On the Summer Plenum of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea
From June 28 to July 1, 2024, the DPRK held “extended session of the 10th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, contributing to the successful implementation of the priorities and all tasks of the Party and state policy for 2024.” The plenary meeting summarized the results of work for the first half of the year and discussed “a number of next important issues in the continued rise of the phase of comprehensive rejuvenation of socialism in line with the Korean model.”
Possible consequences and prospects of Vladimir Putin’s visit to DPRK
The consequences of the visit of the Russian leader to North Korea and the documents signed there are so significant that they can propel the trend of global turbulence. How have Seoul, Beijing and Washington reacted to such a rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang and what will be Moscow’s response to the steps taken by Seoul and its allies?
Significance of Putin’s Visit to North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang last month on a two-day visit. This was the first visit of the Russian President to North Korea in 24 years. Historically, the two sides saw ups and downs in their relations. However, since the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Moscow and Pyongyang have seen an improvement in their bilateral relations. The recent visit of President Putin holds immense significance for global power politics due to the defense pact signed between the two countries.
Highlights of Vladimir Putin’s visit to DPRK
On June 18-19, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visit North Korea at the invitation of Supreme Leader and friend Kim Jong Un. The visit was a landmark event not only for bilateral relations, but perhaps even for the entire existing security architecture…
The Russia-North Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
On June 19, 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a landmark defence agreement during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to North Korea on the invitation of the Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The agreement was officially named as “Treaty on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.” The contours of the agreement are yet to be published by both sides; however, it can be assessed that it could be like the Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Charter, which calls for mutual defence of the NATO members…
A chronicle of inter-Korean tensions in spring 2024. Part Two: Actions of the DPRK
Pyongyang has successfully conducted a ground-based jet test of a solid-fueled engine for a new type of medium-range hypersonic missile. Tensions on the Korean peninsula will likely continue to rise, and missile launches, drills, and visits by strategic bombers, aircraft carriers, and nuclear subs to Korea will continue.
A myth of anti-Pyongyang propaganda
We hear all kinds of horror stories about North Korea in the media. Many of the negative stories about the DPRK are myths and exaggerations that have nothing to do with reality. Over the course of a month or two, using reliable sources and personal impressions, the author had to refute a number of common elements of anti-North Korean propaganda based on a certain image of an “evil state”…
“Freedom Shield” and Other Events of February-March 2024. Part Three: The North Is Keeping Up
Contrary to the anticipation of anti-Pyongyang propaganda discussed in the previous part of this digest, there have been no direct provocations, including in the area of the disputed maritime border. Instead, the North conducted its own exercise and criticized the enemy’s. Already on the day the exercise began, March 4, a DPRK Ministry of Defense spokesman issued a press statement. “The frantic war drills by the ROK puppets and vassal forces led by the US make…
“Freedom Shield” and Other Events of February-March 2024. Part One: Is The Border Under Attack?
On February 10, 2024, the Lunar New Year holiday, Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Second Marine Corps Division in Gimpo, inspected the Cheonmoo multiple rocket launcher system, and urged troops to be prepared for any North Korean provocations. “If the enemy provokes, you have to sternly and overwhelmingly respond under the principle of ‘act first, report later’ to completely crush the enemy’s will.”…
The latest report by South Korea’s Unification Ministry - a serious analysis or fake news?
It will soon be 10 years since the publication of South Korea’s review of the state of human rights in the DPRK, which, thanks to its uncritical treatment of sources, turned out to be “much ado about not very much”. 10 years later, on February 6, 2024, South Korea’s Ministry for Unification presented what it considered to be a serious report, Perceptions of the Current Socioeconomic Situation in the DPRK, based on the results of an analysis of surveys of 6,531 defectors who left the DPRK between 2013 and 2022…
On the January session of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK. Part Four. The ROK’s response and more
The session ended, and the idea of peaceful unification was discarded. Even the monument dedicated to it was removed. What did Seoul have to say on the matter? During a cabinet meeting held just hours after Kim Jong-un’s speech was published…
On the January session of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the DPRK. Part Three. Continued management innovation
While preparing the material, the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK was held on January 23–24, 2024, where Kim Jong-un’s proposed strategy for the development of local industry began to take shape. The Politburo meeting lasted for two days, which is rather rare. The meeting structure suggests that there was significant conceptualization taking place. The composition of the observers suggests that it was a nationwide planning meeting. The meeting included “members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee, members, and alternate members of the Political Bureau…