North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Fork(lift) Around and Find Out

  Kim Jong Un (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n), his family and senior party officials, visited the construction of the Memorial Museum of Overseas Military Operations on  5 January (Monday).  In something we might expect from the […]

Jan, 08

The Kids Stay in the Picture

Despite prior hiccups and commotion about the families of North Korean elites attending public events, the spouses, children and grandchildren of top DPRK officials came out to the New Year’s performance on 31 December.  In […]

Jan, 02

KJU Visits Ku’msusan with his family

Kim Jong Un (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n), joined by his wife Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu) and daughter Kim Ju Ae (Kim Chu-a’e), visited Ku’msusan Palace of the Sun (KPS) on 1 January 2026 (Thursday) to […]

Jan, 01

KJU Meets Shoigu

Kim Jong Un (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) met Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Security Council on 21 March (Friday).  This was Shoigu’s third visit to the DPRK since July 2023 and his second within the […]

Mar, 27

Plenary Personnel

North Korea made a series of personnel changes during the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) 11th plenary session, held December 23-December 27.  Although some analyses make far too much of the correlation between personnel and […]

Jan, 04

Memorial Events Held to Mark Death of Marshal Hyon Chol Hae

DPRK elites marked the one-year anniversary of the death of KPA Marshal Hyon Chol Hae (Hyo’n Ch’o’l-hae) on 19 May (Friday). Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n; KJU) and Minister of National Defense Gen. Kang Sun […]

May, 21

FM Issues Statement on human rights critique ahead of joint exercises

The DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement on 13 March (Monday) ahead of the kick-off of US-ROK joint exercises, Freedom Shield and Warrior Shield.  The Foreign Ministry said:   The Foreign Ministry of the DPRK […]

Mar, 14

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