Rice-planting season means that the entire population has been mobilized to work on the farms, including children. Official market hours are also restricted.
Last week our CEO, Hannah Song, was invited to speak at the Oslo Freedom Forum among some of the most inspiring dissidents and activists working on issues around the globe.
The stuck record of high politics and North Korea.
MOU: The number of NKorean defectors that have arrived in SK this year (up to early May) is 556, leading to a prediction that around 1200 will arrive this year – a 20% decrease on 2012.
“All the workers who used to be in Kaesong have been dispatched to factories, enterprises and cooperative farms in the North Hwanghae Province region.”
A Daily NK source reports that the decision to close the Kaesong Industrial Complex originated from Kim Jong-il.
NK’s National Defense Commission demanded an end to sanctions, a complete withdrawal of “all nuclear war measures deployed in SK and neighboring regions”, and an apology before they would engage in dialogue.
Authorities are stepping up crackdowns on the viewing foreign media, reportedly in response to an increase in the use of USB sticks to view dramas on Chinese-made DVD players.
NKorean workers are not turning up to work in the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
Hae Mi had to learn how to take care of herself very early on. She spent many of her teenage years as a salesgirl on North Korean trains
NK authorities have banned entry of SKorean workers into the Kaesong Industrial Complex. 858 South Korean workers, and 7 other foreigners remain onsite and are allowed to return home.
The UN Human Rights Council unanimously passed a resolution establishing a Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights violations in NK.
The UN HRC is expected to approve a UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) into NK’s human rights violations.
LiNK and Movements.org co-hosted a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA), providing a platform for a recent defector from North Korea to respond in real time to various questions.
In an attempt to encourage redefectors, the NSA is holding lectures telling the people to convince their family members who have defected to return.
Rodman goes to Pyongyang.
Forced market shutdowns and celebration events regarding the most recent nuclear tests are causing complaints and social tensions.
NK has returned to normal from a heightened state of emergency.
Details have been revealed about the expansion of Camp 25, including an increased parameter with additional guard posts, as well as new buildings and renovations.
NK authorities are reportedly limiting movements of people and goods during the current state of heightened military mobilization, and cracking down on unlicensed traders operating outside officially sanctioned marketplaces.
NK turned up the level of fierceness of its rhetoric, to the chagrin of everyone, including China.
New satellite imagery shows the addition of a new area next to Camp 14 which bears striking similarity to other known prison camps.
German economists and lawyers are advising the NK regime on ways to open up to western investors, including by improving their investment laws.
1,508 NKorean refugees arrived in SK in 2012, a 44.3% decrease on the number of arrivals in 2011 (2,706).
SK will maintain analog TV broadcasting into NK so residents on the other side of the DMZ can continue to watch SKorean broadcasts.
Park Geun-hye, the conservative candidate, won an absolute majority to become the next president of SK.
The NK regime seemingly has put a satellite in space, with a bit of help from Iran.
NK announced it would launch a rocket around the anniversary of KJI’s death.
KJU seems concerned about internal security, emphasizing the need to root out “dissidents”.
There are now over 1.5 million subscribers to NK’s official Koryolink mobile phone network, representing steady growth along 2011 trends.
Are you in a band… youth group… chess club… and want to change the world? Awesome! Check out Rescue Teams.
The role of NK’s Cabinet in designing and running economic policies is reported by the Choson Sinbo to be increasing.
The WPK Central Committee met in order to establish a State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, to be chaired by Jang Song-taek
The Roberts family was recently exposed to the plight of the North Korean people and their children were moved to action.
Around 1,440 NKorean refugees are expected to arrive in SK this year. It will be the first time since 2005 that fewer than 2,000 NKorean refugees have arrived in SK.
I can’t believe we’ve been on the road for over a month already!
Reports of changes in regime personnel as well as the abolition of the notorious Rooms 38 and 39.
If you haven’t noticed already, LiNK’s image recently got a makeover, so we thought we would share some thoughts behind the design.
NKorean sources report that none of the experimental farms will be given 30% of their production because the 6.28 Policy has been put on hold until next year.
What is going on with KJU’s “reforms”? And where does this path lead to?
KJU instructs the NSA to combat the infiltration of information into the country.
Important information on NK’s food security, economy, public health, criminal code, refugees, etc.
Camp 22, a political prison camp in Hoiryeong, was reportedly shut down after the defection of the warden.
SPA ends with no news of economic reforms.
NK refugee numbers showing signs of rebounding after intense crackdowns on both sides of the border earlier this year.
Further reports of flood damage in NK and international assistance, including from SK – for the first time in two years.
Get to know our nomads who will be bringing SHIFT to a town near you this fall!
A bonanza of news, analysis and speculation related to possible NK economic reforms this week.
40+ people joined a spontaneous protest after rumours spread that they would not be given new housing they had been expecting.
I just used the phrase “jazz cat.”
… Am I part of the solution?
More signals of possible economic reforms emerge from inside NK, while skeptical commentators on the outside have their say.
Jang Song-taek is in China to discuss economic cooperation projects.
Once again, it’s about the people, not the politics…
KJU continues to talk up the goal of making the country prosperous and people’s lives affluent.
Hyeonseo Lee grew up in North Korea and made the difficult journey to China in 2008.
KCNA reports that recent flooding has left 88 dead, 63,000 homeless, and 74,700 acres of farmland destroyed.
Brian lived a charmed life in North Korea- loving family, university education, and a full stomach, but life became increasingly hard for his family.
Hae Jung has lost many beloved ones. In hopes of finding food and a better life, she escaped to neighboring China.
In May our research and strategy analyst took to the TED stage to share his ideas on tackling the North Korea crisis.
As a teenager growing up in North Korea, Ella was solely responsible for her family.
The regime is reportedly explaining the nature of forthcoming reforms, which is getting people’s hopes up.
The day that Suji became an orphan she was standing with her older sister at the river that separated North Korea from China.
Kyung lost both of her parents and was raised by her loving grandparents as their sole grandchild.
Throughout her childhood, Cate always struggled to find food – she remembers being constantly hungry.
Min-Ji is around ten years old. She was left on the streets in North Korea at a very young age. She has no idea what her real name is.
101 refugees have been rescued & are now living in freedom thanks to your support. We did it!
KJU signals his ‘complete’ control over the military.
Your creativity and impact during The Reliance campaign caught the attention of the largest philanthropic awards ceremony in the country.
Sexual revolution and research on intimate relations in North Korea: People are people, and love is love.
Six Chapter representatives joined LiNK on a trip to South Korea, and met the refugees whose rescues they made possible.
Daily NK has obtained interesting information on plans for weak agricultural reforms.
It’s here! Check out what we’ve been able to accomplish with your support!
Kim Jong-un is a relatively untested dictator. Does he follow in his fathers footsteps or change his country. Have advice for him?
North Koreans are scrambling to be granted one of the 40,000 recently allocated Chinese work visas.
In case you haven’t been following the story of Ai Weiei, let him inspire you by watching the trailer for “NEVER SORRY”
Kim-Ian ate one meal a day and lacked adequate clothing despite her parents constantly working to support their three children.
Russia has agreed to write off 90% of NK’s $11 billion Soviet-era debt.
We here at LiNK just wanted to give a shout-out and show some love to Levi Ammundsen, an amazing supporter of ours.
Songbun is the underlying system by which the NK ruling elite controls and oppresses society.
Check out this radical “book burning” campaign that inspired our creative team today.
New National ID cards reportedly contain a code to instantly identify individuals blacklisted by the regime.
Moon-Su spent many months at this orphanage but eventually, with the help of a friend, built up enough courage to escape
USG statements on the inevitability of change in NK and the importance of information dissemination in furthering that change.
The NSA is co-opting Korean Chinese smugglers to provide intel on SK NGOs and Christian groups.
Societal, economic, and informational changes are revealed in changing consumer behaviour.
Internal document reportedly admits starvation caused by “excessive food quotas for the military.”
My father went out with a lunch box to pick mushrooms. All of a sudden he said his head hurt,
Ultimately this could feed the growth of a civil space for the people, separate from the regime.
China has again intensified crackdowns against NK refugees and the NGOs assisting them.
If you only had access to boring NK state media, you would be interested to watch SK dramas too.
A breakdown of the regime’s monopoly as the single source of information is a very good thing.
Food shortages in North and South Hwanghae Provinces reportedly leading to starvation deaths.
Eun Hae escaped to China at the age of 19 with the hopes of sending money and food back home to her family in North Korea.
We truly do live in a world that’s upside down, at least in the way that I see it.
NK govt actions against families of defectors have reportedly been stepped up since the NSA took over border security from the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces.
Ken is all the way from South Korea and has brought the joy of dance to our HQ office.
Well-off NK parents are paying bribes to hospital staff for medical certificates to keep their children from being required to participate in this year’s mass games.
Daily NK guest column on how to maintain and grow international media attention on the North Korean human rights crisis.
The New School was kind enough to donate Tishman Auditorium, a 480 seat theater in the heart of the city so that we could share our new documentary with our New York friends.
The number of NK refugees that arrived in South Korea in Q1 2012 was down 39% on the Q1 2011 figure.
Jung Hee resorted to picking plants in the mountains in North Korea after the police shut her down for selling goods.
North Korea’s admission of the failure of its recent rocket launch caught analysts by surprise. What is with the new honesty?
The irregular supply of water in Pyongyang is reportedly becoming a growing source of discontent among residents.
North Korea’s rocket launches are meant to instill pride among the people and increase support for the regime. Does this work?
Kim Jong-un speaks! Also, the regime admits the failure of its “satellite launch”, and is condemned by the UN Security Council.
Without the support and hard work of our Chapters in 2011, 25 refugees who were rescued would still be hiding in China today.
Michael and Donna recently escaped North Korea with their young daughter (Isabel).
Heather escaped to China for the second time and was sold again to a different man who she lived with in fear and isolation, enduring more abuse.
We love Jon! He withdrew from The George Washington University Law School because he was so compelled to make a tangible difference on the issue.
Sun Mu was born in North Korea and worked as a propaganda artist for the North Korean regime. We had an incredible opportunity to work with him.
I didn’t really know what to expect from screening, but by the end, I didn’t want to leave!
A look behind the visuals on our most recent documentary design
Kim Jong-un named “First Secretary” of Korean Workers’ Party while North Korea readies rocket in defiance of international community.
Meet Kyla, one of the most happy, energetic, and positive interns that has ever worked with us!
The Reliance is a human network of individuals committed to seeing every North Korean refugee free
The People’s Crisis premiere was a great night for sharing the voice of the North Korean people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
Beneath all the high-politics and focus on security concerns, there is quite a different story involving the North Korean people.
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
A weekly summary of news relevant to North Korea and its people
AI – Amnesty International (NGO) ARF – ASEAN Regional Forum ASEAN – Association of South East Asian Nations CCP – Chinese Communist Party DMZ – Demilitarised Zone DPRK – Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) DUP – Democratic United Party (South Korean opposition party, liberal) FAO – UN Food and Agriculture Orgnization FDI – Foreign [...]
Min Sung told us that the hardest part about escaping from North Korea was to leave his family.
Instead of attending school as a child, Yoon-Hui worked in the fields to help her ailing mother and father survive.
Yae Jin was able to find true love in China. She was sold to her husband’s family, but unlike the other husbands, he was kind and affectionate to her.
Myung Soo spent the first 19 years of his life in North Korea. His sister had heart disease and was unable to be treated in North Korea.
Mi-Sun was rescued in 2010 and is safely resettled in the United States
Ki-Won was rescued in 2010 and is safely resettled in South Korea