North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

May Day Celebrations

DPRK Premier Choe Yong-rim visited the Namhu’ng Youth Chemical Complex in South P’yo’ngan (South Phyongan).  On 1 May [Sunday] Choe delivered the report at a national meeting held for the 121st May Day, which in […]

May, 05

DPRK Ambassador Attends William-Catherine Nuptials

DPRK Ambassador to Great Britain, Cha So’ng-nam [Ja Song Nam] attended the 29 April [Friday] wedding ceremony of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey.  Cha was one of the approximately 1,900 invited guests […]

May, 01

KPA’s 79th

On Sunday and Monday [24 and 25 April] the DPRK commemorated the 79th birthday of the Korean People’s Army [KPA].  KCNA published a statement about the anniversary and its “invincible army”: The Korean people are […]

May, 01

If I Were a Cadre and You Were a Lathe Machine Operator

DPRK media reported on 23 April that Kim Cho’ng-il made his first reported visit to the Najin Shipyard.  Yonhap reports: Kim “provided field guidance to the Rajin Shipyard” in the North’s northeastern port of Rajin, […]

Apr, 24
New FMD Outbreak

New FMD Outbreak

According to the DPRK government’s own reporting to international organizations, the country saw new cases of foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] in late Febraury and March.  Yonhap reports: A new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurred in […]

Apr, 24
People’s Security Minister Meets VN Counterpart

People’s Security Minister Meets VN Counterpart

Minister of People’s Security, Yi Myo’ng-su [Ri Myong Su], has discharged one of his first public acts since his appointment to the position at the SPA on 7 April.  Yi was reported by DPRK media […]

Apr, 24

KIS Birthday

With a 40-minute magic show at May Day Stadium, the DPRK began the final countdown to April 2012 which will mark the 100th anniversary of Kim Il-so’ng’s birth and a declaration of success in kangsong […]

Apr, 24

DPRK Premier Visits Yukyo’ng [Ryugyong] Hotel Site

DPRK Premier Ch’oe Yo’ng-nim visited the construction of the Yukyo’ng Hotel [Ryugyong Hotel].  DPRK press belatedly reported on 11 April [Monday] that Premier Ch’oe visited two locations in Pyongyang on 6 April [Wednesday] the day […]

Apr, 13

12th SPA’s 4th Session Elects New NDC Member, MPS

The 4th session (plenum) of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] convened Thursday [7 April] at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.  Neither Kim Cho’ng-il nor Kim Cho’ng-u’n attended the meeting.  Defying the speculative pronouncements […]

Apr, 07
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