Analysis
Latest NK PRO analysis related to the DPRK
Back with a bang: North Korea’s missile test is a sign of things to come in 2022
Short-range missile launches present new challenges to existing defense systems, but Kim knows he can get away scot-free
January 5, 2022
4 flights, 63 defectors and 670K barrels of oil: North Korea’s 2021 in numbers
Data tells the story of a year in which DPRK retreated even further inward as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on
January 5, 2022
A foreign media failure? Evaluating 10 years of the AP bureau in Pyongyang
Journalists and experts say access has worsened, but most insist that on-the-ground reporting remains valuable
January 4, 2022
Timeline: From Kim’s plenum speech to updated plans for war with North Korea
NK Pro timeline charts the key events from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
January 3, 2022
Promotions at party meeting reinforce North Korea’s focus on economic challenges
State media reported 45 promotions that broadly align with the country’s policy directions, albeit with some exceptions
January 3, 2022
Kim Jong Un’s plenum speech displays striking lack of new economic ideas
North Korea is prioritizing central control, rolling back reforms in ways that hurt markets and economic autonomy
January 1, 2022
Piranhas, purges and porn: The worst rumors of Kim Jong Un’s decade in power
Hearsay and misinformation on North Korea routinely circulates as news, warping perception of the country
December 31, 2021
Kim Jong Un skips full year of military drills and missile tests for first time
Health issues likely played a role in abnormally inactive year for North Korean leader
December 31, 2021
Trouble a-brewin’: Overlooked North Korea developments set to boil over in 2022
Missile launches stole spotlight, but nuclear reactor restart, food problems and other issues don’t bode well for future
December 31, 2021
US-China rivalry risks derailing efforts to declare an end to the Korean War
Beijing may seek to use end-of-war issue to undermine US influence, fueling Washington’s skepticism about an agreement
December 31, 2021
