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September 30, 2026Sep 30, 2026

Defector Issues

Information related to North Korean defector issues

South Korean court denies jury trial for Pyongyang-born woman seeking return

South Korean court denies jury trial for Pyongyang-born woman seeking return

Kim Ryon-hui says her case is about family separation, but remains barred from leaving South Korea amid trial

South Korean court denies jury trial for Pyongyang-born woman seeking return
Jooheon Kim
Jooheon Kim June 24, 2026
North Korean soldier taken into custody from inter-Korean border

North Korean soldier taken into custody from inter-Korean border

The lone soldier reportedly expressed an intent to defect to South Korea, according to local media

North Korean soldier taken into custody from inter-Korean border
David Choi
David Choi | Shreyas Reddy June 24, 2026
Ambassador recall, remote work scams and the lives of North Korea’s elites
Podcast

Ambassador recall, remote work scams and the lives of North Korea’s elites

Shreyas Reddy talks tensions with UK, while author Jieun Baek explains why DPRK elites can be privileged but powerless

Ambassador recall, remote work scams and the lives of North Korea’s elites
Ask a North Korean: How does DPRK society view people with disabilities?

Ask a North Korean: How does DPRK society view people with disabilities?

A defector writes about prejudice toward wounded veterans, and the desperate choices that parents face

Ask a North Korean: How does DPRK society view people with disabilities?
Jin June 19, 2026
Brian Davis on how the US military collects intel: North Korea Unpacked
Podcast

Brian Davis on how the US military collects intel: North Korea Unpacked

Retired US Army colonel joins Jacco Zwetsloot to discuss his decades ‘on pen,’ fixing a DPRK fax machine and more

Brian Davis on how the US military collects intel: North Korea Unpacked
Jacco Zwetsloot
Jacco Zwetsloot | NK News June 18, 2026
Seoul to compensate family of North Korean defector abducted by regime

Seoul to compensate family of North Korean defector abducted by regime

Consolation payment of around $12K follows official recognition of defector-journalist’s lengthy detention

Seoul to compensate family of North Korean defector abducted by regime
Jooheon Kim
Jooheon Kim June 5, 2026
Ask a North Korean: Do North Koreans read Shakespeare?

Ask a North Korean: Do North Koreans read Shakespeare?

A defector writes about majoring in literature and discovering the freedom of interpreting poems in unapproved ways

Ask a North Korean: Do North Koreans read Shakespeare?
Nano June 4, 2026
Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans deal with trash and recycling?

Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans deal with trash and recycling?

A defector writes about differences between rural and urban waste management and how some trash is treated as precious

Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans deal with trash and recycling?
Jin May 22, 2026
New book details uneasy lives of North Korea’s privileged but powerless

New book details uneasy lives of North Korea’s privileged but powerless

Jieun Baek’s study of elite defectors probes fear, loyalty and the prospects for regime change in North Korea

New book details uneasy lives of North Korea’s privileged but powerless
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado May 22, 2026
U.N. human rights chief makes first trip to South Korea in 11 years

U.N. human rights chief makes first trip to South Korea in 11 years

Accountability for North Korea’s human rights abuses must not be shelved as Seoul pursues diplomacy, he said

U.N. human rights chief makes first trip to South Korea in 11 years
Jooheon Kim
Jooheon Kim May 14, 2026
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