North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

KJI Attends Concerts with Internal Security Chiefs

Kim Jong Il sealed the recent changes to the country’s two principal internal security agencies by attending two (2) different concerts with the agencies’ respective managers.  First, Ryo’ngdoja took in a performance of the Song […]

Apr, 18

NK Denies Involvement in Sinking Cheonan (revised 18 April)

Military Commentator Denies Involvement in Ship Sinking  (KCNA17 April  2010) The DPRK has broken its three-week silence and officially denied sinking the ROK naval corvette.  Speculation and suspicion has swarmed the DPRK since the Cheonan […]

Apr, 17

KJI Concerned About "Unrest" in Early February Over Money Crunch (revised 18 April)

Choson Ilbo, citing a story from Open Radio for NK, reports that Kim Jong Il was worried about public discontent at a meeting in early February. At a meeting on Feb. 2 in which he […]

Apr, 16

KIS Birthday (A lot of water under the bridge)

The country held a relatively subdued celebration on Thursday (15 April) for the 98th birthday of the late DPRK President, Kim Il Sung.  Unlike the dual debauchery of the February celebrations for the Lunar New […]

Apr, 16
Cheonan Sinking Likely to Postpone 6PT Resumption

Cheonan Sinking Likely to Postpone 6PT Resumption

The Cheonan has been raised, and the investigation’s preliminary determination is that the sinking of the ROK naval corvette was caused by an external explosion.  Chang Jae-soon writes for Yonhap: “Rather than an internal explosion, […]

Apr, 16
Will Jong Un Indications Appear at KIS Birthday?

Will Jong Un Indications Appear at KIS Birthday?

Jiji reports that Kim Jong Un accompanied KJI at a fireworks celebrations for Kim Il Sung’s Birthday last April (2009).  The source was described as a person who was present at the events.  The report […]

Apr, 15

State Security Chief U Tong Chuk Promoted

National Defense Commission Member and Senior Deputy Director of the State Security Department, U Tong Chuk, was promoted to KPA General in this year’s military promotions list in honor of Kim Il Sung’s Birthday (15 […]

Apr, 14

KJI Watches KPA Exercises on Day of the Sun

Kim Jong Il observed the military exercises while issuing promotions for 100 KPA general-grade officers.  This was the largest 15 April Promotions List since 1997.  Yonhap reports: In a release carried by the KCNA, Kim […]

Apr, 14
New Study on Office #39

New Study on Office #39

The US Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute’s Letort Papers series (SSI and the Letort series produce fascinating and excellent scholarship) has published a comprehensive study on the activities of Office #39. In Criminal Sovereignty: […]

Apr, 14
June 2026
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
An affiliate of 38 North