North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recorded 131 public appearances by December 27, 2025, the highest in nine years. This surge stems from expanded diplomatic engagements and on-site supervision of the five-year national development plan. The figure marks a steady rise since the pandemic low in 2020.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made 131 public appearances in 2025, as reported by state media, marking the highest number since 2016. According to data from the Korea Institute for National Unification, the count stood at 118 by the end of November, with an additional 13 activities reported from December 1 to 27. This slight increase surpasses last year's 127.
Kim's public activities have risen steadily since dipping to a low of 55 in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's uptick reflects efforts to expand diplomatic horizons, including his multilateral debut, and to accelerate the five-year national development plan concluding this year. The activities break down into 30 public ceremonies, 23 on-site inspections, and 21 military-related events—a decline from 31 military outings in 2024.
Kim frequently visited sites tied to his flagship "Regional Development 20 X 10 Policy," overseeing construction and launch ceremonies for regional factories, hospitals, and other facilities. A standout event was his September attendance at a grand Chinese military parade in Beijing alongside other world leaders. He held five summit talks, including phone discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in-person meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and summits with the leaders of Laos and Vietnam. Additionally, he met high-level foreign officials 10 times, such as Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu.
The most frequent companion was Jo Yong-won, a Workers' Party secretary handling organizational affairs, who joined 22 times, followed by Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, on 19 occasions, and Defense Minister No Kwang-chol on 11. These patterns underscore North Korea's focus on diplomacy and development.
