Minds behind the missiles: North Korea's secretive weapons developers

Very little is known about the names and positions of the mid-level and working-level scientists and technicians involved in missile research and development

North Korea's flurry of new missile tests, including what it calls “hypersonic†weapons, has underscored the importance of the country’s missile engineers and scientists, a group that is high profile within his government but opaque to outsiders.

Analysts say Kim Jong Un appears to be taking steps to institutionalize the missile forces, signalling his likely intent to make them a long-term, operational part of his military plans. Here's what we know – and what we don’t – about these key personnel.
 

THE SCIENTISTS

Very little is known about the names and positions of the mid-level and working-level scientists and technicians involved