South Korea needs to take action to deal with Pyongyang’s hackers
South Korean policy makers are calling for urgent measures to deal with hacking by North Korea. "The regime in Pyongyang views cyber attacks as a...
Kim Jong-un the Apple maniac
Like many people, I was captivated by Steve Jobs when he famously said during his 2005 Stanford University commencement speech, “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” I...
Futuristic new tower unveiled in Pyongyang
A futuristic new tower unveiled in Pyongyang symbolizes the regime’s ambitions in science and technology, but whether actual capability goes beyond aspirational architecture remains to...
Overseas experts worry how North Korea might use AI
North Korea is using artificial intelligence to assist its extensive hacking activity and appears to be exploring the possibility of developing its own generative AI,...
Will wheat solve the food problem?
Kim Jong-un is trying to shift food production over from corn over to rice, wheat, and barley, and the party’s daily rodong sinmun is reporting,...
Kim Yo-jong’s whopper: Poop balloons represent “People’s Freedom of Expression”
North Korea launched 300 more balloons full of trash and poop in South Korea’s direction this weekend. The latest tit-for-tat barrage began at the end...
Home delivery in North Korea
With around five million people, or 19% of the population, owning mobile phones, delivery service through online platforms is making its appearance in North Korea. ...
Why are North Korean defectors conservative?
Nine out of ten North Korean defectors in South Korea support conservative parties. In National Assembly elections in 2012, for example, the turnout among defectors...
The consequences of loyalty and disloyalty in North Korea
Towards the end of his long career, Kim Ki-nam had good reason to worry about his future. As North Korea’s longtime propaganda chief, he had...
When free medical treatment is not free
"Oh, are you a North Korean defector?" the South Korean man at the book club asked me politely. "If it's not too intrusive, may I...
5-jang 6-ki: What a North Korean woman needs for her dowry
I love Pride and Prejudice so much that I've watched it dozens of times. It gets praised a lot for the wonderful story and beautiful...
“Loyalty is a form of business marketing”
Recent defectors from North Korea are different from the earlier generation who have settled in South Korea in one notable aspect. That is, that they...
By honoring defectors is South Korea unintentionally erecting a barrier to integration?
When I started English lessons again when I was 20, the first topic in the textbook was St. Patrick's Day in America. This celebration of...