Culture
Information related to the North Korean culture and culture in North Korea
North Korea promotes Pyongyang arts festival with foreign performers next spring
Expert says event could be occasion for wider reopening to tourists, though DPRK might only allow remote participation
November 7, 2023
‘Son of the army’: North Korea holds up infant as future soldier for Kim Jong Un
TV program profiles boy delivered by army medics during pandemic, in propaganda campaign to shore up support for regime
November 7, 2023
State media review: North Korea blames Israel and US for Gaza hospital bombing
An in-depth analysis of commentary on Middle East, calls to boost fishing yields, a state newspaper anniversary and more
November 2, 2023
Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans think about sexual and gender identity?
The regime does not acknowledge gay and transgender people, but that does not mean they don’t exist in the DPRK
The intertwined histories of the two Koreas, and what the future holds – Ep. 313
Victor Cha and Ramon Pachero Pardo discuss their new book and share anecdotes from their time on the peninsula
November 1, 2023
How North Korean neighborhood watch groups do dirty work of keeping cities clean
Groups notorious for spying on citizens also mobilize residents for tasks ranging from collecting trash to cutting grass
October 27, 2023
State media review: North Korea promotes new smartphones at local trade shows
An in-depth analysis of cell phone industry revival, claims of good harvest, criticism of US weapons in Ukraine and more
October 26, 2023
How North Korean cinema betrays simmering resentment of country’s nouveau riche
2011 film uses story of a factory manager demoted to cobbler to critique rise of grassroots capitalism in country
October 25, 2023
Film review: ‘Beyond Utopia’ vividly depicts North Koreans’ efforts to escape
Documentary uses cell phone footage to provide rare look at life inside DPRK and the people suffering there
October 23, 2023
Primaries in Pyongyang? Decoding North Korea’s electoral reforms
New law does little to make elections free, but allowing two candidates marks small step toward greater citizen input
October 23, 2023
