Destroyer deployment, missile tests, drone warfare and North Korea’s near misses

Destroyer deployment, missile tests, drone warfare and North Korea’s near misses

This week’s episode of the NK News Podcast looks at North Korea’s military modernization, from Kim Jong Un’s new 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer to recent tactical missile and artillery tests. Korea Risk Group Correspondent Joon Ha Park discusses what the destroyer adds to Pyongyang’s navy, why its assignment to the West Sea Fleet matters and what South Korea’s delayed public confirmation of a Hwasong-11D launch reveals about missile disclosure policy. He also breaks down Seoul’s push to expand drone and counter-drone capabilities — including loitering munitions, laser and microwave defenses — and plans to train hundreds of thousands of “drone warriors.” Afterward, Dr. Fyodor Tertitskiy joins the podcast to discuss his new book, “Pyongyang on the Brink,” which explores 16 crises that could have changed North Korea’s history — and what they reveal about the survival, fragility and possible future of the Kim dynasty. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Alannah Hill exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

Ambassador recall, remote work scams and the lives of North Korea’s elites

This week’s episode of the NK News Podcast looks at North Korea’s decision to recall its ambassador to the U.K. just weeks after his appointment, in protest over British sanctions on the Songdowon International Children’s Camp.  NK News Lead Correspondent Shreyas Reddy discusses why the camp holds symbolic importance for Pyongyang, its links to Russia and Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled territories, and what the diplomatic downgrade could mean for DPRK-U.K. relations. He also examines a new Nisos investigation into a North Korean IT worker network that submitted nearly 170,000 job applications and secured more than 21,000 interviews over nine months.  Later on, Jieun Baek joins the podcast to discuss her new book “Privileged But Powerless,” which examines the lives of North Korea’s elites through interviews with senior-level defectors.  She explains how diplomats, party officials and other elites can enjoy access and status while remaining vulnerable to surveillance, purges and shifting political pressures, as well as why fear and “performative loyalty” continue to shape behavior among those closest to power. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Alannah Hill exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

Brian Davis on how the US military collects intel: North Korea Unpacked

This month, retired U.S. Army Col. Brian Davis joins North Korea Unpacked with Jacco Zwetsloot to discuss lessons from his nearly 40-year career spanning some of the most consequential periods in U.S.-DPRK relations. He talks about how intelligence on North Korea is gathered and analyzed, how U.S. and South Korean military priorities shifted from conventional threats to nuclear and missile programs and why Pyongyang remains one of the world's most difficult intelligence targets.  Davis also reflects on the 2017 "fire and fury" period, the risks of military action against North Korea and what lessons Pyongyang may have drawn from conflicts in Ukraine, Iran and elsewhere. He also recounts one of the most unusual episodes of his career: crossing the Military Demarcation Line at Panmunjom to help service a fax machine gifted to North Korean counterparts. U.S. Army Col. Brian Davis is a former military intelligence officer, a role in which he analyzed DPRK military capabilities, threat environments and decision-making at an operational level. About the podcast: North Korea Unpacked with Jacco Zwetsloot is a monthly long-form interview series from the NK News Podcast, featuring in-depth conversations with experts and specialists on North Korea. The regular weekly NK News Podcast, hosted by Alannah Hill, continues to cover the latest developments in the North Korea news cycle.

Yoon’s prison sentence, Xi’s North Korea visit and shifting peninsula dynamics

This week, NK News CEO Chad O’Carroll and Chris Green of International Crisis Group join the podcast to discuss a Seoul court’s decision to sentence former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison, finding that he orchestrated a drone operation that sought to provoke a North Korean response and create a pretext for declaring martial law. The episode also explores Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Pyongyang, the absence of denuclearization from official summit readouts, China’s increasingly pragmatic approach to North Korea’s nuclear status and the prospects for expanded trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.  Finally, Chad and Chris preview the upcoming West Coast Exchange, a three-day gathering of Korea watchers, diplomats, journalists, academics and policymakers. They discuss the event’s emphasis on informal networking and field visits, the value of off-the-record conversations and why participants often gain as much from discussions outside the conference room as they do from the formal sessions. About the podcast: The NK News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Alannah Hill exclusively for NK News, covering the latest developments in and around North Korea. Each episode breaks down the week’s news cycle with NK News journalists, analysts and expert guests.

Xi Jinping’s return to Pyongyang and the future of China-North Korea relations

On this week’s episode, NK News Lead Correspondent Shreyas Reddy unpacks Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to North Korea in seven years and what it reveals about the future of China-DPRK relations. The conversation examines the symbolism and strategic messaging behind the two-day summit, including Xi's meetings with Kim Jong Un, visits to the Sino-DPRK Friendship Tower and the Workers' Party cadre school. Shreyas also discusses why denuclearization was notably absent from official readouts and what that suggests about Beijing's evolving approach to North Korea's nuclear program. The episode also explores whether China is seeking to reassert its influence as North Korea's ties with Russia deepen, what signs to watch for regarding trade, tourism and border reopenings, and why the composition of the Chinese delegation may offer clues about Beijing's priorities.  About the podcast: The NK News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Alannah Hill exclusively for NK News, covering the latest developments in and around North Korea. Each episode breaks down the week’s news cycle with NK News journalists, analysts and expert guests.