North Korea Professional Research Platform | NK PRO
NK Pro Logo
June 15, 2025Jun 15, 2025
Analysis

Trump lifted sanctions on Syria. But that playbook won’t work for North Korea.

Legal framework for DPRK sanctions makes it much harder for US to ease restrictions as part of future nuclear deal

Chad O'CarrollChad O'CarrollJune 13, 2025
Korea Pro Crisis banner

ANALYSIS & INVESTIGATIONS

State Media Review

North Korea insists its ‘not interested’ in exclusion from new Trump travel ban

An in-depth analysis of spurning US ‘carrots,’ mega resort renovations, a new wholesale market and Kim’s letter to Putin

North Korea insists its ‘not interested’ in exclusion from new Trump travel ban
Investigations

North Korea opens another luxury mall with bootleg Ikea and Starbucks copycat

Signs point to likely Japanese investment in newest Pyongyang shopping center for well-off in ‘communist’ DPRK

North Korea opens another luxury mall with bootleg Ikea and Starbucks copycat
Analysis

Why Kim Jong Un’s latest military reshuffle wasn’t tied to warship launch mishap

Demotion of politiburo chief and commander replacements appear to be culmination of North Korea’s anti-corruption drive

Why Kim Jong Un’s latest military reshuffle wasn’t tied to warship launch mishap
Analysis

High rollers: How North Korea could exploit casinos to finance nuclear weapons

With gaps in regulation and oversight, global casino industry offers Pyongyang potential pathways for sanctions evasion

High rollers: How North Korea could exploit casinos to finance nuclear weapons
NK Pro Banner
NK Pro Banner

MEDIA MONITORING

OPINION & ANALYSIS

North Korean media digitally erases ex-naval commander, shipyard manager from images after warship accident

North Korean media digitally erases ex-naval commander, shipyard manager from images after warship accident

North Korea appears to have doctored recent state media images to remove a top naval ...

Jun 14, 2025
Kim Jong-un calls to bolster production of new artillery shells for modern warfare

Kim Jong-un calls to bolster production of new artillery shells for modern warfare

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for expanding the production of a new type ...

Jun 14, 2025
A North Korean Refugee’s Journey - Pursuit of the Freedom to Learn

A North Korean Refugee’s Journey - Pursuit of the Freedom to Learn

By Yukyung Lim‍Yukyung is a participant of LiNK’s Intensive English Program (LIEP), designed ...

Jun 14, 2025
U.S. envoy visits Seoul ahead of G7, signals alignment on trade and North Korea

U.S. envoy visits Seoul ahead of G7, signals alignment on trade and North Korea

Sean O’Neill, senior official at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of East ...

Jun 13, 2025
North Korea relaunches capsized warship after botched ceremony

North Korea relaunches capsized warship after botched ceremony

North Korea held a launch ceremony for a newly built 5,000-ton-class destroyer on Thursday at ...

Jun 13, 2025