The US ability to fight a multi-front war, especially across multiple theaters, is increasingly in question. Ju Hyung Kim examines how prepared South Korea is to defend itself in a potential dual contingency scenario and where greater attention is needed. www.38north.org/2026/04/how-...

North Korea's 20x10 policy implementation is going strong, but its sustainability is already in question. Moreover, the structural changes its promoting could further undermine economic development. Chan Young Bang and Samuel Han discuss theses challenges. www.38north.org/2026/04/eval...

North Korea's claimed to have recently tested "cluster bomb warheads" (submunitions). Vann Van Diepen discusses why these are important to the country's arsenals and how the timing capitalizes on Iran's recent battlefield usage of this type of warhead. www.38north.org/2026/04/clus...

North Korea's Sinpo-B class (Gorae-class) ballistic missile submarine appears to have been moved to the dry dock at the Sinpo South Shipyard, likely for maintenance; while the cargo vessel is now fully inside the construction hall. Analysis by @jennytown.bsky.social . www.38north.org/2026/04/quic...

In this quarter's "North Korea Briefing," experts break down the key takeaways the past three months, including insights from the 9th Party Congress, the SPA elections and meeting, and early movements on implementing the new five-year plan. 38north.org/nk-briefing/...

38 North is now accepting applications for the 2026-7 Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program. The program pairs Fellows with mentors to receive guidance on specific research areas or methodologies for studying North Korea. Applications due by May 13. www.38north.org/2026/04/call...

Wang Yi's visit to Pyongyang signals a positive shift in North Korea's relations with China, but North Korean coverage of the visit still lacked the warmth and respect used in reference to Russia. Rachel Minyoung Lee breaks down the significance of language. www.38north.org/2026/04/wang...

Kim Yo Jong's recent statement responding to Lee Jae Myung's apology was interesting in message (clarified by VFM Jang) and in her reference to Kim Jong Un's informal reaction. @nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com.web.brid.gy provides some context on this subtle change. www.38north.org/2026/04/quic...

North Korea’s heightened focus on drones/UAVs displays a serious commitment to the integration of emerging technologies on the battlefield. 38 North Emerging Scholar Michael Aldeman examines how Pyongyang reconciles new technology and legacy doctrine. www.38north.org/2026/04/dron...

South Korea's policy on North Korea undergoes predictable shifts depending on which party is in power. 38 North Emerging Scholar Se Young Hwang suggests a "Blue Ribbon Commission" could help break this cycle, building a bipartisan agenda to guide future policy. www.38north.org/2026/04/over...

While Kim Ju Ae has an increasing public profile, there are reasons to question where this is leading. 38 North Emerging Scholar Haruka Chunhyang Satake assesses the debate over Ju Ae's role and the prospects of female leadership in North Korea's future. www.38north.org/2026/04/asse...

Unusual activity underway at North Korea's Sinpho South Shipyard. It appears conversion work is being done on a coastal freighter but to what end is unclear. Analysis by Peter Makowsky. www.38north.org/2026/04/sinp...

North Korea's "inminban" or neighborhood units are part of the country's extensive human surveillance system. Recently obtained data shows how pervasive they are, and how risky it is for North Koreans to violate laws even in their own homes. www.38north.org/2026/04/visu...

North Korea's recent solid fuel engine test claims to be ~20% more powerful than the engine tested in Sept 2025, but doesn't clarify for what system. Is it to increase HS-20 payload? Is there yet another ICBM in the works? Read Vann Van Diepen's analysis. www.38north.org/2026/04/a-ne...

Sometime between February and April this year, the two small coastal villages outside the Sohae Satellite Launching Station were razed. For what purpose is unclear, but may signal plans to expand the Sohae complex. Analysis by @martyn_williams www.38north.org/2026/04/vill...

Our Emerging Scholar Fellow Donghyuk (David) Shin examines how Kim Yo Jong's role has evolved to provide authoritative warnings and threats, manage expectations, and convey doctrine externally, while giving Kim Jong Un maximum flexibility to change course as needed. www.38north.org/2026/03/kim-...

Our Emerging Scholar Fellow Donghyuk (David) Shin examines how Kim Yo Jong's role has evolved to provide authoritative warnings and threats, manage expectations, and convey doctrine, while still giving Kim Jong Un maximum flexibility to change course as needed. www.38north.org/2026/03/kim-...

Changing climate conditions impact everyone, North Korea included. Building cooperation around these "low-politics" issues benefits both DPRK and regional ecosystems. Our Emerging Scholar Fellow Chan Mo Ku examines how Europe may cultivate this cooperation. www.38north.org/2026/03/exam...

Improving health care in North Korea has been a growing priority and is highlighted in the new 5 year plan. Our Emerging Scholar Fellow Miriam Ali examines the potential value of resuming health cooperation with DPRK, especially maternal & child health. www.38north.org/2026/03/mate...

North Korea's cyber and crypto heists have been enormously successful in recent years, however, former Acting Coordinator for the UN Panel of Experts Jonathan Brewer suggests there are ways to limit what it can "cash out" of those illicit earnings. www.38north.org/2026/03/a-fo...

North Korea's urban development push in Pyongyang continues. @martynw.bsky.social notes a new housing construction push in Pyongyang's Hwasong district. www.38north.org/2026/03/pyon...

North Korea's recent SPA session covered constitutional revisions, budget matters and overall priorities going forward, building on the 9th Party Congress. 38 North's NK Briefing authors provide highlights from the session and what to watch going forward. www.38north.org/2026/03/expe...

Strengthening North Korea's public health system has been of growing importance post-pandemic. Health & medical cooperation could have numerous benefits for the people and broader diplomatic goals, but may be difficult to navigate under current sanctions. www.38north.org/2026/03/nort...

It's unclear if or when North Korea may invite humanitarian organizations back into the country. But Austin Headrick argues that actively blocking potential US aid efforts and opportunities is a policy choice counterproductive to broader diplomatic goals. www.38north.org/2026/03/the-...

Kusong has been in the news lately for questions about potential (past) links to North Korea's uranium enrichment program. But this area is most known for its military aviation facilities, and is becoming a important base for an expanding drone program. www.38north.org/2026/03/new-...

Smartphones are everywhere in North Korea and changing how people acquire goods and services, enabling the potential for pervasive data collection on individuals' daily activities, while making rent seeking and corruption more difficult. A new report by 38 North's @martynw.bsky.social bit.ly/4rxiGXz

ICYMI: Great discussion today about North Korea's tightened surveillance, internal controls and external repression reinforce each other, and what this means for accountability, protection, and policy responses moving forward. www.38north.org/events/new-f...

North Korea may not be saying much publicly about Iran these days, but it surely is watching closely. Vann Van Diepen discusses 8 lessons that Pyongyang is likely learning from the current conflict in the Middle East. www.38north.org/2026/03/eigh...

Don't miss our next event examining how North Korea's internal controls and external repression reinforce one another, and what this means for accountability, protection, and policy responses moving forward. Join us March 18, 10am ET, in person or online! www.38north.org/events/new-f...

Imagery shows construction progress on the traffic bridge connecting Russia and North Korea, with the decking now seemingly complete. www.38north.org/2026/03/russ...

North Korea's cooperation with Russia goes beyond the battlefield. Evidence of alignment in cyberspace is growing, making threat landscapes more intertwined. Pia Husch and Joesph Jarnecki discuss the need for more integrated allied efforts to counter this trend. www.38north.org/2026/03/dprk...

North Korea's KN-23/Hwasong 11A SRBM got battlefield tested in Russia's war in Ukraine. Ralph Savelsberg examines open source data and conducts computer simulations of its trajectories to further assess its maneuverability. www.38north.org/2026/03/asse...

38 North's @martynw.bsky.social and Iliana Ragnone are featured in a new two-part ZDF documentary on North Korea's nuclear weapons program: "Die Waffen des Diktators", now available via ZDF's streaming portal. presseportal.zdf.de/pressemittei...

In case you missed today's discussion of North Korea's 9th Party Congress themes and implications, there's still time! The video can be found archived here: www.38north.org/events/north....

After strong criticism from North Korea re: US/Israeli strikes against Iran, Rachel Minyoung Lee suggests the prospects of North Korean engagement of the US remain dim, despite the soft opening to future diplomacy expressed at the 9th Party Congress. www.38north.org/2026/03/nort...

Reminder: Join us tomorrow (March 3) at 9:30AM ET to examine key themes from North Korea's 9th Party Congress and implications for DPRK priorities going forward. Featuring Rachel Minyoung Lee, Michael Madden & Vann Van Diepen, moderated by @jennytown.bsky.social. www.38north.org/events/north...

Now that the 9th Party Congress has wrapped, the analysis begins. Find some initial assessments from our North Korea Briefing contributors of what we've learned so far about planned foreign policy, military/WMD, politics, economics and leadership goals. www.38north.org/2026/02/expe...

North Korea reiterated its intention to continue expanding its nuclear arsenals at the 9th Party Congress. As such, Tianran Xu reexamines its nuclear testing history and what it has accomplished to date to better anticipate what might come next. www.38north.org/2026/02/revi...

As information trickles out of North Korea's 9th Party Congress, @nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com.web.brid.gy provides an initial assessment of notable leadership shuffles. www.38north.org/2026/02/quic...

While Trump's State of the Union address provided little insight into US foreign policy strategy, 38 North's Rachel Minyoung Lee discusses how North Korea might have interpreted the references to Iran and Venezuela and the impact that might have on US-DPRK relations. www.stimson.org/2026/trumps-...

Join 38 North on March 3 for an initial assessment of the outcomes of North Korea's Ninth Party Congress. www.38north.org/events/north...

Nightlight imagery provides one way to look at economic activity/electricity provision in North Korea. Brandon Callegari examines pre-, during- and post-pandemic nightlight distribution patterns for insights. www.38north.org/2026/02/a-ne...

North Korea will participate in an “inclusive consultative process” to develop “a Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the XXI Century." This is consistent with Pyongyang's deepening integration in Russian-led networks, says Rachel Minyoung Lee. www.38north.org/2026/02/nort...

North Korea appears to be working up a major title change for Kim Jong Un in the near future. Rachel Minyoung Lee discusses the significance of "head of state" vs "president" in North Korean propaganda. www.38north.org/2026/02/is-k...

Cell phones/smartphones have become staples in North Korea, providing options for payments, services, games and more. As the demand has grown, so has network coverage across the country. @martyn_williams has released an updated cellular coverage map. www.38north.org/2026/01/nort...

North Korea's health sector has come greater into focus in recent years. This has manifest as new urban and rural hospitals, even within the 20x10 plan, but also as a concerted move away from universal healthcare. Analysis by Joon Hee Han and Yo Han Lee. www.38north.org/2026/01/nort...

As North Korea prepares for the Ninth Party Congress, Vann Van Diepen assesses progress made against the 13 new WMD systems mandated at the Eighth Party Congress. While significant progress has been made, the status of four systems remains unknown. www.38north.org/2026/01/asse...

Training is underway at the Mirim Parade Training ground ahead of the much anticipated Ninth Party Congress, although the Congress date remains elusive. A quick take by @martynw.bsky.social and Rachel Minyoung Lee. www.38north.org/2026/02/part...

The omission of DPRK from the US NSS comes as Pyongyang has proven itself a capable military partner to Russia. Hans Horan discusses how might other countries assess DPRK's potential in this capacity, especially those targeted in shifting US foreign policy. www.38north.org/2026/01/asse...

The omission of DPRK denuclearization from the US NSS may have intended to leave room for US-DPRK negotiations, but seems to have conveyed the burden of deterrence is shifting to regional allies. Sangsoo Lee discusses the impact of this perceived shift. www.38north.org/2026/01/the-...