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February 05, 2025

Analysis

Leading experts analyze recent events and affairs involving North Korea

What to make of Kim Jong Un’s reported messages to troops fighting Ukraine

What to make of Kim Jong Un’s reported messages to troops fighting Ukraine

Release of handwritten notes from fallen soldiers is part of Kyiv’s efforts to highlight DPRK involvement in war

What to make of Kim Jong Un’s reported messages to troops fighting Ukraine
Shreyas Reddy
Shreyas Reddy January 20, 2025
Why guidance systems are the Achilles’ heel of North Korea’s missile arsenal
NK PRO

Why guidance systems are the Achilles’ heel of North Korea’s missile arsenal

Analysis of launch sites suggests DPRK relies on systems that leave its missiles vulnerable to preemptive strikes

Why guidance systems are the Achilles’ heel of North Korea’s missile arsenal
Decker Eveleth
Decker Eveleth January 17, 2025
Why North Korea’s United Front Department likely survived anti-unification push
NK PRO

Why North Korea’s United Front Department likely survived anti-unification push

Title and ranking of Ri Son Gwon suggest he still leads a department, despite Seoul’s claims that UFD was downgraded

Why North Korea’s United Front Department likely survived anti-unification push
Martin Weiser
Martin Weiser January 16, 2025
How North Korea compels citizens to spy on each other with new surveillance law
NK PRO

How North Korea compels citizens to spy on each other with new surveillance law

Revision to Mass Reporting Act targets activities that undermine regime, reflecting Kim Jong Un’s growing paranoia

How North Korea compels citizens to spy on each other with new surveillance law
Peter Ward
Peter Ward January 14, 2025
Why honoring North Koreans killed in Ukraine war could pose major risk to regime

Why honoring North Koreans killed in Ukraine war could pose major risk to regime

Mounting casualties imperil Kim Jong Un’s ability to maintain secrecy around sensitive deployment to Russia

Why honoring North Koreans killed in Ukraine war could pose major risk to regime
Colin Zwirko
Colin Zwirko January 10, 2025
Forecast 2025: Why Kim Jong Un’s market crackdowns will spark social unrest
NK PRO

Forecast 2025: Why Kim Jong Un’s market crackdowns will spark social unrest

In second of two-part series, NK Pro predicts economic crisis, AI in state media, a U-turn on foreign tourists and more

Forecast 2025: Why Kim Jong Un’s market crackdowns will spark social unrest
NK Pro
NK Pro January 10, 2025
Forecast 2025: Why Trump-Kim diplomacy will leave South Korea out in the cold
NK PRO

Forecast 2025: Why Trump-Kim diplomacy will leave South Korea out in the cold

In first of two-part series, NK Pro lays out what to expect from North Korea in year ahead, and potential black swans

Forecast 2025: Why Trump-Kim diplomacy will leave South Korea out in the cold
NK Pro
NK Pro January 9, 2025
Forced to fight: How North Korea’s troop dispatch to Russia abuses human rights

Forced to fight: How North Korea’s troop dispatch to Russia abuses human rights

Experts say 12K soldiers waging war against Ukraine are both violators and victims, acting under undefiable orders

Forced to fight: How North Korea’s troop dispatch to Russia abuses human rights
Ifang Bremer
Ifang Bremer January 7, 2025
North Korea pushes to perfect hypersonic tech with first missile launch of 2025
NK PRO

North Korea pushes to perfect hypersonic tech with first missile launch of 2025

Test of composite materials and guidance systems offers new insights into Kim Jong Un’s ambitions for advanced weapons

North Korea pushes to perfect hypersonic tech with first missile launch of 2025
Ankit Panda
Ankit Panda January 7, 2025
What Kim Jong Un’s candid admission of failure says about his economic approach
NK PRO

What Kim Jong Un’s candid admission of failure says about his economic approach

North Korean leader has embraced self-reflection as a strategy for winning trust, while doubling down on central control

What Kim Jong Un’s candid admission of failure says about his economic approach
Peter Ward
Peter Ward January 2, 2025