Proposed legislation can authorize the Department of Defense (the Pentagon) to revoke security clearances of former defense officials who lobby on behalf of companies substantially owned or controlled by designated adversary governments.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
Policy approach to limit former officials' ability to leverage past security access when working for foreign-linked companies.
Proposed legislation can impose lifetime bans on Senate-confirmed federal officials from lobbying on behalf of designated adversary governments such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
Legislative mechanism intended to restrict former high-level officials from representing hostile foreign interests.
Proposed reforms to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) can eliminate the 'commercial' exemption and the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) exemptions for entities tied to countries of concern, thereby requiring entities representing or advocating for companies substantially owned or controlled by adversary governments to register publicly as foreign agents.
November 18, 2025
high
temporal
Legal change aimed at increasing transparency for representation of foreign-owned or controlled companies.
In 2025, North Korea accelerated its pace of weapons testing, including tests described as purported hypersonic missile launches and cruise missile launches.
November 07, 2025
high
temporal
Describes a trend in North Korea's weapons testing activity reported in 2025.
Since 2019, Kim Jong Un has accelerated the expansion of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
November 07, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the trajectory of North Korea's weapons development program following the breakdown of earlier diplomacy.
North Korea possesses nuclear-capable missiles of various ranges that are capable of targeting U.S. allies in Asia and the U.S. mainland.
November 07, 2025
high
temporal
Characterizes the composition and reach of North Korea's missile arsenal as reported in 2025.
Between 2022 and 2025, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control reported that North Korean malware and social engineering schemes diverted more than $3 billion, mostly in digital assets, an amount the office said was larger than that attributable to any other foreign actor.
November 04, 2025
high
statistical
Estimate of funds diverted by North Korean cyber schemes as reported by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury characterizes North Korean state-sponsored hackers as stealing and laundering money to fund North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
November 04, 2025
high
behavioral
Statement of intent and financial motivation attributed to state-sponsored North Korean cyber actors.
North Korea relies on a network of banking representatives, financial institutions, and shell companies in North Korea, China, Russia, and elsewhere to launder funds obtained through IT worker fraud, cryptocurrency heists, and sanctions evasion.
November 04, 2025
high
operational
Description of mechanisms and geographic reach used to launder funds linked to North Korean cyber and fraud operations.
In 2025, North Korea conducted multiple missile launches and described some tested systems as 'cutting-edge' strategic weapons.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Characterization of North Korea's weapons testing activity and its public claims about weapon capability.
As of 2025, the United States and South Korea maintain close military coordination aimed primarily at deterring North Korean aggression.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Bilateral security posture and alliance focus between the United States and South Korea.
North Korea is the only nation known to have conducted a nuclear detonation since the 1990s.
November 03, 2025
high
temporal
Recent global history of nuclear detonations.
The United States signed but did not ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the CTBT has been observed by countries possessing nuclear weapons since its adoption, with North Korea being the only exception.
November 02, 2025
high
policy
Status and international observance of the CTBT
A Federation of American Scientists analysis reported that nine countries, including China, France, India, North Korea, and the United Kingdom, possess a total of roughly 12,240 nuclear warheads, and that Russia and the United States together control approximately 90% of those warheads.
October 31, 2025
high
statistical
Global nuclear warhead stockpile summary from Federation of American Scientists analysis cited in media coverage.
North Korea possesses a nuclear-armed military.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
General description of North Korea's strategic forces.
North Korea has conducted tests of hypersonic missile systems intended to strengthen its nuclear war deterrent.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Describes the development and testing of hypersonic-capable delivery systems as part of deterrent efforts.
North Korea fields sea-to-surface cruise missiles that are intended to strike maritime targets.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Characterizes North Korea's naval strike capabilities.
North Korea has destroyers named Choe Hyon and Kang Kon that are presented as part of efforts to modernize and strengthen its navy.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
Names specific naval vessels associated with North Korea's naval modernization.
Japan has concentrated defense buildup on its southwestern islands to increase military self-sufficiency in response to regional threats including China's increasingly assertive military activity, and also cites concerns about North Korea and Russia.
October 29, 2025
high
temporal
The southwestern islands have been a focus of Japanese defensive posture due to proximity to regional flashpoints.
As of 2025-10-28, North Korea has been increasing its weapons testing.
October 28, 2025
high
temporal
Described as a regional security trend involving weapons tests.
North Korea has escalated its testing of ballistic missiles in recent years.
October 26, 2025
high
trend
Describes an ongoing security trend related to North Korea's weapons testing.
North Korea routinely uses large military parades as instruments of domestic propaganda, and those parades have become more frequent and larger under Kim Jong-un.
October 11, 2025
high
descriptive
Use of military parades to influence domestic audiences and display regime strength.
North Korea has developed multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles under Kim Jong-un, including an ICBM designated Hwasong-20 that had not been test-launched as of 2025-10-11.
October 11, 2025
high
descriptive
Status of North Korea's strategic missile development and testing.
United States policy has long sought the 'complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling' of North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
October 11, 2025
high
descriptive
Longstanding U.S. objective regarding DPRK nuclear disarmament.
North Korea asserts that it should be accepted as a nuclear weapons state and has conditioned resuming dialogue with the United States on Washington's willingness not to attempt to deprive North Korea of its nuclear arsenal.
October 11, 2025
high
descriptive
North Korea's stated negotiating position regarding its nuclear capability and diplomacy.
As of 2025, North Korea has flight-tested a range of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that analysts assess could potentially reach the U.S. mainland, including newer designs using solid propellant which are generally easier to transport and can be prepared for launch more quickly than older liquid-fueled missiles.
October 11, 2025
high
temporal
Trend in North Korea's strategic missile development and propulsion technologies.
North Korean sources have described recently tested solid-fuel rocket engines built with carbon fiber as more powerful than previous engine models.
October 11, 2025
high
temporal
Claims about improvements in rocket motor materials and performance.
North Korea has articulated interest in developing multi-warhead ballistic missile systems (MIRVs) intended to increase the likelihood of penetrating missile defenses.
October 11, 2025
high
temporal
Stated strategic objective related to ballistic missile capabilities.
North Korea has flight-tested a variety of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in recent years, including missiles with solid propellant that are easier to move and conceal and can be prepared for launch more quickly than liquid-fueled ICBMs.
October 10, 2025
high
temporal
Describes broad trends in North Korean ICBM propulsion and operational characteristics.
In 2025 North Korea tested a new solid-fuel rocket engine built with carbon-fiber components that was reported by North Korean sources to be more powerful than earlier models.
October 10, 2025
medium
temporal
Technical development of missile propulsion technology as reported by North Korean sources.
North Korea has pursued development of multi-warhead (MIRV) ballistic missile systems intended to improve the likelihood of penetrating missile defenses.
October 10, 2025
medium-high
temporal
Policy and development objective regarding ballistic missile payload configurations.
North Korea possesses shorter-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic missiles that its authorities have described as capable of delivering nuclear strikes against targets in South Korea.
October 10, 2025
high
temporal
Overview of types of North Korean delivery systems and stated nuclear strike roles.
On 2025-10-10, North Korea displayed a new long-range intercontinental ballistic missile called the Hwasong-20 that was described by the state-owned Korean Central News Agency as having the "most powerful nuclear strategic weapons system" and which had not yet been tested.
October 10, 2025
high
temporal
Weapons displayed during a military parade in Pyongyang marking the 80th anniversary of the Worker's Party.
On 2025-10-10, North Korea displayed shorter-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and supersonic missiles at a military parade in Pyongyang.
October 10, 2025
high
temporal
Types of missile systems exhibited publicly during a 2025 military parade.
John Bolton publicly expressed skepticism about U.S. presidential outreach and summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his time in the Trump administration (2018â2019).
January 01, 2018
high
descriptive
Summarizes Bolton's stance on U.S.-North Korea diplomacy while serving in the administration.
The first-ever summit between a United States president and a North Korean leader took place in 2018 in Singapore.
January 01, 2018
high
temporal
Historical diplomatic milestone between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).
No other country has a known nuclear weapons test recorded after North Korea's 2017 nuclear test.
January 01, 2017
high
temporal
Global timeline of known nuclear weapon tests
The most recent known nuclear test worldwide was conducted by North Korea in 2017.
January 01, 2017
high
temporal
Latest publicly acknowledged nuclear explosive test by any state as of 2017.
International sanctions were imposed on North Korea in 2006 following North Korea's first nuclear test.
October 09, 2006
high
temporal
Origin of major international sanctions regime against North Korea
Since its adoption in 1996, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been observed by countries possessing nuclear weapons, with North Korea being an exception.
September 24, 1996
medium
temporal
Describes general international adherence to the nuclear test moratorium associated with the CTBT.
Since the 1990s, North Korea is the only nation known to have conducted a nuclear detonation.
January 01, 1990
high
temporal
No other nation is publicly known to have conducted nuclear explosive tests after the 1990s except North Korea.
The Hwasong-20 is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) associated with North Korea.
high
classification
Weapon classification
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is the official name of North Korea.
high
definitional
Official country name
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling party in North Korea.
high
definitional
Political organization
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) consults closely with the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Japan, and other regional allies and partners when monitoring or responding to ballistic missile launches by North Korea.
high
procedural
Regional military commands routinely coordinate with allied nations on security incidents and missile activity.
The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) serves as the buffer separating North Korea and South Korea and contains the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom.
high
descriptive
Geographic and security context for inter-Korean interactions.
North Korea has expanded its nuclear arsenal, tested more advanced solid-fuel missiles, claimed testing of underwater nuclear-capable drones and satellite systems, and has characterized talks focused on nuclear disarmament as a nonstarter.
high
security
Summary of North Korea's weapons development and stated negotiating stance.
North Korea has developed closer political and military ties with Russia and China, including reportedly providing personnel to Russia for its war in Ukraine, raising concerns about possible transfers of advanced technologies such as satellite systems.
high
geopolitical
Description of evolving MoscowâPyongyang and BeijingâPyongyang relationships and related security concerns.
United States policy toward North Korea is focused on achieving the denuclearization of North Korea as a stated objective.
high
policy
Characterization of the long-standing stated goal guiding U.S. engagement with North Korea.
During his 2017â2021 presidential term, Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un multiple times and became the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in North Korea.
high
temporal
Historical record of U.S.âNorth Korea diplomatic interactions during Trump's first term.
The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a buffer zone that separates North Korea and South Korea.
high
descriptive
Geographic and security boundary between the two Koreas