North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Is KJU Shakin’ His Caracas?

The 3 January 2026 capture and transfer to the United States (US) of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is something which North Korea’s strategic and decisionmaking culture will be analyzing, discussing and responding to.   […]

Jan, 04

RPC’s Advisorial Relationship

Ri Pyong Chol (Ri Pyo’ng-ch’o’l) has been identified by that august of titles “General Advisor.”  During Kim Jong Un’s (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) 25-26 March inspection of the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex under the Academy of […]

Mar, 29

Premier Premiers

Newly appointed DPRK Premier Pak Thae Song (Pak T’ae-so’ng) took an oath during the 12th session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA], held 22 and 23 January.  Pak’s oath was a public act of […]

Jan, 27

KJU Observes Hypersonic IRBM Test

  Kim Jong Un (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) gave himself an early birthday present (8 January) and observed the test firing of an intermediate-range [IRBM] hypersonic missile during the early afternoon [KST] of 6 January.  Also […]

Jan, 06

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

Kim Yo Jong Attends MLRS Shell Test

Kim Yo Jong (Kim Yo’-cho’ng) attended a munitions test for a 240 mm MLRS system on 8 October (Tuesday).  Also in attendance was Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Munitions Industry Department [MID] Senior Deputy Director […]

Oct, 08

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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