About the author
More articles by 'Nicolas Levi'
How North Korea’s diplomats navigate privilege and peril abroad
Staff at overseas missions enjoy more freedom than compatriots back home but must turn to illicit activities to survive
Why North Korea looked abroad for an education in international business
Outside educators have helped fill knowledge gaps and could again provide avenue for engagement once DPRK reopens
How North Korea embraced an obscure religion as a tool for Korean unification
Kim Il Sung praised Chondoism as a patriotic and native faith, allowing it to flourish relative to other religions
How North Korea handles nuclear waste: From risky disposal to deals with Taiwan
DPRK’s waste management practices have been criticized as ‘atrocious,’ but Pyongyang has engaged on the issue before
How Paris became the favorite European escape of North Korea’s elite
City of Lights has long held dark appeal for DPRK nobility seeking entertainment or just refuge from Pyongyang intrigue
North Korea and France have no official ties. That doesn’t mean they don’t talk.
Despite diplomatic non-recognition, the two states have long found ways to cooperate in business and cultural exchanges
What the exile of a North Korean prince reveals about power in the DPRK
Kim Pyong Il was once viewed as a potential successor, but the regime has undermined any claim he might have to power
The lasting legacy of North Korean orphans in Poland
DPRK sent thousands of children to the country after the Korean War in a move that has shaped bilateral ties to this day
Why Poland could play a key role in efforts to engage North Korea
Former communist bloc state maintains ties with DPRK, but EU membership and bilateral disputes complicate cooperation
ANALYSIS: The impact of Jang Song Thaek’s ouster
So far no sign of a purge of Jang’s network or loss of other positions
