Leadership
Information related to North Korea’s leadership and leadership structures
Putin sends ‘congratulatory’ letter to Kim Jong Un, presumably for his birthday
North Korean state media publishes text of Kim’s reply to Russian leader dated Jan. 8, widely seen as his date of birth
January 9, 2026
Seeing the future: What to expect from North Korea in the new year
The NK News team discusses what it got wrong about 2025 and makes new predictions for 2026
January 8, 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
Lee says he asked China’s Xi to act as a mediator with North Korea
South Korean president confirms summit talks covered denuclearization despite lack of mention in official readouts
January 7, 2026
Acting US envoy to Seoul leaves post after less than three months on the job
Embassy confirms Kevin Kim’s return to Washington amid questions about Trump’s focus on North Korea issues
January 7, 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
Playing dictator: Why a Kim Jong Un lookalike says his act isn’t just a joke
Howard X shares how lampooning North Korea’s leader has linked his life to global geopolitics, from Ukraine to Hong Kong
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
What North Korea’s 2026 calendar reveals about its plans for the year ahead
Lack of major anniversaries suggests events, including military parade, will be front-loaded around Ninth Party Congress
January 6, 2026
What Kim Jong Un sees in the US capture of Nicolás Maduro
NK News’ Shreyas Reddy discusses North Korea’s response and why Kim won’t worry too much about the surprise US strike
January 6, 2026
