North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Images of KPA Overseas Mission Return Performance

As part of a series of events held to mark the first group of military personnel returning from Russia, a performance was held at the 25 April House of Culture in Pyongyang on or around […]

Aug, 25

New Artillery Commander

Ryu Chang Son (Yu Chang-son) was appointed head of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Artillery Command. Ryu is a one-star Major General (sojang) and was longtime rector and dean of the O Jin U Military […]

Aug, 12

Guesstimating NK Troop Presence in Eastern Europe

According to the US Government, North Korea has about 12,000 personnel deployed to Russia.  Using the few, scant accurate details about the Korean People’s Army (KPA) deployment we might attain a general sense of the […]

Jan, 10

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

No Kwang Chol Returns as Defense Minister

Gen. No Kwang Chol (No Kwang-ch’o’l) was appointed Minister of National Defense during the 11th session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] held 7-8 October (Monday and Tuesday).  He replaces Gen. Kang Sun Nam […]

Oct, 08

New 1st Vice Chief of the General Staff

Lt. Gen. Jong Myong Do (Cho’ng Myo’ng-to) has been identified as 1st Vice Chief of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Staff in two 6 October state media reports on Kim Jong Un’s (KJU; Kim […]

Oct, 06

MID-le Managers

The Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Munitions Industry Department [MID] currently has two senior deputy directors (a/k/a 1st Vice Directors), Kim Jong Sik (Kim Cho’ng-sik) and Hong Sung Mu (Hong Su’ng-mu).  Kim was promoted some […]

Sep, 13

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