North Korean Defectors Arriving in South Korea Tripled in 2023

Despite the risks associated with defection, including facing torture, sexual violence, hard labor, imprisonment or even execution upon returning to North Korea, an increasing number of North Koreans are attempting to escape their homeland. In 2023 alone, the number of defectors  entering South Korea nearly tripled compared to previous years. 

According to South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, 196 North Korean defectors entered South Korea in 2023, compared to 63 and 67 defectors in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Of the 196 defections in 2023, 32 were men and 164 were women, raising the total number of the North’s defectors in South Korea to 34,078. Government data also showed that there has been a rise in defections by North Korean diplomats and trade officials. Although 196 successful defections appear insignificant in comparison with the record high of 2,914 defections in 2009, the drastic jump in 2023 points to a resumption of defections following strict pandemic-related border closures implemented by the DPRK in the previous years.

REASONS FOR THE RISE IN NUMBER

Throughout the years, disillusionment with the North Korean regime has played a primary motivator for defection. According to reports, nearly 23 percent of defectors cited their dissatisfaction with the regime’s ruling as the main reason for defecting. The oppressive political climate, lack of basic human rights and constant surveillance also drove many to seek a better life elsewhere, as the Korea Hana Foundation learned that “aspirations for freedom” became the number one reason for their escape.

Another critical factor is the ongoing food crisis in North Korea. Approximately 21.4 percent of defectors mentioned hunger as a reason for leaving their home. It is no secret that the country faces chronic food shortages, exacerbated by economic challenges and natural disasters. The struggle for survival pushes people to search for sustenance and stability, even if the journey to freedom could cost them their lives.

CHANGING DEFECTION ROUTES

Since Kim Jong-un assumed power in 2012 following his father’s death, defections have declined consistently. Kim’s regime implemented stronger border controls, limiting escape routes. Additionally, improved relations with China and agreements to return escapees to North Korea further deterred defections. The impact of his leadership has been significant, especially when looking at the number of successful defections, which immediately dropped after his rise to power.

However, in order to tackle the new challenges associated with defection within North Korea, there appears to be more diversification in terms of defection routes. The new routes that go through third countries, such as China, Laos or Myanmar, before reaching South Korea may have positively contributed to an increased number of successful defections as authorities in the North are not familiar with them and face more challenges in arresting defectors.

DISTURBING TRUTH

More than half of the defectors who fled North Korea in 2023 were in their 20s and 30s. While this might indicate that young people are desperate to seek freedom and build a future for themselves at an early age, there appears to be an entirely different reality. According to Kim Sung-eun, a pastor with South Korea’s Caleb Mission who has been helping defectors for more than two decades, the reason why young women account for 90 percent of defectors is because brokers are able to gain 100,000 to 180,000 yuan (around $13,790 to $24,822 USD) for each female defector they sell to Chinese looking for brides or to prostitution operators. As Kim described, “A married couple with an old woman and young children bring no profit to brokers,” and are thus deemed “worthless.” In other words, the statistics from 2023 could suggest that young North Koreans, especially women, have more opportunities to escape simply, and sadly, because they fit the criteria for human trafficking.

Ultimately, for a people who have suffered under the tyrannical rule of Kim Jong-un and the inhumanity of trafficking, we are thankful to see an increasing number of them arriving in South Korea. Life won’t immediately or miraculously become better, but in South Korea, they at least have a fighting chance.

Jenelle: A Breath of Fresh Air at Elim House

Jenelle had been living by herself in Seoul. Her husband was incarcerated on drug related charges and had also committed fraud with Jenelle’s bank account, which left her with nothing. Unable to pay the mortgage, she eventually lost her housing and was referred to Elim House this May by a regional Hana Center.

The day she arrived at Elim House happened to be the same day as our Elim Community Pilates class. Without even pausing to unpack, she joined the other residents and headed out to take the class together. Jenelle said she had always wanted to try pilates to help her back pain but could not afford it.

Though she’s suffered much throughout her life, Jenelle is very warm and jovial. It is unclear how long Jenelle was bound to a wheelchair, but we know she’s had two hip surgeries and a lot of acupuncture. Unable to walk after one surgery, the pastor who preaches at Elim House on Sundays happened to be the person who drove Jenelle around and helped her. The first Sunday after her arrival, when the pastor arrived at Elim House for Sunday service, Jenelle saw him for the first time in several years and broke down in tears.

Jenelle was also able to take part in our annual summer retreat that is hosted for Elim House residents, past and current. Two of our US staff traveled out to Korea for this retreat and spent time getting to know Jenelle and the other women at the retreat. They were touched by how she wore her heart on her sleeve, openly sharing her grief and heartache as she freely shed tears several times throughout the retreat.

Jenelle says that she was one of four children in North Korea. One of her siblings died of starvation during the famine, and Jenelle almost drowned while crossing a river to escape to China. She was saved by a large log that she held onto for dear life. Growing up, when her mother was having a hard time, she didn't know how to call out to God so she called out to some higher being. Jenelle recalls crying out to that same person as she fought for her life in that river. She said she experienced a “large invisible hand” that rescued her that day.

She gave birth to a child in China but was caught by the Chinese police and repatriated to North Korea. Jenelle is no longer in contact with him but her plan is to save up enough money in Korea to be able to buy a house in China for him. She also has a daughter with another man, both of whom are in China. Looking at the children of the Crossing Borders’ staff member recently, she sighed multiple times, expressing sadness that she could not raise her kids the way that our staff member’s kids were being raised. After having Sunday lunch with the Elim House residents, the kids started to show the residents some dance moves in the restaurant parking lot and Jenelle jumped in and moved her body as best she could, laughing and joking around despite her hip issues.

Jenelle’s bubbly personality and lightheartedness has brought a welcome breath of fresh air to Elim House these days. She is able to balance the strong personalities of two other residents who were often getting into fights prior to Jenelle’s arrival. This week, our social worker arrived at the shelter in the morning to find Jenelle and the two other residents communing over breakfast happily.

The process to apply for housing again can take months to years depending on each refugee’s circumstances. Our team in Korea has already helped Jenelle take the first few steps. No matter how long the process takes, we hope her stay with us will be one that brings healing to her body and her soul.

Kim Jong-un’s Portrait Now Displayed Beside Predecessors

Until recently, portraits of North Korea’s current leader, Kim Jong-un, had not been publicly displayed in the country. Last week, state media released a photo of Kim’s portrait hung on a building during his recent visit to the Central Cadres Training School of the ruling Workers’ Party, as well as a second photo showing portraits of the three generations of Kim’s placed side-by-side in a classroom.

Although it is unclear whether the setup will become standard across North Korea, placing Kim’s portrait next to his father and grandfather suggests the party’s intention to elevate his status to a level similar to that of the late leaders. Some even put forward that the current leader demands more respect than his late father did, as it only became mandatory to display Kim Jong-il's portrait after his death in 2011. Notably, this move came shortly after the country debuted its new song praising Kim as the nation’s “friendly father.” Meanwhile, Cheong Seong-chang, an analyst at the Sejong Institute in South Korea, associated this latest change with a possible shift in power, commenting that, “By hanging the portraits of all three – Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un – I assess that North Korea is underscoring the need to extend the Paektu bloodline to justify another hereditary power transfer for Ju Ae (daughter).”

SIGNIFICANCE OF PORTRAITS

In North Korea, nearly all homes and public offices are required to display portraits of the DPRK’s founding “Great Leader,” Kim Il-sung, and its “Dear Leader,” Kim Jong-il. These portraits are central to the state’s cult of personality and have been instrumental in legitimizing the Kim family’s rule since the country’s foundation in 1948. 

For decades, images of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il have adorned homes, offices, schools, public transportation and many other places across the country, serving as a constant reminder of the Kim’s authority as they are “considered to be gods in (North Korea) … It’s almost equivalent to having the cross or the statues of Jesus at churches,” as described by Je Son-lee, a defector who fled the North in 2011.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PORTRAIT HANGING

Portraits must hang from a wall with no other decorations on it and in a prominent and central position in the room. They must also be hung high up so no one’s head can be higher than the portraits. As another defector, Jun Yoo-sung, described, “In short, the portraits of the Kims are considered to be the almighty you should respect more than anything else.” Moreover, citizens are required to clean the portraits at least every few days as one is subject to a fine if the portraits are found by the Workers’ Party to be dusty during inspection. Interestingly, the fine is discretionary – “the thicker the dust is, the more you have to pay.”

Due to the high standard of care required to look after these portraits, this task is often accompanied by fear. Unsurprisingly, this fear is instilled in every North Korean child from a young age. As Jun recalled, “The first thing I can remember my parents said about the portraits was: “You should take very good care of the portraits. You will get into big trouble if they fall off by mistake while you’re trying to hang them on the wall”.” As the leaders’ portraits play such a big part in North Koreans’ daily lives, for example, children are taught to praise the portraits from as soon as they were able to talk, many even grow up believing that the omni-present portraits could watch their every move.

The duty to safeguard and preserve the leaders’ portraits extends to protecting them with one’s own life. In 2012, a 14-year-old schoolgirl was awarded a posthumous award after she drowned in a flood as she tried to retrieve the portraits from her home. According to state media, her parents and schoolteachers also received awards for nurturing “such children” who are loyal to the regime. This heroic incident even set precedent and became widely used for state propaganda, with the authorities proclaiming that “Even such a small child died while protecting the portraits, grown-ups should learn a lesson from this.”

Romans 1:22-23 says “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Our continued prayer is that the northern area of the Korean Peninsula, once called the “Jerusalem of the East,” would once again be filled with worship of the one true king.

High Profile Studios Unknowingly Contracted Work to North Korean Animators

In a recent revelation that has left the animation industry astounded, North Korean animators appear to have participated in producing works for U.S. and Japanese studios – without the companies’ knowledge. The story surfaced when files on a cloud storage server located in North Korea became viewable to anyone without a password due to a configuration error. 

According to 38 North, a Washington-based program dedicated to analyzing events in and around North Korea, a cyber detective from Boston who explores North Korean sites as a hobby, Nick Roy, found unpublished draft sketches and videos that closely resembled projects from popular U.S. and Japanese cartoons on the unsecured server in December last year.

THE ANIMATED SERIES INVOLVED

Even though it is common for US-based studios to outsource significant portions of their animation projects abroad due to lower production costs, the discovery of North Korean animators contributing to mainstream U.S. and Japanese animated series raises questions about the oversight, international sanctions and the complexities of global collaboration. In particular, the North’s animation industry is known to be a primary source of propaganda and a means of earning foreign currency, which in turn helps fund its weapons and missiles programs.

Investigations revealed that Chinese or other Asian subcontracted companies might have outsourced work to North Korean firms in China. The server logs showed IP addresses in China, including two registered in North Korea’s bordering Chinese province, Liaoning, which is an area known for having North Korean-operated businesses. From there, North Korean animators would begin working on the sketches before sending their work back to Pyongyang for completion. 

It is suggested that the North Korean server contained sketches for an upcoming season of the Amazon original animated series “Invincible” and a similar superhero animated series set to air on HBO Max, “Iyanu: Child of Wonder.” Exposed files also included sketches from the BBC’s children’s cartoon series, “Octonauts,” which features a team of undersea anthropomorphic explorers that North Koreans may have helped shape. The documents showed a series of Chinese instructions that have been translated into Korean, calling for adjustments to the size and style of the animation. An editing sheet written in English with specifications for animation work was also found with “Invincible” printed atop. Many files found had notes that were translated from English to Chinese to Korean, suggesting they changed hands several times before ending up on North Korean servers.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

Although the U.S. imposed sanctions prohibiting most trade with North Korea, making any collaboration with North Korean entities illegal, these animators have somehow managed to work on high-profile shows. The identity of the North Korean partner remains undisclosed, but suspicions point to Pyongyang-based April 26 Animation Studio, also known as SEK Studio, which has a history of producing North Korean animated films, including “Squirrel and Hedgehog.” Notably, SEK Studio was placed under sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department back in 2021 for its connection to the illegal employment of North Korean illustrators in China.

The legal implications of U.S. studios employing North Koreans can be significant. First, companies could face heavy penalties and legal action in violation of state-imposed sanctions. Second, failure to conduct due diligence to vet their employees and subcontractors could also lead to legal repercussions, especially if they are found to have unknowingly employed North Korean animators. Third, contracts with North Korean entities may be unenforceable or void due to sanctions, thereby leading to disputes over payment, intellectual property or other contractual matters. 

In response, the California-based production company behind Amazon Prime, Skybound Entertainment, began conducting an internal review and issued a post on social media, stating that it does not work “with North Korean companies, or any affiliated entities, and have no knowledge of any North Korean companies working on our animation.”

Top Headlines from North Korea - May 2024

U.S. COMPANIES OUTSOURCED TECH WORK TO NORTH KOREANS

• North Korean tech workers gained employment with hundreds of U.S. companies to fund Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and missile programs.

• The U.S. identified and charged a national from Arizona who helped three North Korean IT workers secure work and earn about $6.8 million USD using fake identities of U.S. citizens starting in October 2020.

• A Ukrainian citizen and three North Koreans were also charged with fraud for tricking businesses into remotely hiring North Koreans.

• Over 300 U.S. companies were defrauded, and as a result, the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $5 million USD for information leading to the capture of North Koreans accused of taking part in the scheme that funds the country’s weapons programs.

Source:
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/it-workers-remote-jobs-sanctions-05162024153246.html
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/05/17/asia-pacific/politics/north-korea-us-firm-telework-missiles/ 

KIM JONG UN’S SISTER DENIES ARMS EXCHANGE WITH RUSSIA

• North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister denied that Pyongyang has supplied or is exploring the possibility of exporting any weapons to Russia, labeling this accusation as “the most absurd paradox which is not worth making any evaluation or interpretation.”

• The U.S. government accuses Pyongyang of providing ballistic missiles and other weapons for Russia in return for military assistance.

• Meanwhile, foreign experts believe that North Korea’s recent series of artillery and short-range missile tests were meant to examine the weapons it was planning to sell to Russia.

• According to state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim said that their weaponry production is limited to defending against South Korea, “What is most urgent for us is not to ‘advertise’ or ‘export’ something, but to make the war readiness and war deterrent of our army more perfect in quality and quantity.”

Source:
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kims-sister-denies-north-korea-005840210.html
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240517_07/ 

PROPAGANDA CHIEF FOR THREE NORTH KOREAN RULERS DIES AT 94

• Kim Ki-nam, a long-serving official who helped all three generations of North Korean leaders forge the personality cult surrounding the ruling Kim dynasty and cement their political legitimacy, has died at the age of 94.

• According to state media, Kim, who had been in poor health for several years, died due to old age and “multiple organ dysfunction.”

• An official biography was released, describing Kim as an admirable individual who rose from hardships to work at the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea from 1956. Kim was also commended for leading Pyongyang’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper in the 1970s and for his devotion to the “sacred struggle for defending and strengthening the ideological purity of our revolution.”

• The North Korean leader personally visited Kim’s funeral hall and paid silent tribute, while looking around the bier with “bitter grief over the loss of a veteran revolutionary who had remained boundlessly loyal” to the regime.

Source:
https://time.com/6975832/kim-ki-nam-north-korea-propaganda-death/
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2024/05/09/2003817616 

THOUSANDS OF NORTH KOREAN WORKERS DISPATCHED ABROAD

• North Korea has recently sent a large group of workers to China amidst improvement in Beijing-Pyongyang relations and a weakening in the United Nations’ monitoring over sanctions against the North.

• A source told Daily NK that thousands of workers have been entering China from North Korea’s North Hamgyong Province since the end of April. 

• The workers were put to work right away at clothing and electronic parts factories in China’s Jilin Province, shortly after Chinese consular officials inspected the factories at the beginning of April.

• This addition of new workers may be a response to vacancies emerging from riots in clothing factories in Jilin Province back in February, when the North Korean authorities responded by detaining those accused of leading the initial riots and sending thousands of workers who participated in the strikes to other Chinese cities and the Republic of Congo.

Source:
https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korea-dispatches-large-number-workers-china/
https://tw.news.yahoo.com/北韓勞工暴動蔓延至非洲-當局將200人送回祖國嚴懲-122959076.html

Ellen’s Heartaches and Poor Health that Brought her to Elim House

Ellen’s family prepared for five years to defect from North Korea. Her father was a soccer player and a bit of a hero in Pyongyang. During the Arduous March, people in other regions thought that all Pyongyang people ate well and lived well. According to Ellen, Pyongyang was not spared and like the rest of the country, many people starved to death. They left in 2003 and stayed briefly in China for about a month before making it safely to South Korea in early 2004.

Ellen is one of the few North Korean refugees that speaks with almost no North Korean accent. She attended college in South Korea and holds a doctorate degree. She came to stay at Elim House in February 2024 because of both physical and mental health issues. Ellen was suffering from a type of thyroid disease, was scheduled for a surgery and treatment for uterine fibroids and struggled with deep depression.

When living on her own, Ellen did not eat properly and spent hours just lying around. The doctors she saw for her fibroids suggested she should not live alone. Wanting to be around others and with the upcoming surgery, Ellen asked to reside at Elim House.

Ellen shared that she had been bullied by her classmates during graduate school where her focus was North Korean studies. To make matters worse, she was also ostracized by other North Korean defectors, which brought on a lot of stress. Her relationship with her mom also severed along the way and she eventually cut ties with everyone else in her life. She is currently on medication for depression and insomnia.

Two months into her stay with us, Ellen opened up about the strained relationship she had with her mother. When her mother was pregnant with her, her grandmother had a dream of a tiger and was convinced that the baby was a boy. Her entire family believed and expected a baby boy, but to their surprise, Ellen was born. From that moment, her grandmother mistreated Ellen’s mother, to the point of not even feeding her and neglecting her. That’s when her mother’s hatred towards Ellen began. As she shared this painful backstory with our team, Ellen shed her first tears since arriving at Elim House. She said that she had never told her story to anyone. She joked that Elim was a strange place that had the power to “air out” one’s soul.

Ellen has had many interpersonal conflicts in the past and that has proven to also be a challenge between her and another resident. Heeding the advice of those around her, Ellen started to receive counseling and has also been actively participating in a few Elim Community classes.

Coming to Elim House broke her habits of being alone and inactive. Ellen now takes regular walks, exercises, and has developed a healthy eating schedule, which shows great promise. Moreover, as she reflected on how she felt when sharing the story about her mom’s hatred towards her and her increased use of antidepressant medication to combat stress, Ellen became more aware of her need for help. She agreed to meet with a therapist once a week for at least the next ten weeks. She’s willing to stick to her commitment and believes that through all of this, God has a plan to heal Ellen’s deep hurts. We firmly believe this as well.

Songs Praising Kim’s Greatness - a Closer Look at North Korea’s New Housing Project

In a country where state secrecy and control are paramount, North Korea has recently made headlines with its mega-scale home construction project. The regime, led by its leader, Kim Jong-un, aims to build 50,000 new homes in Pyongyang by 2025 to address housing shortages and improve outdated residential facilities, with 10,000 units to be completed annually. 

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim attended the completion ceremony which celebrated the nation’s success in achieving its goal to build 10,000 new homes in Phase 2 of the Hwasong District this year. The ceremony marked the third large-scale housing district completed since the North Korean New Town Project was announced at the 8th Party Congress in January 2021. It was reported that 10,000 modern homes were built in Songhwa District in April 2022 and another 10,000 homes in Phase 1 of Hwasong District in April 2023.

SYMBOLIC SHOWCASE

According to theth DailyNK, the number of homeless people, known as “kkotjebi,” has been on the rise in every major North Korean city. On the surface, the project appears to benefit North Korean citizens by providing housing to those in need. However, beyond the humanitarian façade, Kim is the ultimate beneficiary from personally overseeing this project:

1. First, upgrading housing facilities directly helps strengthen the regime’s cohesion and fosters loyalty among the population. 

2. Second, by addressing housing shortages, the regime seeks to appease the public and maintain social order. 

3. Third, new homes serve as a symbol of progress and prosperity under Kim’s rule. As described by state media, KCNA, “All the participants paid the highest tribute to Kim Jong Un who is ushering in a comprehensive development of a prosperous socialist country where all the people’s wishes are realized by ceaselessly creating great epochal changes and unprecedentedly great events with his rare wisdom and outstanding leadership.”

The completion ceremony featured a large-scale concert, jet flyovers and fireworks for the first time, which underscores the project's significance. KCNA reported that the latest construction “fully embodies the Party’s idea on architectural aesthetics and successfully combines the Juche, national, modern and artistic characters.” Kim’s attendance in an Aurus car, which was gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and participation in the tape-cutting event further emphasize its importance. The ceremony also featured a new song praising Kim as the nation’s “friendly father” working to ensure a “brighter future” for his people. State television later aired a music video for the new song featuring Kim interspersed with soldiers and citizens with more fervor and energy compared to similar videos. Following other recent boosts to his cult of personality, including ordering the making and praising of paintings and murals of himself, it is reported that writers were even instructed to create literature reflecting Kim’s greatness and were specifically ordered to include the “50,000 homes in Pyongyang” in their new creations.

NORTH KOREANS REMAIN HOMELESS AMIDST HOUSING BOOM

With the completion of Phase 2 in the Hwasong District, North Korea is nearing its goal of constructing 50,000 new homes by 2025. Almost 100 new buildings in muted brown, ivory and red brick color schemes now stand 10 to 20 stories high in the refurbished district. Shops and restaurants on the first floors of the buildings, with landscaped areas and park benches in front of them, can be seen on the main street. However, unlike other apartment buildings in Pyongyang, the new homes do not feature parking lots or underground garages, which suggests that authorities do not expect private car ownership to increase soon.

“The average North Korean citizen would likely and largely be excluded from the benefits of this project.”

While the regime touts its housing endeavor as a testament to the well-being of its citizens, the average North Korean citizen would likely and largely be excluded from the benefits of this project. The regime will likely determine who gets to move into these units based on factors such as one’s loyalty and songbun. For instance, those deemed loyal to the state, such as party members and military personnel, would likely be selected to reside in these apartments. State media images and videos also show significantly less busy streets compared to older residential areas in Pyongyang, raising questions over whether the new apartments have been fully occupied. Meanwhile, safety issues of the new buildings, which appear to have been built rapidly using hand-molded concrete bricks and rebar, pose concerns to experts, who described this construction method as one that leads to quick deterioration and a lack of proper insulation.

As the regime celebrates achieving its housing milestone for the third consecutive year, its citizens yearn for more than just a glimpse of the fireworks – they long for a place to call home.

Yellow Dust Invades North and South Korea

The Korean Peninsula is once again grappling with the annual challenge known as yellow dust. Originating from sandstorms in the Gobi Desert that borders China and Mongolia, the fine dust is carried by springtime winds and reaches the two Koreas every year. Sandstorms have been on the rise since the 1960s due to rising temperatures and reduced precipitation in the Gobi wilderness.

It was reported that dust concentration levels in various cities across South Korea, including Gangwon, Daegu, Sejong, Ulsan, North Gyeongsang and North Jeolla exceeded 100 micrograms per cubic meter this month, which is more than two times higher than the average concentration level. South Korea’s Cheong Wa Dae Observatory also detected a spike in “bad” dust levels across most parts of the country. As some cities are expected to experience strong winds of around 55 kilometers per hour, and wind speeds that exceed 70 kilometers per hour in some mountainous areas, safety concerns are raised across the nation.

HEALTH HAZARDS

From high-rise office windows in Seoul, Erling Thompson, an expatriate who moved to South Korea from the U.S., described the mood of the cityscape that fades into a murky yellow-grey haze: “You don’t feel happy. It’s like a very bad weather day. You naturally want to be outside on a sunny day. But when the weather is very dirty, you feel depressed and want to stay inside.” People on the streets are seen wearing face masks and hooded jackets, bracing themselves for yet another dust-covered day.

Yellow dust poses serious respiratory risks, especially since the particles are small enough to be inhaled into the lungs. As a result, the health and overall well-being of millions are compromised. A 40-year-old teacher from Seoul, Eom Hyeojung, described while sending her daughter to school despite the health risks that there is “no realistic way to avoid yellow dust” and “As it happens so often, like every year, I just let her go. It’s sad, but I think it became just a part of our life.”

DUST REACHES NORTH KOREA

Even though the yellow dust phenomenon has not been reported in North Korea this year, the situation is expected to be no different from that of its neighboring South Korea or China. In March 2024, the skies over parts of China visibly turned yellow as sandstorms swept through. By early April, four sandstorms had already left their mark, covering cars, bikes and houses in fine layers of dust. Inner Mongolia witnessed a woman sweeping three kilos of dust from her apartment after accidentally leaving a window open during the storm. Meanwhile, residents in China’s capital city, Beijing, also faced the same gritty reality, with one woman humorously comparing herself to a “terra cotta warrior” covered in dust.

In the past, North Korean authorities have issued warnings for citizens to stay indoors, fearing that the dust particles might carry not only toxic material but also viruses and pathogenic microorganisms. Embassies present in Pyongyang during the Covid-19 pandemic also received warnings about the dust storm, with the Russian Embassy recommending its diplomatic missions, international organizations in the country and all foreigners to stay at home and tightly close their windows.

AI AND DUST STORM PREDICTION

As this seasonal ordeal continues to strike East Asia, researchers in the region have been applying artificial intelligence (AI) and climate modeling to better predict this annual phenomenon. Huang Jianping, China’s leading researcher in dust dynamics, and his team at Lanzhou University have developed an early-warning system that uses AI to help forecast the storms. AI can now learn how sandstorms evolve in time and space from ground-level observational data, satellite data and simulations from various models.

The battle against yellow dust presses on, but it is hopeful that with the help of AI, better prediction could save tens of millions of yuan each year resulting from damages caused by the storms to farms and houses, as well as other health and safety concerns that have widespread implications across China’s bordering countries.

Top Headlines from North Korea - April 2024

FORMER MISSILE RESEARCHER IN NORTH KOREA BECOMES SOUTH KOREAN LAWMAKER

• Park Choong-Kwon, a former missile researcher in North Korea, was recently elected as a member of South Korea’s parliament.

• The 37-year-old defected to Seoul in 2009 after his doubts about the North Korean regime became too much to bear. He is now the fourth defector to become a parliamentarian in the South.

• Described as a sign of progress, Park told the BBC that, “I see all of this as the power of our liberal democracy and I think it’s all possible because our citizens made it happen. It is a miracle and a blessing.”

• Park pledged to play a role in inter-Korean relations and bridge the gap between the two halves of the peninsula should they reunify.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51n8w77z9wo
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/05/north-korea-south-millennial-defector/ 

ADVANCED CHINESE SURVEILLANCE TECH USED TO TIGHTEN CONTROL OVER NORTH KOREANS

• According to a report by 38North, North Korea is collecting fingerprints, photographs and other biometric information from its citizens to monitor its population even more closely than before.

• Surveillance cameras imported from China are also placed in airports, workplaces and school classrooms in major cities to prevent North Koreans from engaging in private business activities, accessing foreign media and secretly criticizing their government.

• The cameras range from basic video feeds to more advanced models that include features like face recognition. 

• However, the country’s undersupplied electricity and internet infrastructure makes widespread digital monitoring difficult.

Source:
https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-surveillance-cameras-border-citizen-control-bf3bac9734f0e5adbc2b9afa69a2c89b
https://www.38north.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/160424-Digital-Surveillance-in-North-Korea-English.pdf 

Chinese official Zhao Leji at a meeting with Choe Ryong-hae (right). (KCNA)

TOP CHINESE OFFICIAL VISITS PYONGYANG TO REINFORCE “DEEP FRIENDSHIP”

• A senior official from China, Zhao Leji, the third-ranking member of the Chinese Communist party’s leadership group, the politburo standing committee, was dispatched to Pyongyang to meet with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, and reassert China’s “deep friendship” with the isolated country.

• The visit marks the highest-level meeting between China and North Korea in nearly five years.

• According to Chinese state media, Zhao told Kim that China, North Korea’s most important source of economic aid and diplomatic support, looked forward to further developing ties.

• During his three-day visit, Zhao also met Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, and discussed how the two countries could promote exchanges and cooperation in all areas.

Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/13/china-reaffirms-ties-with-north-korea-in-high-level-pyongyang-meeting
https://www.ft.com/content/a6ce1cca-26ad-4fba-afa2-b4200c05d082 

SUPER-LARGE WARHEADS

• According to North Korean state media, Pyongyang launched “regular” tests of new cruise and anti-aircraft missiles, stating that “The DPRK Missile Administration has conducted a power test of a super-large warhead designed for the ‘Hwasal-1Ra-3’ strategic cruise missile … in the West Sea of Korea in the afternoon of April 19.”

• Cruise missiles are among a growing collection of weapons designed to overwhelm regional missile defenses by supplementing North Korea’s current ballistic missiles, which are said to be aimed at the continental United States.

• Reports suggest that the tests took place at Onchon Airbase north of Nampho, near where artillery drills were conducted last month.

• Since South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not announce any real-time detection of the reported launches, it remains unclear whether the authorities were aware of the launch or opted not to publicly announce it.

Source:
https://www.nknews.org/2024/04/north-korea-launched-cruise-and-anti-aircraft-missiles-on-friday-state-media/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/20/north-korea-conducts-test-on-new-super-large-warhead-state-media

Kim Il-sung's Birthday Losing Significance in 2024?

A propaganda image for the occasion of the 112th birthday of late founder Kim Il-sung. (Yonhap)

As North Korea prepares to celebrate the 112th birthday of its founding leader, Kim Il-sung, orchestrated festivities can be felt across Pyongyang. It is a tradition that North Korean state media, which is often known for its artful manipulation of narratives, would paint a picture of unity, loyalty and unwavering devotion by its people to the Kim dynasty on the late Kim’s birthday, also referred to as the “Day of the Sun.” Ever since April 15th was designated a holiday in 1997, citizens have participated in mass parades, choreographed dancing and patriotic singing in “songs of loyalty” competitions. Considered as one of North Korea’s most important holidays, all surrounding events leading towards the senior Kim’s birthday are usually meticulously choreographed to pay homage to the man who laid the foundation of the country’s identity with the Juche ideology.

KIM’S BIRTHDAY PREPARATIONS 

North Korea is known for holding mass anti-U.S. rallies, pledging “merciless” revenge against “U.S. imperialists,” to reinforce its own legitimacy and to fuel anti-American sentiments, its long-term enemy state. Ahead of Kim Il-sung's birthday this year, the DPRK has ordered that its youth be further indoctrinated with an anti-American and anti-imperialist class consciousness as North Korea marks the 73rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War. As the Day of the Sun approaches, the country’s efforts to garner more loyalty and prevent ideological laxity among the youth serve as a reminder of the complex war game dynamics among North Korea, the U.S. and South Korea.

In particular, the authorities blamed young people for being too money-driven and for only focusing on maintaining their own economic stability without considering the welfare of, and thereby showing loyalty to, the party and the state. Therefore, there is a need to require training sessions on ideology and class consciousness in every province so as not to let the country’s future disappoint the Workers’ Party. It is interesting to note that the trainings have been specifically designed to mention Ukraine’s loss in its war against Russia due to its dependence on the U.S., as well as to instill a strong hostility toward Japan and the “puppet state,” South Korea.

TONED DOWN FESTIVITY IN 2024

The Rodong Sinmun reported on the grand preparations for the 33rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival to be held on the occasion of Kim Il-sung's birth anniversary, which would include performances by around 20 art troupes from Russia, China and Mongolia in the event. However, it is “unusual” for North Korea’s state media to refer to the Day of the Sun as simply “the April holiday.” Surprisingly, the annual cooking festival held every April to mark Kim’s birthday has also been renamed without reflecting the term “Day of the Sun” this year. 

The dropping of the reference has led some, including Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korea Studies, to speculate that the current leader, Kim Jong-un, intends to diminish his grandfather’s feats while maintaining the legitimacy of the Paektu bloodline. When asked if North Korea view of the late Kim’s birthday appears to be losing its importance, an official from South Korea’s unification ministry commented that “it will be appropriate to assess (what that means) after comprehensively looking at media reports coming out until April 15.” Kim Jong-un’s more subdued approach to celebrating his grandfather’s birthday may also be explained by his own preference of low-key birthdays, as he reportedly turned 40 in January with no public celebrations.

Nevertheless, despite there being no grand plans of celebrations announced ahead of Kim Il-sung's birthday, the South Korean military remains vigilant to Pyongyang’s possible preparations for provocations during this period leading to Kim’s birthday and the founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army on April 25, especially amidst rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

Kailey’s Refuge

In March, we welcomed a new resident at Elim House. Kailey suffered from domestic abuse, which left her in a fragile emotional state. She cried throughout her first Sunday service with us. Our staff held her hands and consoled her. To our great surprise, we learned that Kailey became a believer in North Korea. This was Crossing Borders’ first time encountering a refugee who came to faith in North Korea.

Crossing Borders has helped about 1,000 refugees since we began keeping records in 2008. We cannot remember a single refugee who recalled even hearing the name of Jesus in North Korea. The North Korean government has worked hard to eradicate Christianity within its borders since the communists took over in 1945. Before then, North Korea’s capital Pyongyang was a vibrant Christian community. It is said that the streets were empty in Pyongyang on Sundays because everyone was at church.

Kailey came to faith through her father’s trading partner from China who became close friends with him. A few years prior to her conversion, her family had betrayed this trader, and thus the business relationship was cut off. But time passed and the trader said he forgave them. This is how he introduced the gospel to Kailey’s family, through his act of forgiveness.

Helping others in North Korea is frowned upon and raises suspicion. With the little that North Koreans have to live on, it also comes at a great cost. Their family found it challenging to love their neighbor, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 22. North Korea wants to be the only source of support for all citizens, and helping someone of lower Songbun or social status can in turn lower one’s social status. Despite these risks, Kailey’s family loved their neighbors by secretly helping families in need. She told us a story about a family who gave birth to a child and did not have enough money to feed themselves. They left a bag of rice in front of the struggling family’s door. The mother and child both lived and the father even came and repaired Kailey’s house to repay their kindness.

A bigger challenge was to follow the greatest commandment to love the Lord. On Sundays, the family would gather in a safe house, hold their breath, whisper hymns, and listen to sermons via USB drives they obtained from their friend. According to Kailey, their family was part of a "gajung gyohwe" (가정교회) which is some form of a house church. The friend received support from a church in South Korea, who prayed for Kailey’s family and supplied them with Christian sermons and songs.

She sings songs at Elim House that she learned in North Korea. She sings through the tears and hardships of her life. Her boyfriend abused her. It became progressively worse as time went on. This is exactly why Elim House exists: to serve as a refuge for North Korean women in need. Through your support, we have been able to faithfully serve these women who are under significant distress.

We’ve had the privilege of seeing God heal Hayley’s battered body and comfort her broken heart during her time with us. She has built friendships with the other residents and trust for our staff who have faithfully prayed with and for her. Hayley is preparing to leave Elim House in April and we will continue to sing and cry with Kailey until she departs.

Chinese Wigs and False Lashes Might be Made in North Korea

North Korean wigs and false lashes are a hot commodity that China cannot get enough of. Nearly $170 million dollars worth of wigs, beards and eyelashes made up 60 percent of North Korea’s declared exports to China in 2023.

HAIR TRADE DOMINATES TOPS EXPORTS TO CHINA

Trade between China and North Korea is down, mainly due to United Nations sanctions against North Korea due to its nuclear program. Interestingly, the hair trade is outside of these sanctions and North Korea can and does freely trade hair products with China. Processed hair topped the list of exported goods from China to North Korea for eight consecutive months. Even in China’s down economy, the allure of North Korean wigs and lashes persists, proving their unique position in the market and an irreplaceable appeal for Chinese customers. 

HIGH QUALITY LASHES

Known as the “eyelash capital of the world,” Pingdu, China, sources about 80 percent of its eyelashes from North Korea. Making false eyelashes and wigs is highly labor-intensive, with each lash individually sharpened to the millimeter and attached one by one, and North Korean-produced products are high in demand and considered to be of “high-quality craftsmanship.” The two main reasons China imports eyelash materials is due to North Korea’s high-quality eyelashes and low cost of labor (which is a tenth of what China’s cost to produce the same). 

Trading eyelashes and wigs generates millions in revenue each month for Kim Jong-un’s country, although it is difficult to know exact amounts. Popularity and increased demand in China is significant for the North Korean people, who desperately need more exports to put food on the table. 

IN SHORT SUPPLY

DailyNK reported that hair is in high demand in North Korea as it tries to increase wig exports. Ironically, the country deems long hair as a practice that goes against socialist sensibilities and is one that is punishable by law. Desperate for money, “there are women who avoid the crackdowns and secretly grow out their hair so they can sell it for as much money as possible.” The source added that “Women grow out their hair to as much as 25 centimeters (10 inches), and one bundle of hair can be sold for up to 20 to 25 kilograms (44 to 55 lbs) of corn. But it takes a long time for women to grow out their hair, so they wash their hair more frequently to try to get their hair to grow faster.” 

Wig-weaving is particularly popular amongst high school students in North Korea, as teenagers have better eyesight, which allows them to weave wigs under oil lamps in an electricity-scarce country*. Political prisoners have also been subject to wig and fake eyelash-making at labor camps, though performing the tasks without receiving any wages. 

* White Paper on Human Rights in North Korea 2022 released by the Korea Institute for National Unification in 2023

Top Headlines from North Korea - March 2024

NORTH KOREA SUED FOR “PARADISE ON EARTH” ATROCITIES

• Approximately 93,340 ethnic Korean residents in Japan moved to North Korea between 1959 and 1984 after they were promised to find abundant healthcare, education and job opportunities under what is known as the “Paradise on Earth” campaign.

• South Korean human rights organization filed the first civil lawsuit against Pyongyang for enticing ethnic Koreans to move to North Korea through false promises through the campaign.

• The lawsuit was filed on behalf of five ethnic Koreans who relocated from Japan to North Korea to seek “overdue compensation for atrocities suffered as part of the North Korean government's deceitful repatriation scheme” worth 100 million won (around $76,000 USD) per person.

• The reality was that the immigrants were given low socioeconomic status, lived in rural areas, performed labor work in factories, mines or farms, were denied the right to return to Japan and became targets of heightened state surveillance.

• Some 500 of these repatriated Koreans eventually escaped to South Korea and Japan, but many remained reluctant to disclose their experiences living in North Korea due to concerns about the safety of those they had to leave behind.

Source:
https://en.nkdb.org/announcements/?idx=18429216&bmode=view
https://www.nknews.org/2024/03/victims-of-north-korean-repatriation-campaign-sue-for-compensation-in-rok-court/ 

KIM JONG-UN MANS “THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL TANK”

• Kim Jong-un was seen operating a newly developed battle tank as South Korea and the U.S. ended their joint annual military drills.

• The North Korean leader expressed “great satisfaction” with “the world’s most powerful” tank, which successfully demonstrated its striking power for the first time during the training match.

• According to state media, the 105th Tank Division, the unit that occupied Seoul during the Korean War, was declared winner at the mock battle.

• The military demonstration involved units near the border that are in firing range of “the enemy’s capital,” referring to Seoul, which has nearly 10 million residents (about half the population of New York).

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-koreas-kim-guided-military-demonstration-involving-tanks-kcna-says-2024-03-13/
https://www.foxnews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-operating-worlds-most-powerful-tank-live-fire-exercises 

300 MILES OF NEW FENCING AND GUARD POSTS ALONG NORTHERN CHINA BORDER 

• According to a report titled "A Sense of Terror Stronger than a Bullet: The Closing of North Korea 2018-2023" published by Human Rights Watch, North Korea’s increasingly restrictive measures in sealing up its northern border with China has worsened the country’s already grave humanitarian and human rights situation.

• Satellite images showed authorities constructing 482km (about 299 miles) of new fencing, while enhancing another 260km (about 162 miles) of fencing which was already in place.

• New guard posts and buffer zones could also be seen covering about a quarter of the northern border. In particular, Human Rights Watch noted a 20-fold increase in the number of border security facilities, with guard posts rising from 38 to more than 6,500.

• Due to more intensified crackdowns at the border areas, defectors face greater challenges escaping the country and sending money back home to support their families, as “Not even an any can make it across the border now.”

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68499975
https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240308050626
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/07/north-korea-sealing-china-border-worsens-crisis 

PYONGYANG FIRES MISSILES AS U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS SEOUL

• North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles for the first time in two months as U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, began his visit to South Korea for a conference on advancing democracy.

• According to South Korea’s military, the missiles flew about 300km (about 186 miles) from Pyongyang and landed off the east coast.

• South Korea and Japan condemned the launches as a “clear provocation” and actions that “threaten the peace and security of our region and the international community.”

• Analysts suggested that the launches were a calculated move in response to Blinken’s diplomatic trip.

Source:
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1745067-20240318.htm?spTabChangeable=0
https://www.reuters.com/world/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-south-korea-military-says-2024-03-17/

Chief Gynecologist Sees North Korean Refugee Women in China

For the first time in her life, 56-year-old “Bonnie” received a full physical exam. It was performed by a gynecologist in China. Here she recounts the story of how this opportunity came about through our field pastor:

Eighteen years have passed since I came to China. For a long time, I couldn’t find joy in this unfamiliar land. It was a place where parents, brothers, and children were abandoned, and my language did not work here. When I thought of my hometown, I would go to the fields and cry by myself. I really missed my hometown.

Years ago when I first heard about this pastor who cared for North Korean defectors in my village, I was scared to meet him because I feared he would betray us and have us sent back to North Korea. I could not understand why he helped North Korean defectors. But over time, I started attending his gatherings and through these meetings, I became a child of God.

This past summer, this pastor told us that we had the opportunity to go to the big city hospital to receive a full physical exam. I knew how expensive these visits could be so it was hard to believe someone would provide us with these medical services at no cost to us. Even through my doubts, the pastor encouraged us to come. I told the pastor I would go. I thought to myself that even though I wouldn’t be able to get the exam, it would still be a great achievement to see the streets of the big city for the first time.

When we arrived, there were so many things to see and I was overwhelmed by the city sights. I went to the hospital with a group of other North Korean women from my village, still not believing the checkup would happen. But I had come in faith to receive God’s grace that day so I made up my mind to stay and wait my turn.

The gynecologist who saw me was a Christian and the aunt of someone the pastor knew. She was actually the chief gynecologist at this big hospital, which is how she was able to see us without proper documents. During the exam, I had a lot of questions. Even though I asked about a particular issue 10 times, the doctor patiently explained things to me until I fully understood.

We often saw the pastor God sent to us working so faithfully and diligently. However, since he was a pastor and a servant for God, I didn’t think it was a big deal. After coming home, I looked back on my day and thought through everything that took place. Feeling how much God’s grace I received that day, I also looked back on my life and saw God’s grace in my past..

I give thanks to our pastor who works to help us know more about God and his grace. Only God would give us such happiness and grace. Thank God. Thank you to whoever it is that supports us. I pray that you will be greatly blessed. Amen.

China and Women’s Day

As China celebrated Women’s Day on March 8, our staff decided to hold a retreat for our North Korean refugee women where they gathered for a time to share their burdens with one another and encouraged each other in their faith. 

Despite the fact that China has not honored the rights of North Korean women and has committed a number of atrocities on its women, Women’s Day has been a widely celebrated event in the country. 

Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, China held major events to celebrate Chinese women around the country. According to Xinhua, the All-China Women’s Federation held a meeting in China’s capital city of Beijing to honor 310 female role models on March 3 this year. The female attendees were called on to embrace self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance and self-empowerment, as well as to strive for fulfilling lives. The President of the federation also encouraged women to “contribute their wisdom and strength to the cause of building China into a stronger country and national rejuvenation through concrete actions and accomplishments.” Meanwhile, Beijing also launched a March campaign, “Inspire, Inclusion,” which offers female guests exclusive access to cocktail tutorials, spa treatments and a range of “unforgettable” experiences in three China World Trade Center hotels throughout the month.

As a highly patriarchal and conservative society that is not often associated with women empowerment, it may come as a surprise to the West how widely celebrated Women’s Day is in China.

The Meaning of “Three Eight” in China

Despite the widespread celebrations on March 8 nowadays, “three” and “eight” put together in Chinese ironically forms a word that was traditionally used to describe immodest and indecent women. It is said that this term can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty when the Manchu government only allowed foreigners to enter the port city of Hong Kong for trade on the 8th, 18th and 28th of each month. As the conservative Chinese neighborhood would only be exposed to foreigners, who they described were dressed more openly, on these three days that end with the number “eight,” the Chinese called these foreign women “Three Eight” as a sign of mockery and to criticize their “indecency.”

In fact, some people still mistakenly believe that Women’s Day, which is more commonly known as “Three Eight Festival,” shares its origin with the unpleasant word “three eight” in the Chinese language.

Celebration of Women Across Major Chinese Provinces

Driven by the festivity, flower market sales across the nation have thrived. It was reported that the Kunming International Flower Auction Center in China’s southwestern province of Yunnan saw a record high of 5.04 million flower purchases in a single day, with an average daily sale of 4.49 million flowers this March. Roses, carnations, lilies, tulips and baby’s breath, among other flowers, have become especially popular and high in demand due to their association with Women’s Day.

Meanwhile, many major Chinese provinces hosted public events to celebrate the contributions and successes of women from all walks of life. For instance, the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang held a commemorative activity called “A New Era of Zhejiang Women,” which aimed at displaying how women in Zhejiang strive for development and excellence. Female representatives at the event shared stories about their struggles as women in modern society, vowed to always serve the Party and to play their role as female leads in their families. 

Another coastal city in the south, Guangzhou, selected over 300 female representatives who have a mindset that “the country is great” and display a “correct view” of marriage, childbearing and raising a family to promote “familial civilization” to participate at a Women’s Day meeting. At the meeting, women working groups were encouraged to excel in leading and playing the role of a bridge between society and women. Other government departments were also ordered to protect the rights and interests of women and create favorable conditions for high-quality development of women’s causes in the province. The rights of North Korean women in China were not publicly discussed.

The Birth of Kim Jong-il

February 16, 2024, also known as the “Day of the Shining Star,” marked North Korea’s former leader, Kim Jong-il’s, birthday. State propaganda claims that the late Kim was born in a “secret camp” at Mount Paektu between 1941 to 1942 when his father was fighting Japanese colonialism. However, Soviet Union records show that he was born in the Russian Far East near Khabarovsk in 1941 as his father did not travel to North Korea until after the USSR took over North Korea following Japan’s defeat in World War II. 

Kim Jong-il succeeded his father to the throne in 1994 and ruled over the kingdom until his passing in 2011. Although Kim Jong-il is famous for causing the devastating famine in the late 1990s that took the lives of hundreds of thousands of North Koreans, North Korea’s founding leader, Kim Il-sung, is known to have shaped the country into the isolated kingdom that it stands today. For instance, Kim Il-sung created the songbun system, instituted a system of travel permits that prohibits its people from leaving the country and constructed a sophisticated network of labor camps to punish and re-educate political prisoners.

NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS FOR KIM’S BIRTHDAY

According to state media, Rodong Sinmun, the current Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, recently convened a “National Meeting” in the northern city of Samjiyon near the Chinese border to celebrate his late father’s birthday. The newspaper attributed the country’s success and growth in the military, economy and culture to the late Kim’s “miraculous” achievements. Kim Jong-un gave a speech commemorating Kim Jong-il as a “stepping stone” leader who left a “revolutionary legacy” for him to carry forward today. A top official, Ri Il-hwan, also praised Kim Jong-il for building up the military to challenge “U.S. Imperialists.” 

Kim Jong-il’s birthday anniversary is one of North Korea’s most important holidays. The Korean Central News Agency reported that overseas celebratory events were held in Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan and Switzerland earlier this month, while flower baskets were flown from abroad to be laid in front of the statues of the former leaders in Pyongyang. The celebration in Pyongyang alone was attended by hundreds of attendees, who stood in the cold at a maximum temperature of 5 F (-15 C), listening to state officials give praises to Kim Jong-il and his policies to safeguard the ruling party’s power during the great famine, which was described by Ri as a time the country fought off “the peak of anti-socialist madness in the 1990s” and when its people voluntarily undertook great suffering as a result. 

Later the same day, Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang hosted an “evening gala of youth and students” featuring a fireworks show that was even attended by foreign diplomats remaining in the city. Moreover, a source in North Pyongan Province told Daily NK that holiday gifts were distributed to cadres of party and government organizations across the country between February 11 and 14, while Central Committee officials received two kilograms of pork, a duck, a chicken, a box of eggs, 10 kilograms of pollock, fruits, dried seaweed, sweets, five kilograms of wheat, 4.5 kilograms of oil and 10 bottles of fine alcohol in addition to their monthly rations.

LITTLE HOLIDAY SPIRIT FOR ITS PEOPLE

Meanwhile, the North Korean people suffered from the celebrations. According to a source from Hyesan in Yanggang Province, citizens were ordered by the government to pay for firewood needed for special guard duty on the Day of the Shining Star. The source complained that families were demanded to provide “stacks of firewood costing KPW 3,000, which is enough to buy one kilogram of corn. This was very upsetting because it’s a serious burden for people who can’t afford to eat regularly, even during the holiday.”

Another source reported that a team from the Central Committee’s accounting department traveled to Hwangju County earlier this month to collect premium-quality apples typically sent as gifts to officials on special occasions and major holidays, known as category 8, in preparation for Kim Jong-il’s birthday. However, as locals were unable to meet the quota demanded by the team, the province’s party committee punished workers responsible for supplying the apples. In particular, workers faced criticisms for “inappropriate conduct” towards the country’s revolutionary leadership due to the insufficient supply of quality apples.

At Elim House: Weep with those who weep

Brenda (right) at an outing with other North Korean refugees.

One of the most mystifying things about the gospels is that God came to live among us and got involved in our affairs. In Matthew 1:23, the angel of the Lord said that we will call him Immanuel, which means “God with us.” We see this plainly at Elim House, as our staff cares for our residents.

Brenda came to us in late December as she faced continued housing insecurity. She had lived in South Korea since 2011 and was sixty years old. Brenda had been bouncing around between an acquaintance's house, a goshiwon (a dormitory style small room), a church shelter, and had most recently stayed at a church mission center. However, nearing the end of her allotted time there, she had to leave and find other means of housing. Brenda found herself at a studio apartment near a church, but due to the poor environment (bugs, fire, people around her), she inquired with our team and moved into Elim House.

Prior to her arrival, there had not been a resident who came to Elim House with strong faith. During her time spent in South Korea, Brenda had sought out a seminary education, and currently serves as an evangelist in the North Korean defector community at a local church. She pursued this position for the past seven years.

Just last week, as Brenda and Elim House manager Elsa sat down to eat lunch together, Brenda prayed for their meal. She started with “God, it’s raining lightly today,” and Elsa thought her prayer would be followed by something light-hearted or thanking God for the rain. Rather, tears welled up and Brenda cried “God, but my heart is sad.” Her housing situation and the lack of clarity on where or when she might have a place to call home weighed heavily on her heart. Brenda was usually having fun and full of energy, but that is also how she had masked her worries to the other women around her. Elsa’s heart broke for Brenda.

Later that day, Elsa drove the residents to a new line dance class at Elim Community where the women laughed together as they tried to follow the instructor’s dance moves. It hadn’t been more than a few hours when Brenda unexpectedly poured out her heavy heart as she prayed over lunch. But it was a relief to see her laughing and enjoying herself. Elsa shared with us that this verse came to mind in that moment:

‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep’ (Romans 12:15)

Elsa was convicted that even if a problem or situation for a North Korean refugee under our care can’t be solved right away, that God’s calling for her was to be present and to laugh and cry with them. The gospel proves that God was not some being who was uninterested in human affairs, that he stood at a distance and watched the chaos from afar. It’s the opposite. It says that he is here with us. Though we cannot solve all our refugees’ problems, we can sit with them and cry with them, as Jesus did with us.

Top Headlines from North Korea - February 2024

RARE PROTESTS AMONG NORTH KOREAN WORKERS IN CHINA

• According to South Korea’s intelligence agency, poor working conditions in China have led to “incidents and accidents” among North Koreans working overseas.

• As many as 3,000 North Korean workers reportedly staged a series of protests in China over the course of the past few months, resulting in at least one death and three injuries among North Korean government officials.

• A North Korean official who was dispatched to supervise workers at garment factories in China’s northeastern province of Jilin was killed during violent protests between January 11 and 15, as factory workers fought for their unpaid wages which were sent to the ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang without their consent or knowledge for many years.

• Large-scale protests by North Koreans are almost unheard of, and since most workers sent overseas are from privileged families in Pyongyang, analysts believe that if this first known display of organized defiance against the regime is successful, it would present an unprecedented political challenge to Kim’s administration.

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/signs-rare-unrest-among-north-korean-workers-china-researchers-say-2024-02-08/ 
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/01/103_367792.html 

RUSSIAN TOURISTS ARRIVE IN PYONGYANG

• A group of 100 Russian tourists became the first batch of foreign sightseers to visit North Korea since the pandemic.

• The exclusive tour highlights strengthened ties and cooperations between the two countries following a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin last September.

• According to the Russian embassy, the group will spend four days taking in the sights and visiting a major ski resort.

• As many Russians face difficulties traveling to Europe and the U.S. due to sanctions on Russia following the Russia-Ukraine War, North Korea has been recommended as an alternative vacation destination by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Source:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/9/russians-arrive-in-north-korea-as-first-foreign-tour-group-since-covid-19 
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/north-korea-welcomes-russian-tourists-visit-isolated-country-107091952

NORTH KOREAN TEENS SENTENCED TO HARD LABOR FOR WATCHING K-DRAMAS

• A South Korean research group recently released a rare footage showing North Korean teenagers punished for watching and distributing South Korean dramas.

• The narrated footage appeared to show two teenagers, flanked by two adults in military-style uniforms, standing on a stage in front of hundreds of students.

• The narrator claimed that the two 16-year-olds were caught “watching and distributing puppet regime’s recordings,” and since “they were seduced by foreign culture, ultimately ruining their future paths,” they were each sentenced to 12 years of hard labor.

• It is interesting to note that, even though consuming and sharing foreign media in North Korea can be punishable by death, 83 percent of defectors who escaped the country between 2016 and 2020 reportedly used increasingly sophisticated means to access foreign music, TV shows and films before they left, while illegal media consumption had increased by 15 percent compared with the previous five-year period.

Source:
https://theconversation.com/north-korea-steps-up-efforts-to-stamp-out-consumption-of-illegal-foreign-media-but-entertainment-hungry-citizens-continue-to-flout-the-ban-223129 
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/24/asia/north-korea-teens-punished-kdrama-intl-hnk/index.html 

SOUTH KOREA’S PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE EMAIL HACKED BY NORTH KOREA

• South Korea’s National Intelligence Service recently confirmed that a staff member of the presidential office’s personal email account was hacked by North Korea last November.

• The cyber-attack occurred ahead of President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to France and the UK.

• According to a high-ranking government source, the hackers accessed President Yoon’s trip schedule and stole messages sent by Yoon. The source added that the office was “beyond shocked and appalled” to learn about the breach, as it could have caused problems for Yoon’s security abroad.

• In response to what is believed to be the first successful cyber-attack by the North on the South Korean president’s team, the office released a statement explaining that “The breach was caused by a careless violation of security regulations by an individual administrator who used a commercial email for work purposes.”

• The office further said that necessary measures have been taken to prevent a recurrence and that cyber intrusions by foreign entities are continuously being monitored.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68292004 
https://asianews.network/north-korea-hacked-president-yoon-officials-emails-last-year/

North Korea Resumes Lunar New Year Celebration with China, Reaffirming their “Unbreakable” Alliance with China

North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, called on all provinces to “make preparations for people to enjoy a bountiful Lunar New Year” and urged organizations to schedule adequate rest for their workers. Meanwhile, the country has been strengthening diplomatic relations with China ahead of the festivity. Since the last ‘North Korea-China Friendship Lunar New Year’ event held in January 2020 shortly before the pandemic, the North had not celebrated the festivity with its closest neighboring ally for four years. 

North Korea’s profile on the global stage has increased due to its weapons proliferation in both the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Despite its rising profile, North Korea’s most important relationship is still with China. These festivities underscore this fact.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, “A Chinese cultural delegation from Liaoning Province, led by Comrade Lui Hui An, publicity manager, the executive committee member of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, arrived in Pyongyang on the 29th to participate in the 2024 North Korea-China Friendship Lunar New Year event.” The delegation reportedly laid flowers at the statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang, which is a common ritual for North Korean devotees to pay respect to their late leaders.

REVIVAL IN FRIENDSHIP

Lunar New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival or Chunjie, is China’s grandest and most widely celebrated festival. Coincidentally, this year’s cultural event is also significant in marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China on October 6 this year. The Korean Central News Agency revealed that a key element on the agenda for the meeting is to make this year the “year of DPRK-China friendship.”

In addition to artistic performances and lavish banquets mirroring previous visits that are designed to foster and consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries, discussions to strengthen cooperation between North Korea’s North Pyongan province and China’s Liaoning province form a major part of the exchange this year, as Liu Hui-yan, the director of the Propaganda Department of the Liaoning Provincial Committee highlighted, “Exchanges and cooperation in the cultural field are an important part of the relations between China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), and a crucial element of the ‘Year of China-North Korea Friendship.’ Cultural exchanges between the two countries will gather public sentiment and promote development, providing new momentum for exchanges and cooperation in various fields.”

‘UNBREAKABLE’ TIES

Kim Jong-un vowed to “fully display” an “unbreakable” alliance with China in 2024 during an exchange of New Year’s greetings with China’s President, Xi Jin-ping.  In turn, Xi reciprocated in a statement claiming that Beijing is “ready to work” with Pyongyang to “ensure that bilateral ties move forward with the times for greater development so as to better benefit the two peoples, and continuously make new contributions to safeguarding regional peace and stability.”

According to North Korean state media, a delegate from the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports departed from Pyongyang in late January 2024 for a visit to China, though no further details were disclosed. The Chinese embassy further reported that they would prepare for major activities with the North this year. Accordingly, analysts suggest that this Lunar New Year visit represents Pyongyang and Beijing’s eagerness to elevate their relations to a new level, as it marks their third publicly disclosed, high-profile exchange in less than a week.

COOPERATION ON NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES

Perhaps the most consequential result of this relationship is the fact that China and North Korea continue to cooperate with one another on the policing and repatriation of refugees within China’s borders. The fact that China is willing to go against the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, of which it is a signatory to, speaks volumes to the importance of China’s relationship with North Korea. 

China continues to cooperate with North Korea in these arrests and deportations as they have resumed last year, despite the condemnation of these acts.

Expanding Community Classes to Seoul in 2024 - Elim Community

Growing in Size and Spirit

In November, two staff members, Jacob and Dan, went to visit our operations in South Korea. They participated in an English class at Elim Community. It was different from the class that Dan or Jacob taught earlier in the year. The atmosphere was lighter. People were having a great time and laughing with each other. When the instructor asked the group questions, they responded enthusiastically. They were having fun.

At dinner after the class, one of the refugees told us that, for refugees who work full time, leaving the stress of work and coming to the Elim Community class to share that time together and laugh was a great stress reliever. Furthermore, for those at home all day, not having anyone to talk to, coming to class to dialogue together, laugh together and then eat together is also a great way to be in a community that understands this great need.

Life for anyone living in South Korea can be lonely. It is common for an office worker to be at work 60 to 80 hours per week. Apartments are usually small, designed for sleeping and eating and not much else. North Koreans also feel a sense of disconnectedness in their new country. Though they have earned a hard-fought freedom, refugees say that there is little sense of community. One refugee who attends our English class said to us that strangers talk to each other in North Korea. He recalled frequently riding an overnight train and meeting people who eventually became lifelong friends. This simply doesn’t happen that often in the South.

North Koreans need a space where they can gather without judgment. Elim Community English classes have been designed to teach practical English skills in this safe community environment.

Later, in December, as the semester ended, we wanted to celebrate with an end-of-year party where we recognized our students for good attendance and scholarship. The attendees got dressed up, ate good food and played games. Most importantly, they became an even tighter-knit community. While dressing up and attending a Christmast party may not be uncommon to most folks, this event was a gift to most of the refugees. Our English teacher said the one thing she would change for next year’s party is to bring a megaphone. People were laughing so hard that it was hard to get their attention.

SEOUL

With the strength of this community built around Elim Community classes in Incheon, we felt confident in expanding our community classes for North Korean refugees into Seoul, South Korea’s capital and largest city, where most North Koreans in South Korea live. We are partnering with another regional Hana Center in Seoul, the South Korean government’s resettlement agency dedicated to helping North Koreans. Classes in Seoul launched this January and we look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months.

“She smiled and said how great it was to be able to eat together with people like this that evening.”

At dinner with students after an English class in Seoul, one of the North Korean women shared that she had defected from North Korea alone, tried to get married and make friends in South Korea, but ultimately failed and ended up living alone. She smiled and said how great it was to be able to eat together with people like this that evening. One of our newer staff members expressed how she felt more deeply with each passing class how much joy this small event brings to the North Koreans in attendance.

Our prayer is that our Incheon and Seoul classes reach those who need community and the hope of Jesus the most!