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...
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...