Defector Issues
Information related to North Korean defector issues
Ask a North Korean: How do public utilities work in the DPRK?
An escapee writes about gathering wood to heat homes, fetching water from wells and how the state collects utility fees
Hanna Song: How to ensure North Korean voices are not forgotten
Activist discusses research about DPRK’s crackdowns on outside info and importance of inclusivity in human rights work
December 19, 2024
South Korea’s only defector lawmaker says he opposes Yoon’s impeachment
In interview, North Korean escapee Park Choong-kwon criticizes martial law but says impeachment sets bad precedent
December 6, 2024
Ask a North Korean: What is the legal system like in the DPRK?
A defector writes about corrupt traffic police, the importance of bribes and the Kim regime’s disregard for rule of law
On the border: What it’s like to visit remote islands on North Korea’s doorstep
A new series walks readers through key locations on the inter-Korean border, starting with two islands in the Yellow Sea
November 25, 2024
Mysterious TV networks seek to penetrate North Korea’s information firewall
NK News identified three channels broadcasting content across the border that appears tailormade for DPRK audiences
November 22, 2024
North Korean elites will ensure their sons aren’t dispatched to Russia: Defector
Ex-DPRK diplomat says deployment unlikely to spark domestic backlash, as public fears retaliation fo voicing concern
November 15, 2024
Minjung Kim: The Ten Principles that govern the lives of North Koreans
Scholar discusses the foundational document that DPRK authorities use to suppress citizens and how it could now change
November 14, 2024
What North Korean escapees think about Donald Trump’s return to power
Defectors express hope former president could disrupt status quo on peninsula, but fear he could sideline human rights
November 14, 2024
How a daring defection in Berlin provides a blueprint for North Koreans abroad
Studying abroad opened Chun Chol-woo’s eyes to Kim regime, and the fall of Berlin Wall provided his chance to escape
November 13, 2024
