Features
Long-form reporting on timeless issues and human interest stories by NK News journalists and contributors.
The improbable life of the Chinese-born polyglot who spied for North Korea
Jeong Su-il went from a globe-trotting diplomat to disguised scholar in ROK, landing in prison for aiding Pyongyang
How North Korean ski resort forced Russian tourists to play culinary roulette
Masikryong’s slopes impressed visitors, but mysterious cuisine proved to be the bigger adventure
How North Korea built an expansive military hovercraft force from UK designs
Archival evidence sheds light on how the DPRK procured British technology to build its own amphibious craft
CGI battles and romance meet in new North Korean war epic exalting Kim Il Sung
‘72 Hours’ revises human focus of DPRK cinema but never loses sight of propaganda that obedience to leader is above all
How Ukraine pulled off risky missions to capture North Korean soldiers in Kursk
First-hand accounts present DPRK troops as willing to go to extreme lengths to avoid being taken prisoner
Why some say ‘Squid Game’ misses the mark with its North Korean characters
While show provides mainstream visibility, critics say Netflix hit fails to move beyond defector cliches
Handwritten notes tell the story of a North Korean soldier killed in Russia
27-year-old sends birthday wishes, confesses ‘sins’ and more in letters and diary released by Ukraine
What life was like for North Koreans in 2024, from high prices to crackdowns
Economic pressure on households mounted as forex prices surged, while border controls exacerbated medicine shortages
How Jimmy Carter helped prevent a devastating war with North Korea
Former US president showed how to cool tensions, but his peace drives risked undermining incumbent administrations
TikTok, balloons and Putin in Pyongyang: The top North Korea stories of 2024
From rejecting unification to DPRK soldiers fighting Ukraine, NK News looks back at our best reporting on a busy year
