April 15, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Recent satellite imagery reveals ongoing high-level utilization of Russia's Tikhoretsk Munitions Storage Facility, where munitions from North Korea are being stored... An overview of Tikhoretsk Munitions Storage Facility, April 7, 2024. (Copyright © 2024 by Planet)…
February 28, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Ammunition supplies have become critical in the Ukraine war. CSIS studied hundreds of commercially available satellite images since August 2023 on the continuing transfer of large quantities of munitions between North Korea and Russia... Interactive Map of North Korean Munitions Routes to Russia. Zoom to view images and text.…
December 8, 2023, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Satellite images of Najin Port over the past two months show a high level of activity, suggesting that arms transfer between DPRK and Russia continue... Overview of Piers 2 and 3 at Najin (Rajin) Port, October 23, 2023. (Copyright ©…
October 17, 2023, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Latest satellite imagery of Najin Port indicates that at least six trips transporting munitions have been made by sea between North Korea and Russia... Overview of the piers at Najin (Rajin) Port, October 16, 2023. Changes observed at Pier…
October 6, 2023, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
A few weeks after the Kim-Putin summit, satellite imagery show an unprecedented level of rail traffic at the DPRK-Russia border... Closeup of the Tumangang Rail Facility, October 5, 2023. Image shows an unprecedentedly high level of railcar traffic at the North Korean station at the...
February 17, 2023, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Analysis of recent commercially available satellite imagery of the Russia–North Korea railroad crossing suggests significantly increased energy and economic trade as Pyongyang seeks to tighten ties with Moscow... An approximate count of the railcars at Khasan and Tumangang shows the movement of railcars…
November 15, 2021, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Over 16 months after its shutdown of the border with China to prevent COVID transmission, North Korea has seen delays in its efforts to re-open commerce with its primary trade partner. The conversion of Uiju Airbase into a disinfection facility started in early 2021, but the most recent satellite imagery as of November 12 shows no signs of being operational, indicating a delay of at least six months from its original opening plans. Smaller-scale disinfection facilities at other crossings appear to be in development.
May 6, 2021, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Satellite imagery supports open-source reporting that the North Korea-China border has likely been closed to trade since January 2020 due to the North Korean government’s precautions against the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. However, a recent increase in the volume of rail cars in the Dandong and Sinuiju Customs areas, as well as the removal of protective coverings at the Sinuiju rail terminal and freight yard (between March 31 and April 1), suggest preparations to resume exports to China that would provide North Korea with some hard currency.
August 26, 2018, by Victor Cha and Lisa Collins—
The growth of markets and gradual changes in the economy are some the most significant developments to occur in North Korea over the last 20 years. An understanding of these fundamental changes is critical for the formulation of North Korea policy. In an effort to further investigate these evolving economic changes in North Korea, Beyond Parallel launched a pioneering and original data collection project in 2017 and 2018 on markets.
December 21, 2017, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Lisa Collins—
In July and September 2017, unconfirmed reports circulated about dramatically fluctuating gasoline and diesel prices in North Korea. There were also reports that China was planning to suspend or limit fuel exports to North Korea. Analysis of satellite imagery from around this period indicates that a fuel suspension of any significant length does not appear to have affected Pyongyang.