North Korea Leadership Watch

Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership

3 Y3ars of the Respected Daughter

It has been just over three years since Kim Ju Ae, daughter of supreme leader Kim Jong Un (KJU), emerged into North Korean public life.   Her first public appearance at a ballistic missile test […]

Dec, 20

Bodyguard Personnel Changes

The commanders of the Central Committee Guard Department, Guard Department and Guard Command have changed during the last year.  The changes were publicized during the 10 October 2025 military parade commemorating the foundation of the […]

Oct, 13

Kim Family Residence #85 Gets Rusty

The Kim Family’s Tongpy’ongyang Residence, better known as and hereafter Residence #85, continues to fall into a state of disrepair.  Various buildings on the grounds, including Residence #85 itself, are covered in rust.  Trees and […]

Oct, 06

KJU Arranges Banquet and Performance for PRC Delegation

KJU’s last observed appearance was his attendance at a mass games performance on September 9 Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu) attended a concert at Mansudae Art Theater […]

Sep, 12

OGD (The Road Song) and The Ghost of Sejanus

Prior to Kim Jong Un’s (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) departure for Singapore some news appeared questioning things such as whether Jong Un venturing out for his high-level summit with US President Donald J Trump would be safe […]

Jun, 24

Choe Ryong Hae to OGD? [revised 13 JAN 2018]

Yonhap reports that Choe Ryong Hae [Ch’oe Ryong-hae] was appointed director of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Organization Guidance Department [OGD] (officially called the Organizational Leadership Department) during the October 2017 plenary meeting of […]

Jan, 11

KJU Attends Photo-op with Party Cell Conference Participants

KJU’s last observed appearance was his attendance at the final day of the party cell chairpersons’ conference on December 23 Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended a commemorative photo-op with participants of the 5th Conference […]

Dec, 25

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