North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

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

Kim Jong Il Visits and Departs Beijing

Kim Cho’ng-il met with PRC President, Hu Jintao, during a brief stop in Beijing which also included a factory tour.  During his meeting with Hu, Kim Cho’ng-il advocated for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks […]

May, 26

Kim Jong Il Visits Nanjing

Kim Cho’ng-il’s trip to the PRC continued into its fifth day.  On Tuesday [24 May], Kim Cho’ng-il visited Nanjing for several hours which included a tour of an electronic industry factory.  Yonhap, via Korea Herald, […]

May, 24

Kim Jong Il Tours Sites in Yangzhou

The third and fourth day of Kim Cho’ng-il’s visit to China proceeded in Yangzhou, where he is staying in a state guest house.  During his stay in Yangzhou, he has reportedly toured several sites including […]

May, 23

Kim Jong Il Continues

Kim Cho’ng-il’s trip to the PRC continued into its second day in Changchun.  In a brief six-hour trip through the city KCI visited a car factory, according to Yonhap News Agency.  His train departed during […]

May, 22

Kim Jong Il Meets with SVR Chief

Kim Cho’ng-il met with Mikhail Fradkov, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, according to an 18 May [Thursday] report in DPRK media.  Fradkov served as Prime Minister of the Russian Federation from 2004 to 2007.  […]

May, 18

DPRK Premier Goes to South Hwanghae Province

DPRK Choe Yong-rim visited cooperative farms and production sites in South Hwanghae Province between 13 and 15 May.  KCNA also reported that Choe visited Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng, where he toured and conducted meetings at the […]

May, 18

Minister of People’s Security Meets PRC Ambassador

Minister of People’s Security Ri Myo’ng-su (Ri Myong Su) met with PRC Ambassador Liu Hongcai on 10 May at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.  Ambassador Liu was reported by his embassy as making a congratulatory […]

May, 17
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