North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Internal Security and IC Changes

Two major organizational changes to North Korea’s (DPRK) intelligence community and internal security agencies have either begun or in an early phase.   The Ministry of State Security has been renamed the National Intelligence Agency […]

Jun, 05

Capital Defense Command

During the February 2026 parade marking the end of the 9th Party Congress and at a light infantry/tank/UAV exercise on March, DPRK state media referred to a Capital Defense Corps [CDC].  This is most likely […]

Mar, 31

Where dog soldiers are reflected

Several public events marked the  8 February anniversary of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) foundation, including Kim Jong Un (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visiting the defense ministry’s compound.  Anniversary events will occasionally bring out retired senior […]

Feb, 09

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

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

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

Changes to KPA Corps Commanders (corrected and revised 3 November 2025)

revised and corrected to reflect no change in XI Corps Command (SOF) and deleted  redundant photo to show KPA Strategic Force commander Kim Jong Gil The 10 October 2025 military parade marking the 80th anniversary […]

Oct, 15

Navigation

Please use the navigation to move within this section.

An affiliate of 38 North