When it comes to North Korea, the biggest stories of 2020 are steeped in the country’s ongoing struggle with COVID-19 border closures, a global economic downturn and the brunt of international sanctions.

But beyond these headlines, the country also navigated a record-breaking U.S. presidential election, rumors about Kim Jong Un’s health and its own newfound capabilities in the world of weapons, space and cyberwarfare.

That’s why NK News came up with a list of this year’s most important or gripping stories. Here’s a curated list of stories you don’t want to miss, hand-picked by staff reporters and editors:

Rumors explained: