Kim Jong Un

Supreme Leader of North Korea - Leading deepening alliance with Russia

North Korea has not sent combat troops abroad since the Korean War ended in 1953. That changed in October 2024, when approximately 12,000 to 15,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia's Kursk region to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. By February 2026, an estimated 6,000 of those troops have been killed or wounded—making this North Korea's third deadliest military conflict.

Updated Feb 16

Supreme Leader of North Korea - Ordered 250% weapons production increase; sent New Year's greetings to troops fighting in Russia

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles on January 4, 2026, hours before South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed for Beijing to meet Xi Jinping. The missiles—traveling 900-950 kilometers at 50-kilometer altitudes—were Pyongyang's first weapons test of 2026 and a clear signal to both Seoul and its Chinese patron: don't make deals without us. Just hours before the launch, Kim Jong Un visited a tactical weapons factory and ordered production capacity expanded by 250 percent to meet 2026's "anticipated requirements."

Updated Jan 4

Supreme Leader of North Korea - Overseeing rapid nuclear expansion, revealing nuclear submarine, and preparing for 2026 party congress with new weapons production push

North Korea has conducted over 272 missile launches since 2012, with the pace accelerating dramatically. In late December 2025, Kim Jong Un watched cruise missiles fly for nearly three hours before hitting their targets, declaring the need for 'unlimited and sustained' nuclear expansion. Days earlier, he revealed an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine under construction—potentially with Russian assistance—and oversaw tests of new anti-air missiles hitting targets at 200 km altitude. Russia is now feeding Pyongyang advanced missile and space technology in exchange for artillery shells and troops for Ukraine—obliterating what's left of international sanctions.

Updated Dec 29, 2025