OSINT of North Korea
This post is part of UNISHKA Research Service’s ongoing OSINT series. If you’re interested in learning more, subscribe to our Substack and follow us on social media to stay in the loop. You can also visit our website to explore all the toolkits we’ve created so far: www.unishka.com/osint-world-series.
We regularly share country-specific OSINT toolkits, along with case studies, investigative tips, and real-world examples to support open-source investigations. Our goal is to provide journalists, analysts, and engaged citizens with actionable resources and insights.
If we’ve missed any good sources, just drop us a comment or send an email to abawer@unishka.com — we’ll make sure to add them to the toolkit!
Entry #32 OSINT World Series
Open Data Portals
DPRK Reports Database - The database is an initiative by Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in partnership with NK News, aimed at improving access to data on sanctions, entities, and relationships linked to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK / North Korea). Some “sources” in the database (i.e., underlying records) may be hidden or accessible only via sign-in.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - North Korea
The website North Korean Archives and Library (often abbreviated NKAAL) is a privately-maintained online archive that collects and shares a broad range of media and publications from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea).
North Korea’s Clandestine Arms Trade-Open Source Intelligence Notes
NKDB is a non-governmental organization established in 2003 to improve human rights in North Korea, with a large database of human rights abuses.
Dataset Records for Central Bureau of Statistics (North Korea)
DPRK Digital Atlas - A comprehensive geospatial dataset based on open source data of North Korea’s political, economic, cultural and security infrastructures
(Paid) NKPro Foreign Organizations database details hundreds of groups focusing on DPRK issues worldwide: NGOs, universities, think tanks, and more.
38 North — DPRK S&T Journals - Provides an accessible listing and backgrounder of scientific and technical journals published in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). (Archive Link)
DPRK Economic Journals - 38 North’s Nonresident Fellow Rachel Minyoung Lee has translated articles from key economic journals. (Archive Link)
SIPRI - North Korea: SIPRI is an independent international institute devoted to research on conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.
North Korea Population - Worldometers
CeicData - North Korea (Economic Indicators, Historic Data & Forecasts)
Company & Business Information
DPRK Reports Database - The database is an initiative by Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in partnership with NK News, aimed at improving access to data on sanctions, entities, and relationships linked to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK / North Korea). Some “sources” in the database (i.e., underlying records) may be hidden or accessible only via sign-in.
Foreign Trade of the DPR Korea - The site is operated by the Committee for the Promotion of International Trade in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It provides “authorized” data about the DPRK’s trade, investment zones, commodities, etc.
North Korean Economy Watch (NKEW) is a specialist blog and research-site dedicated to tracking the internal and external economic developments of North Korea (the DPRK).
RasonConTrans JVC is the online presence of a joint-venture freight/transport/logistics company operating between the Russian Federation and the Rason Special Economic Zone (in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea).
Project Sandstone is a research initiative by Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) that focuses on uncovering and analysing the illicit weapons proliferation, procurement, and sanctions-evasion networks associated with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Open Sanctions - Contains 4,281 entities connected with North Korea. This may include sanctioned entities, politically-exposed persons (PEPs), and their close associates, or entities involved in criminal activity.
Treasury Sanctions Fraud Network Funding DPRK Weapons Programs
(Read) How North Korea Uses Front Companies to Help Evade Sanctions
People Search
Center for North Korean Human Rights Records - Operated by the Ministry of Unification of the Republic of Korea (South Korea).
NKDB is a non-governmental organization established in 2003 to improve human rights in North Korea, with a large database of human rights abuses.
North Korea People Groups, Languages and Religions - Joshua Project
FOOTPRINTS is a joint civil society project to document and publish information concerning reported cases of arbitrary detention, abduction and enforced disappearances committed in and by North Korea, including the victims, perpetrators, proceedings to seek redress, relevant human rights instruments and North Korean resources.
(OSINT Guide) Digital Profiler’s Toolkit - Designed for profiling, research and digital investigations — particularly aimed at “profilers, fact-checkers, researchers and journalists.”
(Paid) The NK PRO Leadership Tracker is a database which includes bios on key figures and their historical appearance / activity data.
(Paid) The NK PRO Expert Directory lets you find specialists, practitioners and experts by name, affiliation, or topics of expertise.
Independent Media Outlets
The website NK News (nknews.org) is a specialist English-language news and analysis outlet focused exclusively on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK / North Korea).
NK Pro - Specialist news, analysis and investigations focused on North Korea.
North Korean Economy Watch (NKEW) is a specialist blog and research-site dedicated to tracking the internal and external economic developments of North Korea (the DPRK).
Project Sandstone is a research initiative by Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) that focuses on uncovering and analysing the illicit weapons proliferation, procurement, and sanctions-evasion networks associated with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
State Media Outlets
The website at http://www.rodong.rep.kp/en/ is the English-language online edition of the newspaper Rodong Sinmun (로동신문) of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea).
Korean Central News Agency - It is the country’s primary official media outlet, functioning as both a government newswire and a propaganda arm of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).
Voice of Korea is the international broadcasting arm of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) — i.e., the regime’s official channel for outreach to foreign audiences.
Naenara/My Country - The official web portal of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK / North Korea). According to sources, it was one of the first websites in North Korea (initially created in the 1990s) and remains a central online presence of the regime.
The Pyongyang Times is North Korea’s state-run, English-language weekly newspaper, published in Pyongyang by the Foreign Languages Publishing House under the authority of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).
DPRK Portal is described as a “home page / general web portal” for North Korea, intended to aggregate/guide users to many DPRK websites.
Medial Ryugyong - a North Korean state-affiliated media.
DPRK Today is a North Korean government-linked news and propaganda portal. The site offered multilingual content (Korean, Chinese, Russian, English) and aimed at both domestic and international audiences.
Maps & Geospatial Sources
Outline of North Korea - Wikipedia
Land, Air, and Sea Transport
North Korea Railways - HDX Data
(Paid) Track North Korea-linked ships across the region - NK Pro
Korea Maritime Institute - is a government-funded research institute in South Korea focusing on the maritime, fisheries, shipping, ports, logistics and ocean economy sectors. They publish research reports (on topics like shipping/logistics, coastal development), Journals (e.g., “KMI International Journal of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries”), Monographs and special studies (on ocean economy, climate change’s impact on oceans, etc).
List of active ships of the Korean People’s Navy - Wikipedia
Suspicion of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of goods by North Korea-related vessels
A Review of the North Korean Shipping Industry: Ships, Companies, and Registered Owners - JSTOR
Recommended Readings
Using OSINT to understand the closed environment of North Korea
Hard Target: Open-Source Intelligence and the Case of North Korea
From North Korea to Russia: What #OSINT Reveals About Weapon Deliveries
New Approaches to Verifying and Monitoring North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal
North Korea Uses Its Relationships with Chinese and Russian Universities to Enhance Cyber, A.I. Capabilities - OSINT Insider
Navigating Troubled Waters: Unveiling North Korea’s Dark Vessels and AIS Manipulation
Tracking Illegal Trade Between China and North Korea with Space-Based Data
Other Toolkits
OSINT-Tools-North-Korea - Github
(OSINT Guide) Digital Profiler’s Toolkit - Designed for profiling, research and digital investigations — particularly aimed at “profilers, fact-checkers, researchers and journalists.”
Miscellaneous
Threat Actors List - Lists also North Korea - Start.me
Want more tools? Check out our full collection of OSINT resources here: https://unishka.com/resources/
You can also visit our website to explore all the toolkits we’ve created so far: www.unishka.com/osint-world-series.
If we’ve missed any good sources, just drop us a comment or send an email to abawer@unishka.com — we’ll make sure to add them to the toolkit!