Kim Jong Un

Force in Play

In power; actively grooming successor

South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on April 6 that it's now "fair to view" Kim Ju Ae — Kim Jong Un's approximately 13-year-old daughter — as his designated successor. The assessment cites her completed successor training and expanded public profile, including appearances driving tanks and firing weapons at military events.

Updated May 30

Built World

Overseeing controlled reopening while deepening military ties with Russia

North Korea sealed its borders on January 23, 2020, before most countries had heard of COVID-19. For six years it operated in near-total isolation: China trade fell 96%, food reached levels not seen since the 1990s famine that killed hundreds of thousands, and no tourists entered.

Updated May 30

Force in Play

Leading deepening alliance with Russia

North Korea has not sent combat troops abroad since the Korean War ended in 1953. In October 2024, approximately 12,000 to 15,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia's Kursk region to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.

Updated May 29

Force in Play

Ordered 250% weapons production increase; sent New Year's greetings to troops fighting in Russia

On January 4, 2026, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles traveling 900-950 kilometers at 50-kilometer altitudes—Pyongyang's first test of 2026. Hours before, Kim Jong Un ordered production capacity expanded 250 percent at a tactical weapons factory; the launch coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's departure for Beijing to meet Xi Jinping.

Updated May 19

New Capabilities

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.

Updated May 16