December 2022
DPRK Unveils Its Solid-Propellant ICBM Motor by Tianran Xu
The DPRK claimed to have tested the country's first large and high-thrust solid-propellant motor on 15 December 2022 at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground.
November 2022
Brief on DPRK ICBM launch on 18 November 2022 - Updates, 21 November 2022 by Tianran Xu
The DPRK released an official report on the 18 November 2022 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), confirming that it was a Hwasong-17 and stating that the missile flew 999.2 km with an apogee of 6,040.9 km over ~68.9 minutes.
October 2022
Analysis of the DPRK's Ballistic Missile Launch Campaign in September/October 2022 by Tianran Xu
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched a total of 12 ballistic missiles, including short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) and one intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), on seven separate occasions from 25 September to 9 October 2022.
August 2022
DPRK's Declared COVID-19 Victory and Implications for a Next Nuclear Test by Elin Bergner
On 10 August 2022, Kim Jong Un declared "victory" over the COVID-19 epidemic at the "National meeting of reviewing the emergency anti-epidemic work", while Kim Yo Jong reiterated previous North Korean claims that the virus had entered the country from South Korea and threatened to wipe out the South Korean leadership.
July 2022
Emerging Capabilities? The Unflown SLBMs of the DPRK by Tianran Xu
In its October 2020, January 2021 and April 2022 military parades, the DPRK displayed three types of large submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs): the Pukguksong-4ㅅ, the Pukguksong-5ㅅand an unnamed SLBM, respectively. To date, none of these SLBMs have been flight tested and their developmental status remains unclear.
June 2022
Backgrounder: Previous DPRK Nuclear Tests by Tianran Xu
The DPRK has conducted six nuclear tests, each of which took place within months of long-range rocket or satellite launches. In anticipation of a possible seventh nuclear test, information on the first six tests has been compiled.
June 2022
Update: The DPRK's COVID-19 Outbreak & Implications for a Possible Next Nuclear Test by Elin Bergner
On 12 May 2022, the DPRK confirmed an outbreak of COVID-19. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the first confirmed cases were tested in Pyongyang on 8 May, and carried the Omicron BA.2 variant.
May 2022
The DPRK's COVID-19 Outbreak & Implications for a Possible Next Nuclear Test by Elin Bergner
On 12 May 2022, the DPRK confirmed an outbreak of COVID-19. This pandemic is highly likely to bring about significant impacts to the DPRK's domestic policies and operations in a wide variety of areas, including agriculture, public health and national defence.
May 2022
Factors Related to Past DPRK Nuclear Tests by Open Nuclear Network
In light of recent analyses about a possible next nuclear weapon test by the DPRK [i], ONN has compiled data related to each of the six previous nuclear weapon tests of the DPRK, specifically the timing of the previous tests, nuclear test site preparations, launch vehicle development, environmental factors and the political context. These factors may assist in assessing when a next test might take place. It should be noted, however, that there may be other relevant factors that cannot be fully understood from open sources (e.g. the intentions of Kim Jong Un).
May 2022
Overview of the DPRK's 25 April 2022 Military Parade by Tianran Xu
The DPRK held its military parade in the evening of 25 April to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army.
