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.
September 2021
The First DPRK Missile Launch from a Railmobile Launcher by Tianran Xu, Jaewoo Shin, Katsuhisa Furukawa
Official media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) reported on 16 September 2021 that a newly established "railway-borne missile regiment" launched two ballistic missiles from a rail-mobile launcher on 15 September 2021. This is the first time the DPRK has revealed this ballistic missile basing mode, a mode known to have been adopted only by the Soviet Union/Russia.
September 2021
Briefing on Recent DPRK Missile Launches 11-12 September 2021 by Tianran Xu
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) claims to have conducted test launches of a "new type long-range cruise missile" (Figure 1) on 11 and 12 September 2021. According to DPRK State media, the missiles flew 1,500 km before hitting their targets. This is the first known missile test launch since 25 March 2021 when the DPRK launched two short range ballistic missiles. Based on publicly released information, this briefing offers a preliminary analysis of this new type of cruise missile.
September 2021
Assessment of the Impact of August 2021 Rainfall and Flooding in the DPRK by Tianran Xu, Katsuhisa Furukawa, Veronika Bedenko, Jaewoo Shin
In August 2021, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) experienced heavy rainfall and severe flooding. ONN has analysed available open-source information and identified locations of possible damage and assessed the scope of such damage. This paper provides a summary of ONN's findings.
