North Korea will likely conduct major weapons tests ahead of the looming deadline for unfinished items at the end of this year, as Kim Jong Un’s five-year military development plan enters the homestretch.

NK Pro analysis has identified “super-large” nuclear warheads, multiple-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ICBMs as likely the most pressing projects for completion.

The DPRK’s ruling party is set to hold its ninth congress either at the end of this year or early 2026, leaving the country’s top weapons institutions about seven months to demonstrate deployment-ready products.