May 30, 2025, by Victor Cha—
CSIS' Victor Cha walks through the implications of U.S. troop withdrawal, explains the history of U.S. troop commitment in Korea since 1955, and discusses President Trump's inaction over North Korea's provocations... The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the Trump administration is considering a withdrawal of…
May 28, 2025—
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 of provocations, including from missile and nuclear tests, airplane hijackings, bombings, exchange of fire, to infiltration and territorial incursions into South Korea.
May 27, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Latest satellite image of Chongjin shows the ongoing salvage operation of the vessel assessed to be the second Choe Hyon-class guided missile destroyer... Close-up of the ongoing salvage operations for the second Choe Hyon-class DDGHM, May 26, 2025.…
May 22, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Satellite imagery confirmed North Korea's reporting that a new destroyer at Chongjin has failed to launch, leading to significant damage... Close-up view of the second Choe Hyon-class DDGHM covered in a collection of blue tarps and surrounded by a crane barge and other support vessels....
May 12, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Recent satellite image shows that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGHM) is under construction at the Hambuk Shipyard in Chongjin... Close-up view of the new guided missile destroyer (DDGHM) under construction at Hambuk Shipyard, Chongjin,…
May 8, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
The last of a three-part series on the Yongdok-tong Nuclear High Explosive Test Facility, a critical component in the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of North Korea’s nuclear warheads, explores the underground facilities at Yongdok-tong and elsewhere.
May 2, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
The second of a three-part series on the Yongdok-tong Nuclear High Explosive Test Facility, a critical component in the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of North Korea’s nuclear warheads, explores development from 2010s to today.
April 30, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
On April 25, North Korea launched the guided missile destroyer (DDGHM) Choe Hyon, the largest warship ever produced by North Korea... The Choe Hyon guided missile destroyer during its launch ceremony at Nampo on April 25, 2025. KCNA. On April 25, North Korea launched the guided...
April 23, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Recent imagery show clearest view yet of North Korea's largest warship, the new guided missile frigate (FFG), with netting removed... New guided missile frigate (FFG) at Nampo Navy Shipyard with netting mostly removed, April 21, 2025. Copyright © Planet 2025. Image may not be republished...
April 22, 2025, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
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 secret facility currently available at the unclassified level.
