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September 17, 2026Sep 17, 2026

Leadership

Information related to North Korea’s leadership and leadership structures

Kim Jong Un leads politburo meeting on economy without disclosing details

Kim Jong Un leads politburo meeting on economy without disclosing details

North Korean propaganda report makes no mention of specific projects, military or major foreign policy issues

Kim Jong Un leads politburo meeting on economy without disclosing details
Colin Zwirko
Colin Zwirko August 26, 2026
Expert roundup: Can Trump’s outreach bring Kim Jong Un back to the table?

Expert roundup: Can Trump’s outreach bring Kim Jong Un back to the table?

Former US officials weigh risks of scaling back joint drills, Pyongyang’s leverage and prospects for another summit

Expert roundup: Can Trump’s outreach bring Kim Jong Un back to the table?
Shreyas Reddy
Shreyas Reddy August 24, 2026
Kim Yo Jong’s latest tirade keeps South Korea out of its strategy for Trump

Kim Yo Jong’s latest tirade keeps South Korea out of its strategy for Trump

Her recent statements leave room for leader-level diplomacy with Washington but sidelines Seoul.

Kim Yo Jong’s latest tirade keeps South Korea out of its strategy for Trump
Joon Ha Park
Joon Ha Park | Shreyas Reddy August 24, 2026
Belarusian foreign chief vacations in North Korea, works out visa-free deal

Belarusian foreign chief vacations in North Korea, works out visa-free deal

Maxim Ryzhenkov held talks with counterpart Choe Son Hui on ‘entire range’ of dealings amid stalled embassy opening

Belarusian foreign chief vacations in North Korea, works out visa-free deal
Anton Sokolin
Anton Sokolin August 24, 2026
North Korea hails Kim Il Sung’s legacy while staying silent on missile launch
NK PRO

North Korea hails Kim Il Sung’s legacy while staying silent on missile launch

A recap of everything in state media this week, from anti-Japan messaging to Kim Jong Un’s Liberation Day appearances

North Korea hails Kim Il Sung’s legacy while staying silent on missile launch
Seung-Yeon Chung
Seung-Yeon Chung August 21, 2026
Kim Yo Jong mocks ‘puppet’ Seoul as Trump cuts short U.S.-ROK military drills

Kim Yo Jong mocks ‘puppet’ Seoul as Trump cuts short U.S.-ROK military drills

North Korean leader’s sister accuses South Korea of relying on Washington and dismisses hopes of renewed engagement

Kim Yo Jong mocks ‘puppet’ Seoul as Trump cuts short U.S.-ROK military drills
Shreyas Reddy
Shreyas Reddy August 21, 2026
What to make of Trump’s oddly specific claim that North Korea has 57 nukes

What to make of Trump’s oddly specific claim that North Korea has 57 nukes

US president’s count broadly fits many estimates, but Seoul’s higher tally highlights uncertainty over the DPRK arsenal

What to make of Trump’s oddly specific claim that North Korea has 57 nukes
Shreyas Reddy
Shreyas Reddy August 20, 2026
Kim Jong Un positioned in the driver’s seat as Trump races for a summit

Kim Jong Un positioned in the driver’s seat as Trump races for a summit

Experts say the prospect of a meeting grows, but Pyongyang will demand sustained U.S. concessions long beforehand

Kim Jong Un positioned in the driver’s seat as Trump races for a summit
Joon Ha Park
Joon Ha Park August 20, 2026
Trump says he’ll meet Kim this year, despite Pyongyang denying communication

Trump says he’ll meet Kim this year, despite Pyongyang denying communication

After DPRK's dismissal, South Korea’s Lee expressed hope that Trump’s push to reduce drills will open door for diplomacy

Trump says he’ll meet Kim this year, despite Pyongyang denying communication
Joon Ha Park
Joon Ha Park | Shreyas Reddy August 20, 2026
Kim Yo Jong denies Trump-Kim contact, dismisses scale back of military drills

Kim Yo Jong denies Trump-Kim contact, dismisses scale back of military drills

Leader’s sister says she knows ‘absolutely nothing’ of US-DPRK communication, denies Kyiv’s claims of new deployments

Kim Yo Jong denies Trump-Kim contact, dismisses scale back of military drills
Shreyas Reddy
Shreyas Reddy August 19, 2026