North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

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

3 Y3ars of the Respected Daughter

It has been just over three years since Kim Ju Ae, daughter of supreme leader Kim Jong Un (KJU), emerged into North Korean public life.   Her first public appearance at a ballistic missile test […]

Dec, 20

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

KJU Inspects Storm Damage in Kangwo’n Province (revised)

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited Anbyo’n County, Kangwo’n to inspect storm damage from the Khanun typhoon.  Also in attendance were DPRK Premier Kim Tok Hun (Kim Tok-hun), Workers’ Party of Korea Secretary for Organizational […]

Aug, 15

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

Final Day of the Central Committee Plenum

The fourth and final day of the 7th plenary meeting of the 8th Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Central Committee was held at the conference hall of the Central Committee Office Building  on 1 March […]

Mar, 03

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