North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un made a total of 23 reported public appearances in October and 20 in November of 2013. These numbers were just above and below Kim’s average for the year so far. While August and September visits were mainly to locations of economic significance or special projects, the focus of the DPRK leadership appearances in October and November was on the military.

The increase in the leadership’s attention to military matters accompanies the re-starting of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, the expansion of the Tonghae missile launch facility, and the digging of