Analysis
Latest NK PRO analysis related to the DPRK
On cautious footing: Where North Korea-China ties stand after a year of detente
Kim Jong Un’s high-profile trip to Beijing underscored a push to normalize relations, but practical limits remain
January 20, 2026
How North Korea’s cutting-edge sanctions evasion became a model for other states
Integrating traditional tactics with crypto tools has produced a resilient system copied by Russia, Iran and more
January 19, 2026
What to make of reports that Russia tried to ship a nuke reactor to North Korea
Spanish daily says Ursa Major was transporting illicit cargo when it sank in Dec. 2024, but the evidence doesn’t add up
January 16, 2026
Why claims of North Korea-Russia cybercrime collaboration are likely overblown
Researcher says the real threat is Moscow’s support for IT workers, who now finance DPRK arms shipments for Ukraine war
January 14, 2026
War of words: How to evaluate North Korean claims of another ROK drone incursion
Civilian action appears most likely, but limited evidence means false flag and third-party operations can’t be ruled out
January 12, 2026
Why Kim Yo Jong’s threat of North Korean drone retaliation isn’t a bluff
Past criticism of leafleting shows DPRK has repeatedly followed through on warnings when Seoul doesn’t do what it wants
January 12, 2026
How North Korea will control battle-tested troops returning from the Ukraine war
Pyongyang faces the challenge of reintegrating soldiers exposed to potentially dangerous outside info in Russia
January 12, 2026
Where North Korea-Venezuela ties stand after Nicolás Maduro’s downfall
Pyongyang faces diplomatic isolation in Western hemisphere as US targets not just Venezuela but close ally Cuba too
January 8, 2026
North Korea in 2026: Why Kim Jong Un will bet on Putin, but still court Trump
NK Pro predicts what Pyongyang will prioritize in the year ahead, from drones and nuclear power to the war in Ukraine
January 7, 2026
Why North Korea has vanished from South Korea and China’s shared priorities
Lee-Xi summit’s omission of denuclearization suggests both sides see little point in spending energy on a fait accompli
January 6, 2026
