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About the author

Jacco Zwetsloot

Jacco Zwetsloot

Jacco Zwetsloot has been the host of the NK News Podcast since episode 1 in February 2018. He has interviewed a wide range of guests about their knowledge of and experience in North Korea, from celebrity defectors to high-ranking U.S. government officials. His goal is to help as wide a cross-section of North Korea-related stories as possible be told, in order to build up a fuller picture. Jacco has a Master of Arts from Leiden University, for which he wrote a thesis on North Korean graphic novels.

More articles by 'Jacco Zwetsloot'

Ambassador Joseph Yun on negotiating with North Korea – NKNews Podcast Ep.43
Podcast

Ambassador Joseph Yun on negotiating with North Korea – NKNews Podcast Ep.43

The former U.S. Special Representative for DPRK policy talks sanctions, nukes, and "fire and fury"

Ambassador Joseph Yun on negotiating with North Korea – NKNews Podcast Ep.43
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot October 29, 2018
How Chinese, Japanese, and Russian media cover North Korea – NKNews Podcast Ep 42
Podcast

How Chinese, Japanese, and Russian media cover North Korea – NKNews Podcast Ep 42

Three analysts examine how the DPRK is covered elsewhere

How Chinese, Japanese, and Russian media cover North Korea – NKNews Podcast Ep 42
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot October 21, 2018
Purges, détente, and spy games: N. Korea, past and present – NKNews Podcast Ep.41
Podcast

Purges, détente, and spy games: N. Korea, past and present – NKNews Podcast Ep.41

Ambassador Ra Jong-yil shares his thoughts on the DPRK leadership and prospects for peace

Purges, détente, and spy games: N. Korea, past and present – NKNews Podcast Ep.41
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot October 14, 2018
A diplomat’s life in Pyongyang – NKNews Podcast Ep.40
Podcast

A diplomat’s life in Pyongyang – NKNews Podcast Ep.40

Martina Aberg Somogyi shares her thoughts on a two-year posting in the DPRK

A diplomat’s life in Pyongyang – NKNews Podcast Ep.40
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot October 8, 2018
Summits, sanctions, and diplomacy: the past month in the DPRK – NKNews Podcast ep.39
Podcast

Summits, sanctions, and diplomacy: the past month in the DPRK – NKNews Podcast ep.39

Korea Risk Group's managing director Chad O'Carroll breaks down recent developments in the DPRK

Summits, sanctions, and diplomacy: the past month in the DPRK – NKNews Podcast ep.39
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot September 28, 2018
Moonwalking in Pyongyang: the third Moon-Kim summit – NKNews Podcast Ep.38
Podcast

Moonwalking in Pyongyang: the third Moon-Kim summit – NKNews Podcast Ep.38

The Seoul NK News team discusses what to make of President Moon's trip to Pyongyang

Moonwalking in Pyongyang: the third Moon-Kim summit – NKNews Podcast Ep.38
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot September 22, 2018
Back from Pyongyang: a rough-and-ready round table – NKNews Podcast Ep.37
Podcast

Back from Pyongyang: a rough-and-ready round table – NKNews Podcast Ep.37

NK News journalists share initial impressions from an eight-day press trip to the DPRK

Back from Pyongyang: a rough-and-ready round table – NKNews Podcast Ep.37
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot September 13, 2018
How did you get into the NK field? Subscriber interviews – NKNews Podcast ep.36
Podcast

How did you get into the NK field? Subscriber interviews – NKNews Podcast ep.36

Three NK News subscribers share their own DPRK stories

How did you get into the NK field? Subscriber interviews – NKNews Podcast ep.36
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot September 10, 2018
Navigating North Korean human rights in Washington – NKNews Podcast Ep.35
Podcast

Navigating North Korean human rights in Washington – NKNews Podcast Ep.35

Greg Scarlatoiu discusses the weaponization of human rights and how things have changed under KJU

Navigating North Korean human rights in Washington – NKNews Podcast Ep.35
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot August 31, 2018
What’s so funny about North Korea? NKNews Podcast ep.34
Podcast

What’s so funny about North Korea? NKNews Podcast ep.34

Historian David Shuster explores humor, the limits of satire, and sex symbols in DPRK culture

What’s so funny about North Korea? NKNews Podcast ep.34
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot August 27, 2018