Kim Jong Un’s striking weight loss and train-mounted missile systems dominated headlines on North Korea this year, but all the while, a number of other issues have festered quietly in the background.

From reports of secret inter-Korean correspondence to the DPRK’s potential preparations for a satellite launch and mounting food problems, these overlooked developments from throughout 2021 could prove to be explosive in the year to come.

In all likelihood, we’ll soon have a better idea about North Korea’s direction for the coming year from a lengthy state media report in the