How North Korean scientists secretly use social media to evade nuclear sanctions



Analysis How North Korean scientists secretly use social media to evade nuclear sanctions NK Pro finds DPRK scholars maintain dozens of ResearchGate accounts, enabling illicit exchange that may aid WMD program Maiko Takeuchi April 5, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Image: KCTV North Korean scientists used to freely attend international conferences and conduct research at overseas institutions, openly hobnobbing with foreign peers and benefitting from academic collaboration. Concerns about Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles put a stop to this, as international sanctions passed in 2016 led institutions to take measures to prevent DPRK scientists from taking courses connected to weapons proliferation. However, it turns out that sanctions have not prevented North Korean scholars from expanding their knowledge about sensitive subjects through another means — social media. An NK Pro investigation has found that Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01All the missiles and weapons at North Korea’s new ‘defense revolution’ museum 02Why the inter-Korean border remains unmarked, despite military risks 03How the DMZ blasts unfolded, from mine laying to North Korean denials 04North Korean TV airs outdated map laying claim to South Korean border islands 05How North Korea’s newest ‘hypersonic’ missile could foil adversary defenses 06Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge 07A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality 08Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records

Analysis

How North Korean scientists secretly use social media to evade nuclear sanctions

NK Pro finds DPRK scholars maintain dozens of ResearchGate accounts, enabling illicit exchange that may aid WMD program

Maiko Takeuchi April 5, 2024

How North Korean scientists secretly use social media to evade nuclear sanctions

Image: KCTV

North Korean scientists used to freely attend international conferences and conduct research at overseas institutions, openly hobnobbing with foreign peers and benefitting from academic collaboration.

Concerns about Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles put a stop to this, as international sanctions passed in 2016 led institutions to take measures to prevent DPRK scientists from taking courses connected to weapons proliferation.

However, it turns out that sanctions have not prevented North Korean scholars from expanding their knowledge about sensitive subjects through another means — social media.

An NK Pro investigation has found that

01All the missiles and weapons at North Korea’s new ‘defense revolution’ museum
02Why the inter-Korean border remains unmarked, despite military risks
03How the DMZ blasts unfolded, from mine laying to North Korean denials
04North Korean TV airs outdated map laying claim to South Korean border islands
05How North Korea’s newest ‘hypersonic’ missile could foil adversary defenses
06Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge
07A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality
08Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records

How North Korean scientists secretly use social media to evade nuclear sanctions

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Maiko Takeuchi