North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

Military Security Commander Promoted

Jo Kyong Chol, Director of the Military Security Command, [MSC] has been promoted from Colonel-General (sangjang) to General (taejang).  Gen. Jo was observed with four stars on his collar during Kim Jong Un’s (Kim Cho’ng-u’n’s) inspection of Korean […]

May, 20

Kim Jong Un Observes KPA Air and Anti Force Flight Drill Competition

  Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu) watched a flight drill competion conducted by commanding officers of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Air and Anti-Air Force.  KJU’s last […]

May, 11

The Secretarial Pool

There have been several changes to the membership of the WPK Secretariat which occurred during  the meeting of the WPK Political Bureau on April 8, 2014.  After the Political Bureau met, state media did not dislcose […]

May, 06
A New Party Economic Department?

A New Party Economic Department?

A 15 April 2012 satellite image shows the Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee Office Complex #1 in central Pyongyang. RFA, according to anonymous sources, reports that a new Department of the Economy was established in […]

Jul, 17

New Vice Premier Appointed

Minister of Chemical Industry, Yi Mu-yo’ng (Ri Mu Yong), was appointed Vice Premier of the Cabinet.  Ri was first elected to the SPA in 1998 and was elected a member of the Party Central Committee […]

Jun, 01

NDC Statement Pronounces DPRK “Will Never Deal With” Lee Myung-bak

The National Defense Commission issued a statement announcing that “the DPRK will launch a nationwide offensive  to put an end to the moves of the Lee group to escalate confrontation with the DPRK.”  The NDC […]

May, 31

Kim Jong Un Resurfaces

When a train crossed the DPRK-PRC border on 26 May, the occupant was said to be Kim Cho’ng-u’n.  Pyongyang watchers widely anticipated the hereditary successor’s sojourn to the PRC in 2011, similar to Kim Cho’ng-il’s […]

May, 30

Kim Jong Il’s Return

Kim Cho’ng-il has returned to the DPRK via Dandong.  His third trip to the PRC in less than year remains open to interpretation.  Two events scheduled on either end of the DPRK-PRC border intended to […]

May, 28

New DPRK Ambassador to Czech Republic

Ri Kwang Il has been appointed the DPRK’s new ambassador to the Czech Republic.  Ri previously served as a deputy director of the DPRK Institute for Disarmament and Peace.  He replaces Ri Pyo’ng-kap (Ri Pyong […]

May, 28
June 2026
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