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North Korea’s state insurer won a yearslong legal battle against a Russian firm in London in a previously unreported case, official documents show, only for Russian courts to overrule the verdict, leaving the DPRK unable to collect on over half a million euros. The DPRK’s largest insurer Korea National Insurance Corporation (KNIC) accused the Moscow […] The post How North Korea’s state insurer won…
North Korean state media focused on promoting Kim Il Sung’s legacy around the 81st anniversary of the country’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule on Saturday. It credited Kim Il Sung for freeing the nation and used the occasion to legitimize the Kim family’s hereditary rule while asking its people to be loyal to the leader […] The post North Korea hails Kim Il Sung’s legacy while staying…
North Korea’s imports of items barred under U.N. sanctions ticked up in July even as overall shipments from China fell, while Pyongyang’s exports rebounded on the back of resurging wig trade, according to official data. Imports falling under machinery categories prohibited by U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2397 reached nearly $51,500 in July, marking a […] The post North Korea’s imports…
New vehicle courses have opened in Pyongyang to keep up with the city’s rapidly growing population of drivers, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, following the North Korean leader’s recent decision to overturn a ban on private car ownership. Planet Labs imagery shows new driving test or education courses have been established and […] The post New driving courses pop up in Pyongyang…
Corruption in the North Korean military reflects a much broader pattern that emerged throughout the country’s society following the economic collapse of the 1990s. More recently, it became notable when the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) government publicly accused military leader Pak Hui Chol for corruption during the party plenum in June. The matter […] The post How bribery became…
U.S. President Donald Trump is reaching for a familiar playbook in an attempt to revive one of his most unlikely diplomatic relationships — a friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, the U.S. president hailed his “very good relationship” with the North Korean leader and said he […] The post Trump revives playbook on North Korea diplomacy, but Kim holds…
North Korea has started construction on a west coast island near Nampho, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, after leader Kim Jong Un ordered the navy to build modern bases for large new warships under development. Planet Labs imagery shows the new activity started on Sok Island (석도) between July 15 and 25, […] The post North Korea starts construction on west coast island amid naval…
A wider range of North Korean products have or may soon be appearing on Russian supermarkets as Pyongyang seeks new markets for sanctioned goods like beer and apples. With the Vladivostok and North Korea’s Rason special economic zone bus route set to open by the end of the year, the developments could be viewed as […] The post Growing Russia-North Korea trade may not yet transform DPRK’s economy…
North Korea was the largest market overseas for Chinese wine by volume in the first half of 2026, ranking second only to the territory of Hong Kong for the fourth year in a row, according to NK Pro analysis. Monthly data published by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) shows North Korea imported 442,311 liters […] The post North Korea is China’s biggest foreign wine market for fourth…
North Korean authorities have sent thousands of people to live and work at a large construction site for a mixed residential and industrial project in eastern Pyongyang, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery. State media is not promoting the project despite its significant size, boasting over 30 apartment buildings and a 400,000 square-foot […] The post North Korea quietly mobilizes…
North Korean state media dedicated much of its coverage to anti-Japanese themes this week, with commentaries and statements criticizing Tokyo running almost daily ahead of the 81st anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule Saturday. Leader Kim Jong Un stayed out of public view for most of the week; state media showed him only […] The post North Korea silent on missile launches…
North Korean cybercriminals exploited a previously unknown weakness in Microsoft Windows in a campaign targeting defense organizations, using newly identified malware to gain access to computers. The Pyongyang-backed Lazarus Group took advantage of the zero-day vulnerability, designated CVE-2026-68820, as part of a long-running cyberespionage campaign, Israeli cybersecurity company Check Point…
