Features
Long-form reporting on timeless issues and human interest stories by NK News journalists and contributors.
Beyond propaganda: New exhibit spotlights North Korea’s ‘hidden’ oil paintings
Works by early DPRK artists reveal a more personal style and even share characteristics with ROK art, organizers say
Kenneth Rowe, North Korean pilot who defected in Soviet plane, dies at 90
Rowe fooled the DPRK air force into thinking he was loyal to Kim Il Sung, all while he was planning his great escape
‘I like Messi’: What North Koreans think of soccer beyond their borders
The country’s relative openness to sports allows DPRK fans to follow superstars and take inspiration from their feats
The best North Korea books of 2022: A gift guide for the holiday season
Thrilling accounts of anti-regime activism and DPRK cybercrime join deep dives into history among the year’s top titles
How composer Yun Isang became a beloved icon in both North and South Korea
Classical music artist organized against Imperial Japan and spent much of his life advocating for Korean reunification
From frontline to online: An ex-North Korean soldier’s path to YouTube stardom
Jung Haneul made rare escape across DMZ after seeing ‘injustices’ in the DPRK, and now shares his story with the world
How North Korea and Turkmenistan’s extreme personality cults align and differ
Both countries led by young third-generation authoritarians that siphon off state resources to maintain grip on power
Expelled from Chongryon, ex-member hopes to unite Koreans in Japan
Hong Kyung Eui was ousted from the group after urging reform and now says group is a shadow of its former self
What BTS’ Jin can expect from front-line military service at North Korean border
Former soldiers say serving on DPRK’s doorstep can be exhausting, but also recall things they enjoyed about army life
In a quiet London suburb, North Korean defectors search for home
New Malden provides a place where refugees can blend in. But they carry with them the memories of those left behind.
