Kim Jong Un ramped up military activities in 2025 to highest level in a decade



Analysis 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 Colin Zwirko January 2, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Kim Jong Un and his daughter attend an air force demonstration in November \| Image: KCTV (Nov. 30, 2025) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made more public appearances in state media in 2025 than he has in years, according to NK Pro analysis, including the most activities related to improving military capabilities in the last decade. Kim appeared on the front page of the top domestic newspaper Rodong Sinmun conducting new activities on 105 days in 2025, slightly more than his total in 2024 and far surpassing every year since 2016, NK Pro Leadership Tracker data shows. When including activities reported only for international audiences, the number of public appearances reaches 108. He also brought his young daughter along Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge 02A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality 03Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records 04Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May 05Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions 06North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data 07North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command 08North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials

Analysis

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

Colin Zwirko January 2, 2026

Kim Jong Un ramped up military activities in 2025 to highest level in a decade

Kim Jong Un and his daughter attend an air force demonstration in November | Image: KCTV (Nov. 30, 2025)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made more public appearances in state media in 2025 than he has in years, according to NK Pro analysis, including the most activities related to improving military capabilities in the last decade.

Kim appeared on the front page of the top domestic newspaper Rodong Sinmun conducting new activities on 105 days in 2025, slightly more than his total in 2024 and far surpassing every year since 2016, NK Pro Leadership Tracker data shows. When including activities reported only for international audiences, the number of public appearances reaches 108.

He also brought his young daughter along

01Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge
02A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality
03Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records
04Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May
05Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions
06North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data
07North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command
08North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials

Kim Jong Un ramped up military activities in 2025 to highest level in a decade

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Colin Zwirko