All Posts
March 2022
South Korea's New President-Elect Yoon Suk-yeol by Jaewoo Shin
While the election focused primarily on domestic issues, the following provides a brief overview of President-elect Yoon's key campaign positions and pledges on issues that relate to North Korea and nuclear risks on the Korean Peninsula.
February 2022
January 2022: Missile Tests of the DPRK by Tianran Xu
Except for the fourth nuclear test in 2016, January has traditionally been a calm month in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). However, a total of seven missile tests made January 2022 the busiest calendar month in the country's history of missile testing. The launch of a Hwasong-12 intermediate range ballistic missile on the 30th also marked the resumption of major weapons testing after a four-year-long hiatus.
January 2022
The 4th Plenary Meeting of 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea by Katsuhisa Furukawa
The 4th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was held in Pyongyang from 27 to 31 December 2021. This paper provides a description of the Central Committee and its mandate, key takeaways from the meeting and concluding observations.
January 2022
Analysis of the 11 January 2022 Hypersonic Missile Test of the DPRK by Tianran Xu
State media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported on 12 January 2022 that the Academy of Defence Science had tested a hypersonic missile on 11 January 2022. [1] This is the first missile launch in which DPRK leader Kim Jong Un has been officially confirmed as having been present since 21 May 2020. [2] Below is a preliminary analysis based on available information.
January 2022
ONN Brief: Analysis on the 5 January 2022 Hypersonic Missile Test of the DPRK by Tianran Xu
State media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported on 6 January 2022 that the Academy of Defence Science had tested a hypersonic missile on 5 January 2022 (Figure 1). [1] Below is an initial analysis based on available information.
December 2021
Construction Activities Near Chamjin Missile Factory and Suspected Uranium Enrichment Site in Kangson by Katsuhisa Furukawa
In 2020 and 2021, new construction work was observed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) near the Chamjin missile factory and the site of the suspected uranium enrichment facility in Kangson. This report analyses the observed activities using available open-source information and assesses the implications for the DPRK's military policy.
October 2021
Brief on the 19 October 2021 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by Tianran Xu
On 20 October 2021, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported that the DPRK's Defence Science Institute had conducted a test of a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on 19 October. This is a preliminary brief on the test launch.
October 2021
Brief on the Defence Development Exhibition of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by Tianran Xu
On 11 October 2021, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a defence development exhibition entitled "Self-Defence-2021" in Pyongyang to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).
October 2021
Preliminary Analysis of 30 September 2021 Anti-Aircraft Missile Test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by Open Nuclear Network
On 1 October 2021, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported that the Academy of Defence Science tested a newly developed anti-aircraft missile (see Attachment).
September 2021
Observations on the 28 September 2021 Hypersonic Missile Test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea by Tianran Xu
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported that, in the morning of 28 September 2021, the Academy of Defence Science tested a hypersonic missile referred to as a Hwasong-8. Below are initial observations based on information released by KCNA.
