About the author
More articles by 'Andrei Lankov'
In the North Korean economy, the almighty US dollar still reigns supreme
Repeated currency reforms have eroded trust in the DPRK won, making foreign money essential for many transactions
Why North Korea mistrusts but depends on its foreign-educated elite
Pyongyang regards most who study abroad as Manchurian candidates that are fundamentally disloyal to the Kims
How the ROK’s education obsession puts North Korean defectors at a disadvantage
DPRK schooling standards lag far behind South Korea, and money can be a major obstacle to academic success
In a conflict with North Korea, the South has much more to lose
The DPRK cares little about dead soldiers, but there will be nationwide outrage in ROK if tensions turn to skirmishes
North Korea’s economic reforms were a wild success. Just ask defectors.
Regime’s aborted experiment with marketization increased food consumption, counter to pessimistic economic assessments
Remembering the Chinese samaritans who helped North Korean defectors in need
Some locals in China have gone out of their way to feed, shelter and protect DPRK refugees fleeing their homeland
Why North Korean history fixates on wars, invasions and peasant rebellions
Textbooks depict Joseon-era Korea as a feudal society in need of revolution that nonetheless repelled foreign invaders
Why North Koreans aren’t protesting against COVID lockdowns like the Chinese are
DPRK gives no space for disobedience, and even thinking the wrong thing may land entire families in concentration camps
How North Korea presents the possibility of a future female leader
Despite being a dictator, Kim Jong Un is something of a feminist — at least compared to his father and grandfather
Most North Koreans have tap water. But that doesn’t mean it’s always running.
Citizens have devised ad hoc solutions to unreliable water supply over the years, with entrepreneurship playing key role
