September 25, 2023

Stranger than fiction: When North Korea kidnapped movie stars for Kim Jong Il

By Oliver Jia, September 25, 2023
Image Credit: South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee and director Shin Sang-ok | Image: Photo from "The Lovers and the Despot," courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Settling in Seoul: What a North Korean escapee thinks of South Korean politics

By Rose, September 21, 2023
Image Credit: National Election Commission's YouTube channel
Podcasts
What to make of Kim Jong Un’s second summit with Vladimir Putin – Ep. 307

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Ifang Bremer September 25, 2023

Analysis, Opinion & More

Fur hats and limo talks: Behind the scenes of Russian efforts to wow Kim Jong Un

Fur hats and limo talks: Behind the scenes of Russian efforts to wow Kim Jong Un

Moscow pulled out all the stops for North Korean leader, using flattery and gifts to bolster ties and send signals

Fur hats and limo talks: Behind the scenes of Russian efforts to wow Kim Jong Un
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Anton SokolinSep 25, 2023
NK PRO

North Korean launchpad busy despite Putin’s vow to help launch DPRK satellites

Activity visible at Sohae spaceport suggests DPRK will carry out third spy satellite launch as planned in October

North Korean launchpad busy despite Putin’s vow to help launch DPRK satellites
Author Thumbnail
Colin ZwirkoSep 25, 2023
North Korean launchpad busy despite Putin’s vow to help launch DPRK satellites
Podcasts
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What to make of Kim Jong Un’s second summit with Vladimir Putin – Ep. 307

The NK News team reviews North Korean leader’s whirlwind tour through Russian Far East, the potential fallout and more

Lessons from four decades shaping US policy on North Korea – Ep. 306

Sydney Seiler discusses his work as a negotiator and intelligence officer, plus Kim Jong Un travels to Russia

Why Kim Jong Un might want to discuss weapons sales with Putin – Ep. 305

The NK News team discusses North Korea-Russia military cooperation, US-ROK drills, DPRK easing border controls and more

Inside the UN Panel of Experts overseeing North Korea sanctions – Ep. 304

Former panel head Eric Penton-Voak explains how to decipher its reports on violations of DPRK sanctions regime

How one activist helps North Koreans grow their own food – Ep. 303

Tim Peters of Helping Hands Korea talks about sending seeds to the DPRK and supporting North Koreans escapees

North Korea’s imitation of foreign brands, from Choco Pie to Dior – Ep. 302

UniKorea staff discuss the DPRK’s copycat products, plus a tour company says DPRK will soon open its borders

Get Behind The Headlines

Stranger than fiction: When North Korea kidnapped movie stars for Kim Jong Il

Stranger than fiction: When North Korea kidnapped movie stars for Kim Jong Il

Abduction of famed South Korean director and starlet ex-wife is testament to how far regime will go to get what it wants

Stranger than fiction: When North Korea kidnapped movie stars for Kim Jong Il
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Oliver JiaSep 25, 2023
Why North Korea could send US soldier Travis King to Russia or China

Why North Korea could send US soldier Travis King to Russia or China

King reportedly sought refuge in DPRK or third country, and experts say regime may view him as too much trouble to keep

Why North Korea could send US soldier Travis King to Russia or China
Author Thumbnail
James FretwellSep 22, 2023
Why China isn’t too worried about Kim Jong Un’s trip to cozy up to Russia
NK PRO

Why China isn’t too worried about Kim Jong Un’s trip to cozy up to Russia

Experts say Beijing welcomes cooperation that increases North Korean stability, but also doesn’t want to provoke US

Why China isn’t too worried about Kim Jong Un’s trip to cozy up to Russia
Author Thumbnail
James FretwellSep 22, 2023
State media review: Kim Jong Un ramps up personality cult with new mosaic mural
NK PRO

State media review: Kim Jong Un ramps up personality cult with new mosaic mural

An in-depth analysis of hagiographic artwork, new documentary on Kim’s Russia trip and legal changes to fix food issues

State media review: Kim Jong Un ramps up personality cult with new mosaic mural
Author Thumbnail
Seung-Yeon ChungSep 21, 2023
Settling in Seoul: What a North Korean escapee thinks of South Korean politics

Settling in Seoul: What a North Korean escapee thinks of South Korean politics

DPRK’s ‘revolutionary’ politics left no room for choice, but ROK’s democratic system can be bewildering for defectors

Settling in Seoul: What a North Korean escapee thinks of South Korean politics
RoseSep 21, 2023
Summit subterfuge? Why Putin may be bluffing about tech transfers to North Korea
COLUMN

Summit subterfuge? Why Putin may be bluffing about tech transfers to North Korea

Russian leader met Kim Jong Un with one eye on South Korea, likely hoping to compel Seoul not to send weapons to Ukraine

Summit subterfuge? Why Putin may be bluffing about tech transfers to North Korea
Author Thumbnail
Andrei LankovSep 21, 2023
Why interoperability remains a hurdle for trilateral cooperation on North Korea
NK PRO

Why interoperability remains a hurdle for trilateral cooperation on North Korea

US has strong military ties with its Asian allies, but Japan and South Korea have far less experience working together

Why interoperability remains a hurdle for trilateral cooperation on North Korea
North Korea confirms long-time weapons official leading top missile bureau
NK PRO

North Korea confirms long-time weapons official leading top missile bureau

Jang Chang Ha joined Kim Jong Un’s Russia trip as head of General Missile Bureau, sign of possible technical cooperation

North Korea confirms long-time weapons official leading top missile bureau
Author Thumbnail
Colin ZwirkoSep 19, 2023
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