In North Korea, sometimes the dead come back | NK News
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September 17, 2026Sep 17, 2026

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Ask A North Korean

In North Korea, sometimes the dead come back

No, not zombies – absence of medical care, standard funeral homes means some are declared dead prematurely

Every week we ask a North Korean your questions, giving you the chance to learn more about the country we know so little about.

This week Espen Arnesen in Kyoto asks:

Where are people in North Korea buried? What do people do when their loved ones die?

I know there are many funeral halls in South Korea. But there were none in my hometown in North Korea. I don’t know if such funeral halls existed in other regions of North Korea, but I know we usually held funerals at the homes of the dead. Without any funeral halls in business,