Analysis
Latest NK PRO analysis related to the DPRK
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
Lessons from Caracas: What Kim Jong Un learned from Maduro’s stunning capture
Brazen US operation will reinforce North Korea’s faith in nuclear weapons, but could also spook it into engagement
January 5, 2026
Kim Jong Un ramped up military activities in 2025 to highest level in a decade
North Korean leader also started taking his daughter to diplomatic events, building foreign support for succession
January 2, 2026
Kim Jong Un’s vague New Year’s speech bucks clarity to avoid costly commitments
Articulating detailed foreign policy would lock Pyongyang into a specific framing at a moment when conditions are fluid
January 1, 2026
Activists fear North Korean human rights policy is eroding under Lee Jae Myung
Crackdown on leafleting, budget cuts and more have raised concern that Seoul is sidelining human rights for engagement
December 31, 2025
1500 war dead, 25 delegations, no ICBMs: North Korea’s bloody 2025 in numbers
Data shows Russia ties once again led the way, even as the DPRK strengthened cooperation with other players
December 31, 2025
Why Seoul’s push for greater control over DMZ risks more than it promises
North Korea seeks to use the zone as a buffer, not for engagement, but opportunities still exist for confidence building
December 29, 2025
North Korea’s record year of crypto theft lays bare a ‘modern-day pirate state’
Embrace of AI and cooperation with Chinese networks have turned DPRK threat groups into financial juggernaut for regime
December 24, 2025
How North Korea prepared to reject unification, years before making it official
Report that key bureau disbanded after Yoon’s election suggests DPRK rethought inter-Korean ties earlier than known
December 17, 2025
