Leadership
Information related to North Korea’s leadership and leadership structures
North Korean vice economic minister to serve as new ambassador to Belarus
Ji Kyong Su previously helped manage Russia relations and takes up new role amid push to strengthen ties with Minsk
April 8, 2026
North Korea bats down Seoul’s ‘dream’ of inter-Korean thaw after rare praise
Senior DPRK official says South Korea remains ‘most hostile’ enemy despite Kim Yo Jong’s compliment for ROK president
April 8, 2026
North Korea still lacks naval base for new warship slated to deploy ‘early’ 2026
Lack of progress at Munchon location means destroyer may have to operate out of ill-equipped ports
April 8, 2026
Why Kim Yo Jong praising Seoul for saying ‘sorry’ isn’t a prelude to engagement
North Korea recognized the political risk that Lee took but hasn’t signaled any change to its hardline anti-South stance
April 7, 2026
Jonathan Cheng: The Christian roots of North Korea’s personality cult
Author discusses how religion shaped the DPRK’s system, while NK News’ Chad O’Carroll talks DMZ airspace incident
April 7, 2026
Kim Jong Un compliments South Korea’s president for expressing regret
The late-night statement comes hours after President Lee expressed regret over the drone incursions into the North
April 6, 2026
It’s ‘appropriate to regard’ Kim Jong Un’s daughter as successor: ROK spy agency
NIS also assesses that North Korea is distancing itself from Iran to leave open options for diplomacy with US
April 6, 2026
Why Kim Yo Jong’s promotion doesn’t tell the full story of her rise
Organizational changes suggest North Korean leader entrusted sister with key tasks before she became a department head
April 6, 2026
Lee expresses ‘regret’ to North Korea after drone probe implicates officials
ROK president criticizes ‘reckless actions’ of intel employee and soldiers referred to prosecutors over drone incursions
April 6, 2026
North Korea slams UN resolution on its human rights abuses as a ‘provocation’
A recap of everything in state media this week, from silence on Iran and art festival prep to the new school semester
April 3, 2026
