North Korea harangues people to exhibit “noble and civilized” standards
Citizens throughout North Korea this month are studying how to “thoroughly establish” noble and civilized socialist moral standards. This is the theme this month of...
North Korean soldiers arrested after watching foreign videos
In North Korea, a person coming into contact with content deemed undesirable by the authorities, including books, images, movies, music, and other media, is considered...
“Singing while eating at a restaurant is an expression of puppet culture”
A recent government video from North Korea gives an idea of how something that would be seen as enjoyable and harmless in any other country...
Role reversal: why most criminals in North Korea are now women
A recent video used in public lectures and compulsory study sessions provides a glimpse into the types of crimes prevalent these days in North Korea....
Crackdown on smoking doesn’t stop Kim Jong-un from lighting up
North Korea has launched an educational campaign telling people to get with the times and stop smoking, but the chain-smoking leader Kim Jong-un doesn’t appear...
Evidence of slavery: North Korean workers evaluation
Formal evaluation of employees may be a regular feature of corporate life, but the North Korean version, given the virtues and transgressions it highlights, and...
Pyongyang cracks down on Russian cultural content
North Korea has ordered a ban on Russian media and started cracking down on Russian cultural content. The move flies in the face of the...
Does ousted finance minister face execution?
When Kim Jong-un replaced his finance minister at the end of last month, flagging “obstacles to economic development,” the rumor mill went into top gear....
North Korea trade fair in Russia violates sanctions
A North Korean trade fair in Russia at the end of June directly challenged sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. The event, held in...
North Koreans forced to attend war anniversary lectures
The Workers’ Party is forcing government and ordinary citizens to attend weekly lectures this month commemorating the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 to...
Phone flashlights at a concert: when a photo shows the opposite of what it seems to
At an outdoor event celebrating the 112th birthday of Kim Il-sung in April, students in the audience turned on their phone flashlights. The moment, captured...
The party struggles to rein in rebellious and wayward youth
North Koreans are considered modern-day slaves. They are led by one man, Kim Jong-un and forbidden to live or even think in ways that he,...
Kim Jong-un and the campaign of coerced adulation
Congratulations, your congratulatory message is on TV. In North Korea, where the leadership never seems to tire of being congratulated, there's a tradition of showcasing...