North Korea’s embrace of the two-state theory a political death sentence for defectors
When U.S. President Donald Trump said he “gets along well with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader instantly fired back, calling the U.S. “a gangster...
What fate awaits North Korean soldiers returning from the war with Ukraine?
When North Korea broke its silence and acknowledged back on April 28 that its troops were fighting for Russia in the war with Ukraine, media...
What’s behind mandatory military service for women?
Growing up, my mother always said, “Don’t wait for a man who went to the army.” She was patient for ten years before my father...
Successor or homegrown fashion icon? Why Is North Korea showcasing Kim Ju-ae?
When Kim Ju-ae stepped into the public eye for the first time, holding her father’s hand, she was instantly thrust into the global spotlight. The...
The political calculation behind Kim Jong-un’s support for Chongryon
Kim Jong Un has reportedly sent over ¥287 million (approximately KRW 2.8 billion) to the pro-North Korean General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, known...
Why has Christianity become the religion of choice for most defectors?
“There’s no religious freedom in North Korea? What are you talking about—there are churches in North Korea. You know less about North Korea than I...
What now for the North Korean human rights movement with the loss of US support?
The experience of the North Korean human rights movement resembles that of Sisyphus, the mythological king of Corinth condemned in the underworld to roll a...
Trump: “Without America, you’re nothing”… Was North Korea’s choice justified?
“You should be more grateful. You have no cards to play. If you're with us, you have cards, but without us, you have no options....
Captured soldiers whose faces were shown are “mice trapped in a jar”
The face of a captured North Korean soldier, being interrogated, his face wrapped in bandages, reminded me of the South Korean National Intelligence Service officer...
North Korea tries to attract foreign investment
The North Korean regime appears to be making an effort to induce foreign business but, given international sanctions over its rogue nuclear weapons program and...
Ministries under pressure to meet research goals and improve conditions for scientists and engineers
The government in North Korea appears to be making a big push on science and technology to underpin its economic development plans. This has been...
North Korea develops agricultural drones
North Korea has introduced a pesticide-spraying drone that it claims can do the work of 35 farm laborers. The drone, called the Jongdari-101, can carry...
Remote education starts to spread in the provinces
Defectors imagine a day when they might be able to have video calls with their families in North Korea via Zoom. It is a hope...