Patrick Cronin appears on the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ podcast The Impossible State to discuss North Korea’s direction in 2026, focusing on the diplomatic front with Moscow, Beijing, and beyond. The participants question whether there are any significant developments in the weapons of mass destruction or conventional programs as the Party Congress sets a direction for the next five years. They also cover what South Korea’s response will likely be, and how the United States should respond to Kim Jong-un.
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A weapon is mounted on the Lehit ground robotic system, developed by specialists of the International Legion under the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, during a demonstration in Ukraine on December 9, 2025. (Getty Images)