North Korea

Latest in North Korea

Celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Korean People’s Air Force (KPAF) provided an apparent first look at three new types of air-launched weapon, intended to arm the KPAF’s Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack aircraft, and potentially others. The event also yielded a better look at the country’s ‘copycat’ drones, the Saetbyol-4 and Saetbyol-9 that are almost exact visual copies of the U.S.-made RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, respectively.

Analyzing North Korea’s New Air-Launched Guided Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted Yesterday

North Korea has unveiled what it says is a new hypersonic missile dubbed Hwasong-11Ma, designed to be fired from a 10-wheeled transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) that can carry two of the weapons at once.

New North Korean Hypersonic Missile Unveiled At Pyongyang Arms Expo

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 6, 2025

A former top government insider opens up about the role of foreign adversaries in U.S. base drone incursions.

FAA Insider Opens Up About Drone Incursions Over Military Bases

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 15, 2025

South Korea is looking to develop a new air-launched ballistic missile, joining a group of nations that are looking to introduce this capability, or which already have systems of this kind in operational service. If successful, the program would likely see the weapon fielded on South Korea’s locally developed KF-21 fighter jet, which you can read more about here.

South Korea Has An Air-Launched Ballistic Missile Program

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 13, 2025

North Korea is reportedly sending 25,000 workers to Russia to build and learn how to operate drones.

North Korea Sending Russia Thousand Of Workers To Build Shahed Drones: Report

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 19, 2025

North Korea’s Partially Sunk Frigate Has Already Been Ceremoniously Relaunched

North Korea’s Partially Sunk Frigate Has Already Been Ceremoniously Relaunched

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 12, 2025

North Korean frigate dry dock

North Korea’s Frigate That Partially Sunk Appears In Dry Dock With Mangled Superstructure

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 10, 2025

Russia giving North Korea Shahed 136 production capability.

Russia Giving North Korea Shahed-136 Attack Drone Production Capability: Budanov

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 9, 2025

A North Korean frigate that partially submerged during a launch ceremony mishap is now floating.

North Korean Frigate Now Floating Upright After Partially Capsizing During Disastrous Launch

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 5, 2025

North Korea looks to be making progress in recovering the second in its Choi Hyun class of frigates, which rolled over and was partially submerged after an incident at its launch ceremony last month.

Partially Submerged North Korean Frigate Appears Upright Again In Satellite Image

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 3, 2025

Recovery efforts are underway for a North Korean frigate that capsized during a launch ceremony attended by dictator Kim Jong Un.

Partially Sunk North Korean Frigate Recovery Effort Seen Underway In Satellite Image

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 23, 2025

North Korea sunken destroyer

Aftermath Of Disastrous North Korean Frigate Launch Seen In Satellite Image (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on May 23, 2025

Imagery has emerged showing North Korea’s heavily armed new frigate, the Choi Hyon, firing a variety of weapons from its huge array of vertical launch system (VLS) cells. The missiles seen appear to include a previously unknown air defense missile and a possible new supersonic cruise missile.

North Korea’s New Frigate Tests Its Weapons Days After Commissioning

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 30, 2025

North Korea Frigate

North Korea’s New Frigate Has Ballistic Missile Launchers

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 27, 2025

North Korea's shadowy airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, based on a Russian Il-76 Candid cargo aircraft, has flown.

First North Korean Airborne Early Warning Jet Flies, Kim Shows Off Interior

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 26, 2025

New imagery shows the progress made on North Korea’s shadowy airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, based on an Ilyushin Il-76 Candid airlifter, and which you can read more about in our analysis of when it first broke cover. Since the start of this year the aircraft now had its rotodome fitted, putting paid to any suggestion that it’s intended for a role other than AEW&C.

Our Best Look At North Korea’s New Early-Warning Radar Plane

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 14, 2025