North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Morningstar General's Birthday Toasted to Perfection

Was Kim Jong-un’s birthday an invisible event?  There were not parades or fireworks in Pyongyang this past Friday, and a list of editorials or Party statements has not yet appeared in the North Korean press.  […]

Jan, 11

Not Beijing Bound?

Yonhap quotes an anonymous ROK Official who says that, “Kim Jong-il won’t make a visit to China soon.”  A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said earlier this week of the trip, “I haven’t heard any such […]

Jan, 09
You Say It's Your Birthday

You Say It's Your Birthday

UPDATE Sam Kim has a great report in Yonhap about a Friday Rodong Sinmun editorial that callson North Korean citizens to “toast, toast to the endlessly bright future of Chosun (North Korea) that will resemble […]

Jan, 08
VMAR Pak Ki-so Dies

VMAR Pak Ki-so Dies

VMAR Pak Ki-so passed away at the age of eighty (80).  At the time of his death VMAR Pak was retired from political life, although he was still a member of the KWP Central Committee […]

Jan, 07
DPRK Succession's in the Stars

DPRK Succession's in the Stars

Kim So-hyun in The Korea Herald has a good report on succession which include a reference to a “morningstar: Venus, also known as the morning star,” shed an unusually bright light above the Chonji before […]

Jan, 06

KWP Provincial Secretary and former Public Security Minister Dies

A successor is certainly needed on the Kangwon Provincial KWP Committee. On 26 December, KCNA published the obituary of Kangwon KWP Provincial Chief Secretary Ri Chol-bong.  Mr. Ri was a KPA veteran and “held the […]

Jan, 05

The Ghost of the Morningstar General Haunts the New Year

Daily NK put 2009 to bed with a report on a new paper by the venerable Jeong Sung-jang.  Jeong Sung-jang predicts that 2010 will see an official announcement of Kim Jong-un’s succession after a meeting […]

Jan, 05

Gen. Kim Jong-gak's Rising Star

2009 saw some major shifts in KPA and security apparatus personnel appointments.  The 73-year old VMAR Kim Yong-chun replaced the 76-year old VMAR Kim Il-chol as Minister of the PAF.  Gen. O Kuk-ryol became a […]

Dec, 25

Where is VMAR Kim Yong-chun?

Yonhap reports that VMAR Kim Yong-chun, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and Vice Chair of the National Defense Commission did not appear on the rostrum for a meeting at the 25 April House of […]

Dec, 24
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