March 28, 2024
News

How a North Korean defector was coerced into spying for Pyongyang

Court documents give a rare view into North Korea’s covert operations in the South

A North Korean defector sentenced to over three years in prison in South Korea last month for giving information to Pyongyang says he was coerced into spying for the regime.

According to court documents seen by NK News, the defector divulged information about other defectors as well as their families back in the north to a North Korean official. The defector also supplied personal information about defectors living in South Korea to the Kim Jong Un regime, which sees defectors as traitors. 

Become a member for less than $4 per week.

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.