Destroyer deployment, missile tests, drone warfare and North Korea’s near misses
North Korea News Podcast by NK NewsShow Notes
This week’s episode of the NK News Podcast looks at North Korea’s military modernization, from Kim Jong Un’s new 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer to recent tactical missile and artillery tests.
Korea Risk Group Correspondent Joon Ha Park discusses what the destroyer adds to Pyongyang’s navy, why its assignment to the West Sea Fleet matters and what South Korea’s delayed public confirmation of a Hwasong-11D launch reveals about missile disclosure policy.
He also breaks down Seoul’s push to expand drone and counter-drone capabilities — including loitering munitions, laser and microwave defenses — and plans to train hundreds of thousands of “drone warriors.”
Afterward, Dr. Fyodor Tertitskiy joins the podcast to discuss his new book, “Pyongyang on the Brink,” which explores 16 crises that could have changed North Korea’s history — and what they reveal about the survival, fragility and possible future of the Kim dynasty.
About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Alannah Hill exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.
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Editor’s note: This interview was recorded in July 2026. Some references to recent events and political developments reflect the situation at the time of recording and may differ from subsequent developments.
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