NEW @csis.org satellite imagery from this month shows the completion of a building at Yongbyon that is widely believed to be a new uranium enrichment plant for producing weapons-grade material for nuclear weapons, according to @iaeaorg.bsky.social. Read here:

🛳️ North Korea says it test‑fired strategic cruise and anti‑ship missiles from the lead Choe Hyon‑class destroyer. Read our earlier @csis.org Beyond Parallel analysis that shows the Nampo‑launched vessel was built for multi‑mission strike and air defense: 1) shorturl.at/4KG7H 2) shorturl.at/0Upni

📚 IN 2 WEEKS I Book Talk Moderated by @victordcha.bsky.social @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social, Jonathan Cheng @wsj.com will discuss his new book "Korean Messiah." 🗓️ Monday, April 27 | 12:00–1:30 PM ET 📍 McGhee Library, Georgetown University 🔗 RSVP: shorturl.at/Atnud 📖 Preorder: koreanmessiah.com

🔵 ICYMI I The Capital Cable With Mark Lippert @csis.org, @victordcha.bsky.social, @darciedraudt.bsky.social @carnegieendowment.org, and Jang Ji‑Hyang discussed how Middle East instability is reshaping Korea’s economy and strategic choices. 🔗 www.youtube.com/live/gDUBMCS...

70% of Korea’s crude. 26 ships stranded. ~26 days of oil left. The Iran conflict has exposed South Korea’s deepest economic and energy vulnerabilities. Read @csis.org analysis by @victordcha.bsky.social and @andysaulim.com, by the numbers. 🔗

📣 ICYMI I Edward Howell @ox.ac.uk wrote on @csis.org why North Korea’s newly upgraded ties with Belarus—though limited—should not be dismissed as Pyongyang is leveraging access to Russia and reinforcing anti‑Western alignment amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. 🔗 Read: shorturl.at/kU1Ka

📡 Recent @csis.org Beyond Parallel satellite imagery shows UAVs Saebyol 4 and 9 positioned together at Panghyon Airbase — the first time two UAVs have been spotted simultaneously at the site. Read the full analysis:

North Korea recently conducted two separate missile launch activities into the East Sea—highlighting enduring patterns of provocation. @csis.org Beyond Parallel has tracked nearly 490 provocations since 1958 across three leaders. 📖 shorturl.at/do5SO

🟢 ICYMI | Asan Plenum 2026 @victordcha.bsky.social recently led the “Responding to the Rise of CRINK” session with @jgotkowska.bsky.social, Jia Qingguo @pku1898.bsky.social, Igor Khrestin, Lim Sungnam, Alexander Nikitin, Okano Masataka, and Randall Schriver @iips.bsky.social. 🔗 shorturl.at/iiZhK

"No noncombatant country has been hit harder than South Korea." From stranded tankers and shrinking oil reserves to policy dilemmas, @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social and @andysaulim.com breaks down how the Iran conflict is hitting Seoul—by the numbers. 🔗

🎙️ IN 2 DAYS I @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org and @lamikim.bsky.social will hold a timely discussion on the DPRK-Russia alliance with implications for Europe, Indo‑Pacific, and U.S. 🕒 April 14 | 10:00–11:15 a.m. EDT 📍 Arundel House, London | Online 🔗 RSVP: shorturl.at/I8PZ1

📡 Satellite Imagery Analysis As reports point to Russia drawing on North Korean labor for drone production, @csis.org Beyond Parallel imagery shows rapid expansion at Yelabuga’s UAV complex—evidence of Russia accelerating UAV/UCAV manufacturing. 🔎 Full analysis

📣 @csis.org newsletter from Ambassador Ho‑Young Ahn: He warns that legitimizing North Korea’s nuclear status would 🔹 strain the U.S.–ROK alliance 🔹 weaken deterrence 🔹 embolden China‑Russia‑North Korea coordination 🔗 Read more: shorturl.at/AV9Zg

🎥 ICYMI | @geopolitics.csis.org hosted a timely discussion on U.S.–China technological rivalry and key flashpoints, following @yalejackson.bsky.social’s visit to China. ▶️ Hear from @victordcha.bsky.social, Jason Hsu, Ted Wittenstein, Henrietta Levin, and Kate Koren: shorturl.at/T3KOA

🎧 ICYMI | The Impossible State The BTS Homecoming: Does Korea's Soft Power Work? Listen to @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Dr. Jinaeng Choi, and Timothy Martin @wsj.com as they hold an insightful discussion on why Korean cultural exports like BTS resonate globally. 🔗

🎙️ IN 3 DAYS I @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org and @lamikim.bsky.social will hold a timely discussion on the DPRK-Russia alliance with implications for Europe, Indo‑Pacific, and U.S. 🕒 April 14 | 10:00–11:15 a.m. EDT 📍 Arundel House, London | Online 🔗 RSVP: shorturl.at/I8PZ1

Although China recently removed the Atlantic Amsterdam structure, 13 buoys and two aquaculture farms remain in the Korea–China Provisional Measures Zone. @csis.org Beyond Parallel continues to track developments in the Yellow Sea: beyondparallel.csis.org/tag/yellow-s... Map⬇️

📣 ICYMI I Edward Howell @ox.ac.uk wrote on @csis.org why North Korea’s newly upgraded ties with Belarus—though limited—should not be dismissed as Pyongyang is leveraging access to Russia and reinforcing anti‑Western alignment amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. 🔗 Read: shorturl.at/kU1Ka

China added 40 Japanese entities such as Subaru, MHI, and JAXA to export control and watch lists for dual-use items. This brings the total number of targeted Japanese companies in @csis.org database to 99 among 600+ cases. See more in our book China's Weaponization of Trade: youtu.be/FHUJGVLt44M

🔵 ICYMI I The Capital Cable With Mark Lippert @csis.org, @victordcha.bsky.social, @darciedraudt.bsky.social @carnegieendowment.org, and Jang Ji‑Hyang discussed how Middle East instability is reshaping Korea’s economy and strategic choices. 🔗 www.youtube.com/live/gDUBMCS...

With Iran restricting access in the Strait of Hormuz and China expanding its activities in the PMZ, Seoul faces tightening external pressure ahead of the Trump-Xi summit. @victordcha.bsky.social writes in Foreign Affairs that South Korea must coordinate with its partners to counter coercion. 🔗 Read:

North Korea’s growing partnership with Russia is extending beyond diplomacy and arms, with recent reports of DPRK workers deployed under conditions amounting to forced labor. 🔗 Explore our @csis.org Beyond Parallel database tracking 70+ meetings and 260+ events since Sept 2022: shorturl.at/Gnib0

📃 Video Analysis: Following Kim Jong‑un’s reappointment, the 9th Party Congress remains central to understanding regime priorities and power consolidation. Watch our @csis.org expert @sydseiler.bsky.social break it down: 📽️ Five Key Questions: shorturl.at/IQ3zs 📽️ Report Overview: shorturl.at/3cyaY

🌏 News1 Future Forum 2026 Join @sydseiler.bsky.social @csis.org as he will be delivering a keynote speech and speaking on the panel “Korea’s Trajectory: Alliance Modernization vs. Strategic Autonomy.” 📍 Fairmont Ambassador Seoul, South Korea 🗓 May 7 | 8:30 AM–5:00 PM KST 🔗 RSVP: shorturl.at/hJdA3

📚 Korean Messiah Book Talk Moderated by @victordcha.bsky.social @georgetown-sfs.bsky.social, Jonathan Cheng @wsj.com will discuss his new book "Korean Messiah." 🗓️ Monday, April 27 | 12:00–1:30 PM ET 📍 McGhee Library, Georgetown University 🔗 RSVP: shorturl.at/Atnud 📖 Preorder: koreanmessiah.com

한국의 공식 석유 비축량은 수치상 충분해 보이지만, 국내 정유사의 실제 처리량인 하루 290만 배럴 기준으로 계산할 경우, 정부 비축유만으로는 약 34일을 버틸 수 있는 수준입니다. 최근 국제에너지기구(IEA)의 비축유 방출 이후에는 실질 대응 가능 기간이 약 26일로 줄어들었을 가능성도 제기됩니다. 🔗 자세히 보기: csis.org/analysis/imp... @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com @csis.org

🎧 ICYMI I @victordcha.bsky.social recently spoke on Vandenberg Flash Focus about his book “China’s Weaponization of Trade," co-authored with Ellen Kim and @andysaulim.com. 🔊 Listen on • Captivate: shorturl.at/GJf3y • YouTube: shorturl.at/WxDB0 • All Podcast Platforms: shorturl.at/NvzO5

South Korea’s official petroleum reserve position looks more robust on paper than in operational reality. At current refinery rates, government stocks cover around 34 days to possibly 26 days after the IEA release. 🔗Read more: shorturl.at/3ZO6R @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com @csis.org

📺 VIDEO: How the Strategic Value of China to Korea Has Changed (Part 2) As regional uncertainty grows, @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org explains how Seoul’s assessment of Beijing has shifted—and why South Korea has effectively already made its choice. ▶️ Watch here: shorturl.at/XV8eP

🎙️ IISS Conversation with Dr. Cha Join @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org and @lamikim.bsky.social for a timely discussion on the DPRK-Russia alliance with implications for Europe, Indo‑Pacific, and U.S. 🕒 April 14 | 10:00–11:15 a.m. EDT 📍 Arundel House, London | Online 🔗 RSVP: shorturl.at/I8PZ1

강훈식 대통령 비서실장은 원유와 나프타 추가 확보를 위한 협의를 위해 현재 사우디아라비아·오만·카자흐스탄 3개국을 방문 중입니다. 한국은 원유뿐 아니라 헬륨·나프타·LNG 등 주요 에너지·산업 원자재를 호르무즈 해협을 통해 수입하고 있어 공급 차질에 취약한 상황입니다. 🔗 자세히 보기: csis.org/analysis/imp... @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com

📣 North Korea has recently named a vice economic minister as ambassador to Belarus. @csis.org analysis by Edward Howell @ox.ac.uk explains why North Korea’s newly upgraded ties with Belarus matter for Pyongyang’s Russia access and anti‑Western alignment amid the ongoing wars. 🔗 shorturl.at/kU1Ka

🎧 ICYMI | The Impossible State The BTS Homecoming: Does Korea's Soft Power Work? Listen to @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Dr. Jinaeng Choi, and Timothy Martin @wsj.com as they hold an insightful discussion on why Korean cultural exports like BTS resonate globally. 🔗

President Lee Jae Myung’s chief of staff Kang Hoon‑sik is visiting Kazakhstan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia to secure alternative crude oil and naphtha supplies, as Seoul remains vulnerable to disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz. 🔗 shorturl.at/3ZO6R @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com

🟢LIVE NOW | Asan Plenum 2026 Join @victordcha.bsky.social at the “Responding to the Rise of CRINK” session with @jgotkowska.bsky.social, Jia Qingguo @pku1898.bsky.social, Igor Khrestin, Lim Sungnam, Alexander Nikitin, Okano Masataka, and Randall Schriver @iips.bsky.social 🔗 shorturl.at/iiZhK

🎙️ ICYMI I @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org recently spoke at the Strategerist podcast to discuss China’s economic coercion and collective resilience. Listen on 📽️ Bush Center: shorturl.at/DQERM ▶️ YouTube: shorturl.at/Tw9EA 🎧 Spotify: shorturl.at/Uwkim 🍎 Apple Podcasts: shorturl.at/kR53Z

ICYMI I The Capital Cable With Mark Lippert @csis.org, @victordcha.bsky.social, @darciedraudt.bsky.social @carnegieendowment.org, and Jang Ji‑Hyang discussed how Middle East instability is reshaping Korea’s economy and strategic choices. 🔗 www.youtube.com/live/gDUBMCS...

🟢 IN 7 HOURS | Asan Plenum 2026 Joining @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org at the “Responding to the Rise of CRINK”: @jgotkowska.bsky.social, Jia Qingguo @pku1898.bsky.social, Igor Khrestin, Lim Sungnam, Alexander Nikitin, Okano Masataka, and Randall Schriver @iips.bsky.social 🔗 shorturl.at/iiZhK

한국의 4대 정유사 중 3곳은 미국 또는 사우디 자본이 포함된 지분 구조를 가지고 있습니다. 🔗 자세히 보기: csis.org/analysis/imp... @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com

📣 New @csis.org analysis: Edward Howell @ox.ac.uk explains why North Korea’s newly upgraded ties with Belarus—though limited—should not be dismissed as Pyongyang is leveraging access to Russia and reinforcing anti‑Western alignment amid the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. 🔗 shorturl.at/kU1Ka

Three out of four major South Korean refiners have U.S. or Saudi ownership stakes. 🔗 Read more: www.csis.org/analysis/imp... @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com @csis.org

🎧 ICYMI | Yesterday, @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Dr. Jinaeng Choi, and Timothy Martin @wsj.com held a fascinating discussion on why Korean cultural exports like BTS resonate globally. See their key quotes below⬇️ (1/6) 🔗 youtu.be/yidA4g6g6G4?...

🔁 ICYMI | China and the U.S. are using trade and supply chains as coercive tools. @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Paul Heer, and @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social discussed @global-affairs.bsky.social how economic interdependence is shifting and how countries can respond. 🎥 Watch: shorturl.at/I75Bc

North Korea recently conducted a new high‑thrust solid‑fuel missile engine test—framed as part of its strategic modernization plan—highlighting enduring patterns of provocation. @csis.org Beyond Parallel has tracked nearly 490 provocations since 1958 across three leaders. 📖 shorturl.at/do5SO

이란 분쟁 이후, 호르무즈 해협을 통과하는 한국 국적 선박의 운항은 사실상 중단되었습니다. 분쟁 이전인 2월에 한국 국적 선박 최소 33척이 페르시아만을 통과했던 것을 고려할 때 현재 해상 운송이 크게 위축된 상태임을 볼 수 있습니다. 🔗 자세히 보기: www.csis.org/analysis/imp... @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com

South Korean shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively halted. In February, there were 33 South Korean–flagged ships that transited through the Gulf, excluding additional South Korean–owned or operated (not flagged) ships: shorturl.at/VNQPu @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com

🔴 LIVE NOW | The Impossible State Listen now to @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Dr. Jinaeng Choi, and Timothy Martin @wsj.com as they explore the global impact of BTS and K‑culture, and why Korean content connects so widely. 🔗 youtu.be/yidA4g6g6G4?...

🔴 IN 30 MINS | The Impossible State Moderated by @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Dr. Jinaeng Choi and Timothy Martin @wsj.com will explore whether Korean soft power works—looking at the global impact of BTS, K‑culture, and why Korean content connects so widely. 🔗 shorturl.at/L3I4f

🔴 IN 2 HOURS | The Impossible State Moderated by @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Dr. Jinaeng Choi and Timothy Martin @wsj.com will explore whether Korean soft power works—looking at the global impact of BTS, K‑culture, and why Korean content connects so widely. 🔗 shorturl.at/L3I4f

📡 Recent @csis.org Beyond Parallel satellite imagery shows UAVs Saebyol 4 and 9 positioned together at Panghyon Airbase — the first time two UAVs have been spotted simultaneously at the site. Read the full analysis: