow@dispatch.com?