North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

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

Rodong’s 80th anniversary

Rodong Sinmun marked its 80th anniversary at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on Halloween.   Coming out to the event were a variety of DPRK journalists and editors, labor/people’s correspondents, cadres of the WPK […]

Nov, 13

PAD-ing Out a Purge?

According to Daily NK, the documentary video about Kim Jong Un’s (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visit to China was deemed a dud and the requisite personnel discipline has been implemented: Officials who edited documentary footage of Kim’s […]

Oct, 06

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

State media clarifies Ri Son Gwon Status

DPRK state media has identified Ri Son Gwon (Ri So’n-kwon) as a Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Central Committee Director.  During a 9 January banquet hosted for the student performing arts troupe representing Ch’ongryo’n (Chosen […]

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

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

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