What's happened
As of early January 2026, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised the country's 2025 military and economic progress, including the near-completion of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine and multiple missile tests. He reaffirmed commitment to nuclear weapons development and sent New Year greetings to North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine, emphasizing the Pyongyang-Moscow alliance ahead of a key party congress.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Military Consolidation
North Korea's recent activities underscore a deliberate strategy to solidify its military capabilities and international alliances. The near-completion of a nuclear-powered submarine capable of launching strategic missiles marks a significant leap in Pyongyang's naval deterrence, complicating regional security dynamics. This development, coupled with frequent missile tests, signals a focus on enhancing precision strike capabilities and expanding nuclear delivery systems.
Deepening Russia Ties
The deployment of approximately 14,000 North Korean troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, with over 6,000 casualties, reflects a deepening military partnership. In exchange, Russia provides North Korea with financial aid, military technology, and essential supplies, bolstering Pyongyang's resilience against international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
Domestic Messaging and Political Consolidation
Kim Jong Un's public appearances with his daughter Ju Ae, a potential successor, and his emphasis on unity ahead of the 9th Party Congress, indicate efforts to consolidate internal power and legitimize ongoing military expansions. The framing of overseas military involvement as heroic serves to bolster nationalist sentiment and justify the regime's strategic choices.
Regional and Global Implications
North Korea's advancements will likely exacerbate tensions with South Korea, Japan, and the United States, especially as Seoul pursues its own nuclear-powered submarine program with U.S. support. The enhanced military capabilities and Pyongyang's alignment with Moscow complicate diplomatic efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and may trigger an arms race in the region.
Forecast
Expect North Korea to continue showcasing military developments and deepen its alliance with Russia. The upcoming party congress will likely formalize aggressive defense policies, including nuclear weapons expansion. Regional actors must prepare for heightened security challenges and recalibrate diplomatic strategies accordingly.
What the papers say
The New York Times highlights North Korea's progress on its nuclear-powered submarine, noting that "the completed and welded hull means that they have already mounted a nuclear reactor inside," with expert Hong Min suggesting Russian technological assistance in exchange for military support in Ukraine. Reuters and KCNA reports emphasize Kim Jong Un's praise for missile tests and the submarine's near completion, framing these as "responsible exercises" amid security threats. France 24 and Al Jazeera provide context on North Korea's troop deployments to Ukraine, with Kim calling the soldiers "heroes" and stressing the "invincible alliance" with Russia. The Japan Times and The Independent focus on the strategic implications of North Korea's missile tests and submarine development, warning of increased regional instability. The Moscow Times details the mutual benefits of the Pyongyang-Moscow alliance, including military aid and financial support. These sources collectively illustrate a narrative of North Korea leveraging its military advancements and international partnerships to strengthen its position domestically and globally.
How we got here
North Korea has intensified its military development amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula and global scrutiny. Since 2024, Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, deepening their strategic alliance. The country is preparing for the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, which will set its five-year development plan, including nuclear and weapons programs.
Go deeper
- What is the significance of North Korea's nuclear-powered submarine?
- How does North Korea's alliance with Russia affect the Ukraine conflict?
- What are the implications for regional security in East Asia?
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More on these topics
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
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South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Kim Jong-un is a North Korean politician who has been the supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Sanae Takaichi is a conservative Japanese politician.
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Japan is an island country of East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It borders the Sea of Japan to the west and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.
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Itsunori Onodera is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet. He served as the Minister of Defense from 2012 to 2014 and again from 2017 to 2018.
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The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, frequently abbreviated to LDP or Jimintō, is a conservative political party in Japan.
The LDP has almost continuously been in power since its foundation in 1955—a period called the 1955 System—with the exception
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A nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor, but not necessarily nuclear-armed. The performance advantages of nuclear submarines over "conventional" submarines are considerable.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Pyongyang is the capital and largest city of North Korea. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about 109 kilometers upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. According to the 2008 population census, it has a population of 3,255,288. Pyongyang is a d