North Korea (Kim Jong Un)
Assessment
Fired several Hwasong-11 series short-range ballistic missiles and 600mm rocket artillery from the Wonsan area on Sept 12, a day after the trilateral Freedom Edge exercise ended, and KCNA confirmed on Sept 14 that this was a joint firepower attack drill by five artillery and missile units against an island target using attack drones, a tactical cruise missile and a thermobaric multiple rocket launcher. Troops, drone operators and munitions continue to flow to Russia, and Kim Yo Jong says there is no communication with Trump.
Recent, assessed
- 2026-09-14KCNA describes the Sept 12 launches as a joint firepower attack drill by subunits of five artillery and missile units, involving attack drones, a tactical cruise missile, a large-calibre thermobaric multiple rocket launcher and a tactical ballistic missile aimed at an island target. koreaherald.com
Level history
Levels set by research reviews. A level set by hand is shown at the top of the page while it is in force and is not part of this history.
| Date | Level | Review |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-15 | 3 | Weekly review |
| 2026-09-14 | 3 | Weekly review |
| 2026-09-12 | 3 | Weekly review |
| 2026-09-12 | 3 | Baseline |
Latest headlines 12
Matched to this entry by keyword from the pull of 19 Sep, 11:09 UTC. Not reviewed; some may be off-topic.
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calls for strengthening artillery — Korea Herald
- Kim Jong Un inspects weapons factories, calls for AI and automation upgrades
- North Korea rejects IAEA resolution, doubles down on nuclear status as Kim Jong Un tours weapons plants
- IAEA adopts resolution on DPRK's nuclear program
- What’s Behind Seoul’s Olive Branch to Pyongyang?
- Touting ‘irreversible’ nuclear status, Pyongyang mocks ‘delusions about denuclearization’
- US drills pushing North Korea to expand nuclear arsenal, says Kim Jong Un’s sister
- North Korean official rebukes US, defends nukes during international conference
- Kim Yo Jong raises the stakes with the US and warns that she will strengthen Pyongyang's nuclear deterrence.
- French novelist traces Korean history through a North Korean spy
- Kim Yo Jong threatens ‘more offensive’ response to US military drills in Pacific
- Opinion | A new Trump-Kim summit would be a nightmare for everyone but Pyongyang