US Korea Institute

Thursday May 17th 2012
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38 North offers informed analysis of events in and around the DPRK.

Satellite Imagery

North Korea Resumes Construction of Light Water Reactor: Completion of Buildings May Be Near

North Korea Resumes Construction of Light Water Reactor: Completion of»

After months of inactivity, North Korea has resumed work on its new experimental light water reactor (ELWR), which the DPRK claims is intended to help solve domestic energy shortages, but is also an important component in its effort to build nuclear weapons. Commercial satellite photography from April 30, 2012 reveals that Pyongyang is now close to completion of the reactor containment building. The next major step in construction will be [Read More]


WMD

Questions about the Unha-3 Failure Questions about the Unha-3 »

Three weeks have passed since the North Korean failed satellite launch and we’re still waiting for more information to accurately assess what happened. The United States, as [Read More]


North Korea’s New Long-Range Missile: Fact or Fiction? North Korea’s New »

Introduction North Korea’s unveiling of a new long-range missile in its April 15 parade, designated the KN-08 by Western experts, has caused a great deal of speculation. [Read More]


Domestic Affairs

Will North Korea’s Plans for »

Will North Korea’s Plans for Foreign Investment Make It a More Prosperous Nation?

North Korea has been touting for some time that 2012 is the year it will demonstrate its credentials as a “strong and prosperous nation.” On March 17, [Read More]


Succession Watch

North Korea’s Ideology after April 2012: Continuity or Disruption? North Korea’s »

Introduction Until the death of Kim Jong Il in December 2011, the big question [Read More]


Hereditary Succession in North Korea: Lessons of the Past Hereditary »

North Korea’s transition to third-generation Kim leadership appears to be going [Read More]


Party Time in Pyongyang Party Time in »

As I write this article, April is already more than half over. In North Korea, the party [Read More]


Credit for photo of young North Korean girl: T.M. All rights reserved, used with permission.