North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

9th Party Congress Delegates Arrive in PY

Feb, 16

Ain’t No Congress Like a Party Congress

State media reported on January 24, 2026 that the first two phases of electing delegates to the 9th Party Congress took place during January.   The first phase involved meetings of basic party organizations like […]

Jan, 24

Ri Il Hwan, where you at?

Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Secretary Ri Il Hwan (Ri Il-hwan) has not appeared at public events or state media in about four weeks.  This is not necessarily a lengthy absence for a North Korean […]

Feb, 12

Kim Ki Nam Funeral Committee

Kim Ki Nam, former DPRK propaganda and culture chieftain, passed away due to old age and chronic health (“decrepitude and multiple organ dysfunction,” according to KCNA) at the age of 94 in Pyongyang on 7 […]

May, 08

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

Central Committee Plenum Holds Break-out Sessions

The 7th plenum of the 8th Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Central Committee held sideline consultative policy meetings on 28 February (Tuesday). “Sectional study and consultative meetings to frame scientific, realistic and dynamic measures for […]

Mar, 01

KJU Attends Disaster Response Meeting

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n; KJU) chaired a meeting on the DPRK’s disaster prevention programs at the 25 April House of Culture on 4 and 5 September (Sunday and Monday).  The meeting was held for […]

Sep, 07

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