Defector Issues
Information related to North Korean defector issues
North Korea in September 2026: A month in review and what’s ahead
An analytical look at the main developments from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026
Ask a North Korean: What was it like to secretly watch South Korean dramas?
A defector recalls trading banned videos, bribing his way out of crackdowns and questioning life in the DPRK
North Korean embassy in China imprisoning suspected defectors: report
North Korea’s ‘transnational repression’ is violating basic rights in China, a human rights group alleged.
ROK demands apology from Ukraine over North Korean POW transfer disclosure
Seoul expresses ‘strong regret’ as Kyiv denies agreeing to keep prisoners’ transfer to South Korea confidential
Lee accuses Ukraine of violating pact by revealing North Korean POW transfer
A ROK official reportedly said the Ukrainian side informed them Zelensky would mention the POWs, but without details
Settling in Seoul: How university helped me find my place in South Korea
A North Korean escapee reflects on struggles, friendships and how higher education changed the way she saw society.
Joseph Kim on why North Korea is changing beyond Kim Jong Un
Defector and policy expert discusses markets, outside information and the social forces reshaping the country from below
Former ROK soldier fined $374 in bullying case of North Korean descendant
The victim alleged a noncommissioned officer yelled at him repeatedly for speaking in a soft voice, causing him to break
North Korean defectors urge media not to identify their status in crime reports
An activist alleged some news organizations identified suspects as North Korean defectors to sensationalize the incident
‘North South Man Woman’: Love, friction and freedom across the Korean divide
Beyond inter-Korean matchmaking, documentary explores survival, gender roles and escapees’ new lives in the South
