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

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

Recent satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility shows minor activity at the main administration area and no new activity at the tunnels. However, preparations at Tunnel No. 3 are considered to have long... READ MORE

Satellite imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station taken five hours after the launch of North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite shows indications of the recent launch at the new coastal launch pad. READ MORE

Latest imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station show preparations underway for the launch of the country's first-ever reconnaissance satellite. READ MORE

Imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station shows accelerated expansion and an unusual number of construction resources allocated to the station, indicating that North Korea is moving to develop, transport, and launch larger, more sophisticated... READ MORE

Recent satellite imagery shows new activity at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility, including the completion of road construction and new structures by the collapsed portal of Tunnel No. 4. READ MORE

Recent satellite imagery shows that the ongoing modernization project at Sunchon Airbase is nearing completion, along with the presence of ten aircraft - the first observed in two years. READ MORE

Satellite imagery analysis provides an in-depth understanding of the Manpo Unha Factory, an important but previously little-known component of North Korea's nuclear infrastructure, and its historical development. READ MORE

Imagery analysis has identified the Manpo Unha Factory as an important but little-known component of North Korea's nuclear infrastructure as the prime supplier of bulk chemicals to the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center. READ MORE

Ongoing development at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station seen in recent satellite imagery show continued preparations to expand the facility's capabilities to host larger rocket launches. 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

Dramatic and ongoing construction progress continues throughout the eastern and central sections of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, including new construction near the horizontal engine test stand. READ MORE

Latest commercial satellite images of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station show construction has entered a new phase, including the addition of a new horizontal engine test stand, further expanding the facility's future capabilities. READ MORE

High Resolution is a CSIS video series created and produced by the Dracopoulos iDeas Lab and features CSIS experts. The... READ MORE

North Korea is the Impossible State. Each week join the people who know the most about North Korea—The Center for... READ MORE

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

The small object which appeared in 2019 at the southern end of North Korea's Panghyon Aircraft Factory produced various speculations by watchers. The object is identified to be a helicopter rotor blade test rig, a... READ MORE

North Korea has shown an unprecedented level of provocations over the past week. As tensions rise, eyes are also on Punggye-ri, the expected site of the seventh nuclear test. This report provides an updated view... READ MORE

Significant progress in the construction of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station is observed in recent satellite imagery as part of the dramatic and ongoing modernization plan announced by Kim Jong-un earlier this year. READ MORE

For the past two months, a significant increase in activity has been observed at the Sinpo South Shipyard, suggestive of longer-term preparations for North Korea's launching of the new SSB or testing newer, more capable... READ MORE

North Korea's seventh nuclear test is assessed to be carried out in the coming weeks. This report provides an updated view of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility, where the test will almost assuredly take place. READ MORE

For the past two months, a significant increase in activity has been observed at the Sinpo South Shipyard, suggestive of longer-term preparations for North Korea's launching of the new SSB or testing newer, more capable... READ MORE

North Korea’s September 25 test launch of a ballistic missile from the Taechon Reservoir was a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), not a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) as commonly reported. The missile used for this test... READ MORE

Recent satellite images of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility show new clearing and construction near Tunnel No. 4. As expected, no new activity was observed at Tunnel No. 3, where North Korea is assessed to... READ MORE

Significant construction continues at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station including the expansion of fuel/oxidizer storage capacity and construction of what may be a large underground or support facility. READ MORE

Recent satellite images of the Sinpo South Shipyard, a critical location in North Korea's development of SSB and SLBM capabilities, show vessel movements and new construction in the area. READ MORE

Indications of an unannounced engine test, along with significant construction activity, were recently observed at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. READ MORE

Recent satellite images show efforts to mitigate flood damage at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility, where North Korea has finished all preparations for conducting a seventh nuclear test. READ MORE

Built on the former grounds of Yonpo Airbase, the Yonpo Vegetable Greenhouse Farm is a top-priority project for North Korea and, once completed, will become North Korea's largest agricultural greenhouse complex. READ MORE

Four months after Kim Jong-un’s March 2022 inspection of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station and the public announcement of a modernization and development project, satellite imagery shows that the first stages of construction are now... READ MORE

Recent satellite imagery shows North Korea is making slow but steady progress with its renovation and expansion of the North Korean Air and Air Defense Force's Sunchon Airbase. READ MORE

A high-resolution satellite image from July 3, 2022, shows the current observable status of the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center, where flooding of the nearby Kuryong River and new activity is observed near Building 500—the first... READ MORE

Recent satellite image clearly details the current observable status of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility, where North Korea is assessed to have finished all preparations for conducting a nuclear test. READ MORE

Satellite image collected on June 16 of the Sinpo South Shipyard shows that the submersible missile test stand barge has once again exchanged positions with the infiltration mothership, and various pieces of equipment are visible... READ MORE

New satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility shows not only ongoing work at Tunnel No. 3, but also new indicators of construction activity at Tunnel No. 4 further north. READ MORE

Satellite imagery collected from the last several months show­­­ intermittent activity on North Korea’s second submersible missile test stand barge located in Nampo Navy Shipyard on the west coast. READ MORE

Recent satellite imagery provides the first views of the secure boat basin at Sinpo South Shipyard since the SLBM test launch on May 7. The images show the submersible missile test stand barge has exchanged... READ MORE

A high off-nadir satellite imagery collected on May 17, 2022, provides a unique view of the ongoing activity outside the new portal to Tunnel No. 3 (South Portal) and in the main administration and support... READ MORE

Satellite image collected on April 20 provides one of the most detailed and current views of the Sinpo Shipyard, which houses North Korea's experimental ballistic missile submarine and submersible test stand barge. READ MORE

Recent satellite image shows indications of ongoing construction work near and inside Tunnel No. 3 at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Testing Site. READ MORE

Located 338-kilometers north of the demilitarized zone and only 25-kilometers from the Chinese border in Chagang Province, the Hoejung-ni missile operating base will, according to informed sources, likely house a regiment-sized unit equipped with intercontinental... READ MORE

While minor changes have taken place at Sohae Satellite Launching Station over the years, satellite imagery and other sources indicate that the roots of the recently announced modernization and expansion program likely date back to... 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

LANDSAT 7 and LANDSAT 8 thermal infrared satellite imagery in January and February show that warm water is being discharged from the 5MWe reactor at Yongbyon, confirming that the reactor and its cooling system are... READ MORE

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... 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