The Yongdok-tong Nuclear High Explosive Test Facility is the only known operating facility in the country for testing designs and components for high-explosive detonation of nuclear weapons. This is the most comprehensive report of this... READ MORE

The new road bridge at the Tumangang-Khasan border constitutes more evidence of the burgeoning strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea. However, Recent satellite imagery shows the construction of the road bridge has stalled. READ MORE

Recent satellite images indicate that Uiju has returned to full operational status with Il-28 aircraft redeployed at the airbase previously used for rail freight quarantine facility during COVID-19. READ MORE

New satellite image provides the closest look to date of the new North Korean Navy’s guided missile frigate (FFG) at the Nampo Navy Shipyard. READ MORE

Latest satellite images of Panghyon Airbase, North Korea's only known site for the flight testing of large strategic UAVs, show notable ongoing development. READ MORE

This first appeared as a CSIS Commentary here.An hour or so after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, Senator Marco Rubio... READ MORE

Yoon Suk Yeol, the lionized prosecutor-turned-politician who led the impeachment of former president Park Geun-hye before becoming president himself, was... READ MORE

Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. READ MORE

In this groundbreaking book, the leading scholar and practitioner Victor D. Cha shines a light into the “black box” of North Korea and draws critical lessons for the possible reunification of Korea after many decades... READ MORE

North Korea is the Impossible State. Each episode, join the people who know the most about North Korea for an... READ MORE

The ongoing high levels of rail traffic and major modernization of rail facilities at Tumangang indicates that the strategic relationship between North Korea and Russia continues to grow. READ MORE

This graphic shows two metrics by which Donald Trump may measure his support for NATO and Indo-Pacific allies and partners based on his first term in office and his campaign statements. READ MORE

Located 242 kilometers north of the demilitarized zone and only 65 kilometers from the Chinese border, the Yongnim Missile Operating Base is an undeclared ballistic missile operating ICBM base in Chagang Province. READ MORE

This first appeared as a CSIS Critical Questions here. Today, the U.S. government confirmed and released evidence that North Korea (DPRK) is... READ MORE

This first appeared as a CSIS Commentary here. The Non-Surprising Surprise October is here, the U.S. presidential election is just... READ MORE

This first appeared as a CSIS Commentary here. On October 18, 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law the North... READ MORE

Satellite image of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Testing Facility acquired on October 4, 2024, a few days before the rapid escalation of tension in the peninsula, shows that the facility continues to be well maintained. READ MORE

The CSIS Beyond Parallel created an interactive map of North Korea's garbage-filled balloons that crossed over into South Korea in 2024. READ MORE

Satellite images of the NK-China border indicate that trade between the two countries is gradually recovering to pre-pandemic levels. However, this restoration of trade was upended when unusually heavy rains struck the area in late... READ MORE

Key Findings The White House’s acknowledgement this week of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s possible trip later this month to... READ MORE

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. READ MORE

Beyond Parallel reviewed satellite imagery of the Russia-North Korea border at the Tumangang-Khasan railroad crossing from early February to mid-July 2024, a few months before and a few weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit... READ MORE

Despite the goal of advancing denuclearization of the Korean peninsula through leader-to-leader exchanges in 2018 and 2019, thermal infrared (TIR) imagery of the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center around the summit dates reveals limited impact on... READ MORE

Since late May, North Korea has launched thousands of balloons into South Korea filled with trash, marking the return of... READ MORE

This second part of the missile operating bases update covers developments at Sakkanmol, Sangnam-ni, Sino-ri, and Yusang-ni Missile Operating Bases over the past several years. READ MORE

The CSIS Beyond Parallel team compiled an original database of all North Korean provocations since the Korean War in 1953, beginning with the first provocation documented in 1958. There has been more than 280 instances... READ MORE

Part 3 of this series builds upon the methodology and findings presented in Part 1, offering a deeper dive into the operational nuances of the Radiochemistry Lab and the centrifuge plant. READ MORE

CSIS Beyond Parallel team created an interactive map documenting possible North Korean munition routes to Russia by rail. There is active expansion of infrastructure at Tikhoretsk Munitions Storage Facility, Mozdok Munitions Storage Facility, and Yegorlykskaya... READ MORE

The war in Ukraine has precipitated a renewed relationship between Russia and North Korea. Driven by Russia's need for ammunition... READ MORE

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... READ MORE

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. READ MORE

Satellite imagery shows that North Korea has undertaken numerous small and some significant changes at most of its ballistic missile operating bases over the past five years. READ MORE

Recent satellite imagery reveals ongoing high-level utilization of Russia's Tikhoretsk Munitions Storage Facility, where munitions from North Korea are being stored. READ MORE

A study of publicly available statements made by Donald Trump on the utility of alliances and U.S. troop commitments abroad to test the proposition that the President has a transactional view of alliances as opposed... READ MORE

The first open-source analysis of declassified satellite imagery suggests that the construction of North Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Testing Facility started as early as 1985 to 1986. READ MORE

North Korea launched a new ballistic missile submarine, the Hero Kim Kun Ok, at the Sinpo South Shipyard. Satellite imagery analysis before, during, and after the launch details the unveiled and much-anticipated submarine and changes... READ MORE

Russia's multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile Topol-M (SS-27 Mod 2) and North Korea's recently test-fired "Hwasong-18" (right). (Russia MoD and KCNA)... READ MORE

Since 2016, CSIS has partnered with an organization that has a successful track record of conducting discrete and careful surveys... READ MORE

Although significant political barriers remain to reconnecting the Korean peninsula, there is merit in substantive study of the types of energy infrastructure connections that would best promote regional growth and stability. The cases examined in... READ MORE