Colin Zwirko
@ColinZwirko
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Senior Analytic Correspondent @NKNewsOrg
Seoul, South Korea
Joined October 2012
Kim Jong Un walking into the politburo meeting, from KCTV June 5. Also some hummingbird applause on the left there
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Just so ridiculous
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Video of North Korea's TLBM (train-launched ballistic misisle)
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Missile Twitter rejects North Korea's latest missile launch, citing busy schedule.
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This drone shot was very close
NEW: North Korean state TV has aired the first video footage of Wednesday's Hwasong-18 long-range nuclear missile launch (see full story here:
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Ultimate parallel parking job to get Kim Jong Un's armored Maybach in his armored train, featuring a special ramp they probably brought with them and a bunch of bodyguards watching from all directions.
Ким Чен Ын и его бронированный Maybach покинул Комсомольск-на-Амуре -авто при помощи специальной платформы загрузили в бронепоезд.
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North Korean TV news anchor Ri Chun Hee here narrating a clip of herself fawning over Kim Jong Un as he gifts her and her family a new luxurious 2-story apartment in Pyongyang. She describes her own "youthful vigor" in the third person, reads descriptions of herself as.
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Pretty sure 4 of these guys had a massive fall off the TEL here unless there was some platform behind to save them (clip from Nov 19 after the ICBM launch)
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Just noticed KJU reduced the goose stepping intensity starting with the Oct 2020 military parade (right), compared here with the Sep 2018 parade (left). How kind
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Yes, another new apparent drone out on the runway at North Korea's Panghyon Airbase today, bigger than one we reported there last week. That previous instance was the first evidence of modern UAV flight testing since KJU ordered new development in Jan 2021.
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Seen a few Thunderbirds comments. Maybe KCTV editors are fans, because these successive launch sounds match up perfectly for some reason (I didn't edit the video)
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South Korea reportedly salvaged North Korea's Chollima-1 rocket finally, pics coming out from JCS
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Kim Jong Un inspecting more Hwasong-11D TELs at an unnamed factory. Very few photos, gonna be hard to confirm ID but let's see. Seems like 9x11=99 TELs. 20+ pillars, maybe ~200m long, new building? I'm eyeing this place at Ryongaksan in Pyongyang.
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Kim Jong Un gave a speech and handed out Paektusan guns for the anniversary of the end of the Korean War. But the photos. Top general Pak Jong Chon wary to point his at Kim in pic 2
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KCTV cut off the video footage soon after launch, just as some appeared to be veering off, not showing them flying very high as it has for some previous launches.
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Kim Jong Un tries on various eyewear at construction project opening ceremony.
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Unverified pics from Weibo purporting to show missile launched from Sinuiju area of North Korea, across the Chinese border city of Dandong. ROK has so far only talked about 3 of at least 10 missiles fired today being fired from Wonsan on the east coast.
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Official names from KCTV:.-"Morning Star-4" (샛별-4) (Global Hawk-type).-"Morning Star-9" (샛별-9) (Reaper-type)
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150 photos of the military parade from KCNA (not the best quality but here's a zip. wasn't sure the best filesharing website.
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Air raid sirens in Seoul, evacuation warnings in Japan.
BREAKING: North Korea launches unidentified missile, according to Japan's military, amid anticipation of Pyongyang's first military spy satellite launch. Air raid sirens also sounded off in Seoul at around 6:31 a.m. More @nknewsorg soon.
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Kim only built a sub so he could wear Kim Myong Sik's hat again .
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North Korea's State Emergency Disaster Committee can't update Chrome (KCTV July 17)
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First images of North Korea's military spy satellite launch .
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KJU and Navy commander Kim Myong Sik switched hats. alright then.
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Mainly referring to the crowd reaction around him. Navy Commander Kim Myong Sik slowly bends down and gives an encouraging toddler clap. Top military general Pak Jong Chon on far right tries to look like he's just witnessed a miracle.
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I see evidence of design features similar to those of the RQ-4 Global Hawk.-wing shape.-wingspan similar to RQ-4A.-shadows indicative of a V-tail .-dark spot on top of fuselage around the wing intersection, possibly shadow cast by air intake.
Yes, another new apparent drone out on the runway at North Korea's Panghyon Airbase today, bigger than one we reported there last week. That previous instance was the first evidence of modern UAV flight testing since KJU ordered new development in Jan 2021.
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Military shows quirky side with leopard print chairs at meeting on nuclear attack and invasion of South Korea
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Location appears to be northern runway at Pyongyang International Airport (can see burn/chemical mark in center of this image)
BREAKING: North Korea says it fired a Hwasong-17 ICBM on Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un watching on with his daughter. More from @nknewsorg soon.
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Kim Jong Un angrily pointing and yelling at last week's plenum (KCTV Feb. 12)
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Reaper-type North Korean drone (SB-9) missile launch testing geolocated to west coast 39.591731°, 125.050425° (from military parade KCTV video), sort of nearby Panghyon AB where flight testing appeared to be based
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Dare I say these trains will be identifiable in satellite imagery with that retractable roof crease? . The marching military scientists were a nice touch too
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New PSA up at Seoul City Hall, it's been an "all in this together" message in months past but amid the new surge in cases this month they switch to fear messaging. "Which mask would you prefer?" Regular or respirator?
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Just a guess but these Air Koryo planes at the Pyongyang airport might have gone out to pick people up for the upcoming military parade. Perhaps war veterans. It looks like staircases attached. It's a typical arrangement for an arrival ceremony
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Kim at the fighter jet factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur today, according to Russian media. Full coverage from @nknewsorg coming. Also see preview story:
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Exterior look now vs the place under military construction years ago. Look at those uneven bricks. This is where they say they're creating space environments.
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Lots of KCTV footage of the Hwasong-17 ICBM test doesn't match up with satellite imagery of the launch site. Possible scenario: it's Hwasong-17 footage up until it exploded on March 16, using Hwasong-15 flight data March 24 as cover.
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Different serial numbers for Global Hawk-type drones being tested (2102002) and one at the expo (2102001).
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SCOOP: Lockdown issued in Pyongyang. Authorities aren't mentioning the forbidden word COVID yet, but a 5-day lockdown is a big deal. On the other hand, they didn't attach a duration to the May 2022 lockdown order.
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'Any of our construction or delivery trucks could be MRL launchers'.Emphasizes WPRG guerrilla warfare role
BREAKING: North Korea conducted an overnight paramilitary parade with Kim Jong Un, his daughter and other top officials in attendance on Saturday. A Chinese delegation and Russian guests watched the procession of civil forces march through the streets of Pyongyang. Story soon
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I don't know what North Korea is planning, but I'm investigating
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New 100-minute KJU propaganda documentary on KCTV Sunday, titled "The People's Father." Another one about "fatherly care" for the people re: policies on home construction, food, consumer goods, COVID etc. Not too exciting but some tidbits. First, tshirt touchin a plant on a train
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Bit of pandemonium around Kim's Lexus SUV after Friday's ceremony at a veggie farm construction site. Complete with KJU standing out the sunroof shooing away the throngs of soldiers surrounding his car. Waves them away, then quick salute of respect, then shoos them off again
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First pics of the confirmed Hwasong-18 ICBM test from state media. Looks like maybe from a road on the Taedonggang fruit farm in east Pyongyang just judging from the fruit farm decorations at the watch stand, and maybe same tunnel as previous HS18 test from the area (pic4)
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North Korea reveals a new 12-axle ICBM TEL (its largest yet), looks similar to the solid-fuel TEL design to me, like the Hwasong-18, though that missile's TEL has only 9 axles.
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Kim Jong Un makes first appearance in over a month, first outside Pyongyang this year too up at Samjiyon. Mt. Paektu horse ride I'd say is a possibility this week too now. More from @nknewsorg soon
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That time US Northcom said KJU is on Santa's naughty list.
Santa just tracked over Pyongyang, North Korea. Though its leaders may be naughty, the children are still nice. @NoradSanta.
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Wow. Hwasong-16 on stage behind Kim Jong Un at Defense 2021 meeting, more from @nknewsorg soon
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North Korean disco robot 2021 . (post-congress arts show KCTV Jan 14)
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North Korea says 250 TELs for the Hwasong-11D tactical SRBM/CRBM were handed over to units on the South Korean border at a ceremony on Sunday held at the Mirim military parade training complex.
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First image of North Korea's reported "anti-air missile" tested on Sept. 30. Will post a better quality image soon. And watch @nknewsorg for more
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North Korea blurring more faces of officials. This guy seems to have been at a March 2016 nuclear device inspection with KJU (on right), but i'm not sure what his name is
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I've been covering actual North Korean state sponsored social media influence campaigns for years and this is a bad take. This merely appears to be an example of a former tour guide for an actual independent company promoting NK uncritically or hoping to maintain access. .
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Interesting development: North Korea says its Sept. 25 SLBM test was from an "underwater launching ground 저수지수중발사장" on the *northwest* coast, and that this launch platform is still "under construction.".
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Many of the tanks and trucks at the parade still held this slogan prominently on the front: "Destroy the U.S. Imperialist Aggressors! The sworn enemy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (조선인민의 철천지 원쑤인 미제침략자들을소멸하라)" @nknewsorg
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Shoigu and his military delegation flew to Pyongyang on a Russian Air Force Il-96, RA-96102 from Moscow
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State TV released video Sunday night of North Korea's simulated artillery fire (soldiers setting explosions near the coast) designed to test how South Korea detects and reports. Read more here:
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Diagonal DPRK flag balanced against Russian flag indeed
Prep still going at the square. Kinda looks like this diagonal DPRK flag banner hung on the right side is meant to balance another flag on the left, still covered in white. Maybe Russian flag, but all that's still unconfirmed. Or WPK flag etc or other kinda event (@planet)
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North Korean food truck (upper right). At Sept. 8 banquet on WPK HQ lawn. Looks like Kim Jong Un's top logistics coordinator Hyon Song Wol standing next to it
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The man behind KJU is wearing sunglasses (in the fog), a mask, and state media blurred his face for good measure. Unclear why yet
NEW: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw Sunday's missile launch as part of 2 days of drills "simulating tactical nuclear attack," according to state media. A report Monday repeated that the launch should serve as another "warning" to the US and South Korea
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The Internationale (인터나쇼날) played out the conclusion of North Korea's Congress
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NEW: First high-res satellite image (@planet) of North Korea's Pyongyang International Airport since March 24 ICBM launch reveals a possible burn mark from that launch – up the road from the one created by the Hwasong-17. This supports our conclusion.
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Yonhap illustration including the jets that conducted the retaliation warning strike noted above and others taking part in the Vigilant Storm air force joint drills going on today and all this week
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The ultimate optical shot
Waiting patiently for an optical shot - please share if you have one. Current theories are that this is either flowers or humans in formation (which I’m doubtful of but would love to be proven wrong, that would be insane).
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Mid-drills dance party, updated version
This reminds me: I was monitoring KCTV all day today and. there was this song titled "훈련장의 쉴참은 좋아" (I Love Break Time [break time snack?] at the Training Ground). It's. Funky.
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North Korean TV shows arch enemy USA beating close ally Iran. McDonalds delivers, the viewer reads.
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Most of the KCTV report was still images but this short video part was included showing just one salvo launch of 6, unclear if there was a second salvo launch
KCTV just aired short video of the launch, we're only shown the 6 launchers firing a single time from the top-right canister. Unclear what/when the "unexpected maneuver" is. Maybe the 2 TELs to the side were used for the airburst test half an hour later.
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An older Pyongyang man reveals Kim Jong Un's sudden weight loss is being talked about in North Korea. "Seeing [Kim Jong Un] become emaciated like that, we all became so sad. Everyone just started to cry". (No vid in Yonhap report. KCTV Jun25 915pm)
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Kim in his new Aurus limo from Putin, a symbol of extremely close DPRK-Russia relations and joint rejection of UN sanctions. Convoy includes American Ford vans and Japanese Lexus/Toyota SUVs
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Kim Jong Un watched the Hwasong-17 ICBM test from a parking apron at the Pyongyang International Airport, from the same observation bus he used to watch a hypersonic missile test in January. Note the yellow bins visible in this @planet Mar 22 shot.(39.197375°, 125.668951°)
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A few more. No daughter shown in images. No photos from the rocket pointed back at earth. If successfully in orbit as they claimed, might take time to then get 'sample' photos from the satellite processed etc so could still come out later.
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State TV airs a lengthy segment of young North Koreans cheering and crying as Kim Jong Un arrived for a group photo Monday. Kim kept his distance, bodyguards watched the line closely (1/2) .
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Not seen a 4k resolution version of the hypersonic missile yet, but here's a 2k version
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North Korea rolled out the big propaganda posters threatening missile strikes on Washington for a mass anti-US rally on Saturday, the June 25 holiday marking the start of the Korean War. First big public events like this in 5 years (read here:
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Strange lessons in a new North Korean cartoon aired last week. Early on, acrobat girl tells her overweight friend that she's "fat" and should walk instead of riding the bus. Invites her over, gives her tons of snacks and tells her to be "teacher" while she practices all night.
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KCTV aired new shots of KJU's weapons factory visits, strangely a day and a half later than usual. More than just the KN25 MLRS rockets at that factory, plus some i guess historical cruise missile engines? (March cruise missile test framed photo in bg).
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KCTV airs first video of North Korea's satellite launch. Some looks inside the moveable shelter structure on the launchpad. Shots of the Pyongyang control room. New celebration shot with Kim Jong Sik.Read more on the event here:
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Regarding North Korea's Oct. 19 missile test from Sinpho, here's the submarine development base at Sinpho where missiles have been tested before. The SLBM test barge *seems* to have been out in the bay on Oct. 18, a day before the test. No imagery for Oct. 19. @planet (1/2)
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Marx and Lenin portraits are back in Pyongyang.
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Holy shit they're actually gonna do it
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More activity at newly rebuilt Sunchon Airbase, seemingly related to planes participating in the upcoming military parade @planet. Also likely stage built quite early at the square, raising questions of the parade timing again, but 7.27 still seems likely.
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More new North Korean missile art and more posted by the Russian embassy in Pyongyang today
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Fired towards Ulleungdo, a major shift in tact and geographical direction here as North Korean missiles typically land in waters near their own coast or at least north of the inter-Korean border. (Or over Japan in space.) Unclear how close it got to the South Korean island
Story here:.
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Still no military parade on KCTV, another program is airing now. But here's a picture of Kim Il Sung in a military uniform. Did Kim Jong Un ever wear a military uniform? Yes, one picture of it exists
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Not exactly a big mystery but this is probably the Feb. 18 ICBM launch location at Pyongyang International Airport, given the appearance of white material covering the road. We've seen similar in clearer imagery indicating cleanup of liquids or burn marks from launch.
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Kim Jong Un's convoy in Vladivostok was aptly led by South Korean Hyundai Staria vans
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