North Korea in April 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead



Month in Review North Korea in April 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead An analytical look at the main developments from April 1 to April 30, 2025 James Fretwell \| NK Pro May 2, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A North Korean man playing music in Pyongyang \| Image: NK Pro (Sept. 9, 2015) About the Month in Review Every month, NK Pro conducts an in-depth analytic review of news on the Korean Peninsula. This Month in Review covers the period of April 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025. In addition to an executive summary providing top-line findings, the following review includes detailed analysis on a wide range of other specialist focus areas. Furthermore, it also includes a look ahead at several events likely to create news in May. Please send any feedback about this feature to [email protected]. Table of Contents 01Executive Summary02Foreign Relations03WMD 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 01North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls 02North Korea heralds naval revolution with launch of impressive new destroyer 03How secret North Korean customs rules lay bare a bizarre trade regime 04Elite absences hint at a North Korean power struggle ahead of party congress 05With Yoon’s exit, South Korea faces critical choices on North Korea strategy 06Tools of the trade: How North Korea launders billions in stolen cryptocurrency 07North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis 08North Korean ICBM factory upgrade project resumes, expands: Imagery

Month in Review

North Korea in April 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead

An analytical look at the main developments from April 1 to April 30, 2025

James Fretwell | NK Pro May 2, 2025

North Korea in April 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead

A North Korean man playing music in Pyongyang | Image: NK Pro (Sept. 9, 2015)

About the Month in Review

Every month, NK Pro conducts an in-depth analytic review of news on the Korean Peninsula. This Month in Review covers the period of April 1, 2025 to April 30, 2025.

In addition to an executive summary providing top-line findings, the following review includes detailed analysis on a wide range of other specialist focus areas.

Furthermore, it also includes a look ahead at several events likely to create news in May.

Please send any feedback about this feature to [email protected].

Table of Contents 01Executive Summary02Foreign Relations03WMD

01North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls
02North Korea heralds naval revolution with launch of impressive new destroyer
03How secret North Korean customs rules lay bare a bizarre trade regime
04Elite absences hint at a North Korean power struggle ahead of party congress
05With Yoon’s exit, South Korea faces critical choices on North Korea strategy
06Tools of the trade: How North Korea launders billions in stolen cryptocurrency
07North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis
08North Korean ICBM factory upgrade project resumes, expands: Imagery

North Korea in April 2025: A month in review and what’s ahead

LATEST ANALYSIS

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James Fretwell

NK Pro