Defector Issues
Information related to North Korean defector issues
Ethnic Koreans file motion to seize North Korean warship in Japanese court
Most of the ethnic Koreans lured by exaggerated promises have not returned from North Korea, according to experts.
September 3, 2026
Sun Kim on documenting North Korean women, matchmaking and marriage
‘North South Man Woman’ co-director reflects on intimacy, stereotypes and relationships across cultural divides
September 2, 2026
Seoul court holds North Korea liable for torture, sexual abuse of defector
Ruling awards Choi Min-kyeong 50 million won for abuses suffered while in detention in DPRK for five months
August 28, 2026
Ask a North Korean: What is it like working as a nurse in North Korea?
A defector recalls hospital shortages, patients she could not save and why she ultimately left the profession she loved
State Department seeks $3 million projects to counter North Korean propaganda
The funding comes despite President Trump's push to revive diplomacy with Pyongyang
August 21, 2026
South Korea considers mandatory military service for North Korean defectors
The push for reform reflects the shrinking pool of South Korean troops and changing attitudes toward multiculturalism
August 18, 2026
Ask a North Korean: Why I smuggle media content into North Korea
David explains why outside media matters for North Koreans, reflecting on how a propaganda leaflet changed his life
‘Hana Korea,’ film about life after escaping North Korea, lends fact to fiction
The film largely captures the ups and downs of escapees’ new lives after fleeing to South Korea, defectors say
August 7, 2026
63 North Korean defectors enter South in first half of 2026: Seoul
All arrived through third countries, while DPRK soldier who crossed border in June was excluded from tally
August 6, 2026
Ask a North Korean: Why was stealing so prolific in North Korea?
A North Korean defector recalls being a victim of theft on the train and at home, where her family's cauldron was stolen
