How the Korean War is Celebrated and also “Forgotten”

A mass rally denouncing the U.S., in Pyongyang, North Korea (KCNA)

Every year on July 27, the DPRK celebrates “Victory Day,” officially known as the Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War. This national holiday commemorates the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, which brought a ceasefire to the Korean War. Under the terms of the agreement, the countries are required to suspend all open hostilities, prevented from entering the air, ground or sea areas under control of the other, separated by the Demilitarized Zone (“DMZ”) which acts as a buffer between the two Koreas, and ordered to release and repatriate prisoners of war and displaced persons, among other things.

However, although the fighting technically ended with an armistice, no peace treaty was ever signed, meaning the war unofficially continues indefinitely. Meanwhile, with around 2.5 million Koreans losing their lives fighting on both sides, North Korea portrays this day as a significant victory over its enemies – South Korea and the U.S.

FORCED CELEBRATIONS

Victory Day is marked by grand military parades, patriotic performances and various public celebrations across the nation. The North Korean government uses this occasion to reinforce national pride and the narrative of resilience against foreign aggression. For North Koreans, this day is meant to be a reminder of their country’s struggle and perceived triumph in the face of overwhelming odds. Thus, month-long Korean War-related celebrations span from June 25, marking the beginning of the “anti-American struggle” month, until July 27.

This year, Pyongyang held mass anti-U.S. rallies to mark the 74th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Meanwhile, over 80,000 citizens from the northern border city of Hyesan (over half of the local population) were forced to chant slogans denouncing the U.S. and listen to anti-American speeches for four hours from 8 a.m. till noon at a stadium, which was described by a resident as a rally “larger than any mass rally I have ever seen in my life.” It was reported that “everyone from elementary school students to war veterans, who could walk” were ordered to attend the rally. The crowd was then split into three groups and dispatched to continue shouting slogans against the U.S. while they paraded through the streets. 

For many years, North Korean authorities have justified spending billions in developing nuclear weapons as a means of national self-defense against “the frequent introduction of U.S. nuclear carriers, nuclear submarines and nuclear strategic bombers” that “frighten” the isolated country. Nevertheless, the poor living conditions in North Korea have not improved even after the DPRK has enhanced its nuclear capabilities over the past few years. As a result, even North Koreans protesting on the streets are questioning why they are still “talking about the U.S. and its imperialist plans these days” and continuing to blame the U.S. for the nation’s failing economy.

HOW THE KOREAN WAR WAS “FORGOTTEN”

The Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, is often referred to as the “Forgotten War” in the U.S. It was not until 1988 that a memorial dedicated to those who served in the war was built in Chicago, followed by the opening of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington in 1995 and the signing of a bill to allow the construction of a remembrance wall in 2016. 

There may be several factors as to why this war was “forgotten.” First, unlike World War II or the Vietnam War, the Korean War did not receive extensive attention by the public. The timing of this war may offer some insight – the conflict occurred shortly after World War II, which was a period when many Americans were weary of war. In addition, the war’s stalemate nature and the lack of significant territorial changes made it less newsworthy. Second, although the Korean War was the first major conflict of the Cold War, involving the U.S. and its allies against North Korea, China and the Soviet Union, it was not framed as a clear-cut battle between good and evil, as World War II had been. Instead, it was seen as a complex struggle against the spread of communism that ended with an ambiguous outcome. Finally, the Korean War did not leave a lasting cultural impact in the same way the World War did. There are fewer movies, books and television shows about this war, except for the 1972 television series “M*A*S*H,” which depicted the war’s medical and human aspects.

Despite being called the “Forgotten War,” the Korean War has significant consequences. Not only did it solidify the division of the Korean Peninsula, leading to the establishment of the heavily fortified DMZ and the ongoing tension between the two Koreas, but it also set the stage for future diplomatic conflicts and shaped U.S.-Korean military and foreign policy for decades. Korea is the only divided country on earth.

North Korea Back at the Olympics After Absence in 2020 and 2022

North Korea’s official delegation, led by the Olympic Committee of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, arrived in Paris with a team of 16 athletes competing across seven sports including athletics, boxing, gymnastics, table tennis, wrestling and judo. After a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the nation’s athletes have returned to the Summer Olympics this year, marking their eleventh appearance in the international sporting event. This is considered a significant moment for the isolated country, as it seeks to engage in sports diplomacy globally.

NORTH KOREA’S PAST ABSENCE

Pyongyang’s decision to miss the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics (which was postponed to 2021) sent shockwaves through the international sporting community. While officials cited Covid-19 concerns, North Korea has used major sporting events as a diplomatic tool for many years, thus by skipping the Tokyo Games, they signaled their displeasure and perhaps sought to gain leverage in nuclear talks with the United States. After the North failed to send a team to Tokyo, the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) suspended North Korea from the Beijing 2022 Winter Games. IOC’s president, Thomas Bach, also announced that the North Korean Olympic Committee would not receive financial aid during the suspension and would forfeit money it was due from previous Olympics. While the exact amount remained undisclosed, it could be substantial, given the stringent international sanctions in place.

Not only would skipping both games underscore the geopolitical complexities surrounding North Korea and highlight their isolation, for North Korean athletes, missing two consecutive Olympics would be a bitter pill to swallow. Elite athletes enjoy preferential treatment in North Korea and can receive luxury gifts such as cars or even apartments as rewards for winning at the Olympics. Sporting champions were reportedly given “national hero status” upon their return and received “big attention from our people,” according to North Korean weightlifting coach, Kim Kwang-dok. Therefore, absence from these international events would deny athletes the rare opportunity to seek a better life for themselves and their families, especially considering the country’s substandard living conditions and chronic food shortages.

THE CONTENDERS

North Korea’s Culture and Sports Minister, Kim Il-guk, joined as part of the delegation to Paris this year. 

Athletics

In athletics, North Korea’s sole track and field athlete, Han Il-ryong, is expected to compete in the men’s marathon. 

Boxing

Two boxers, Pang Chol-mi (women’s bantamweight) and Won Ung-yong (women’s lightweight), also secured their spots in the Paris Games after advancing to the semifinals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. This would mark 12 years since the DPRK team has gained a place in the Olympic Games’ boxing events. The team holds an Olympic boxing record of two gold, three silver and three bronze medals between 1972 and 2012, and is considered one of the best Asian teams on this list.

Judo and Table Tennis

Mun Song-hui (women’s middleweight) will represent North Korea in judo, while three table tennis players, Pyon Song-gyong, Ri Jong-sik and Kim Kum-yong, have all gained their tickets to Paris in the 2024 International Table Tennis Federation World Mixed Doubles.

NORTH AND SOUTH KOREAN GYMNASTS POSE FOR VIRAL SELFIE

As the Paris Olympics kicks off, memories of South Korean gymnast, Lee Eun-ju, and North Korean gymnast, Hong Un-jong, posing for a selfie during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games continue to linger. In a heartwarming moment during the games when Lee and Hong defied decades of hostility and took a smiling selfie together, the photo’s impact of a seemingly simple act resonated far beyond the gymnastics arena. This picture went viral on the internet and was hailed as a representation of the Olympic spirit, marking a brief pause in the ongoing tension between their nations. As their selfie stands as a powerful symbol of unity today, the world remains hopeful that the Paris Olympic Games can bridge gaps and foster friendship between the two Koreas that are technically still at war.

Top Headlines from North Korea - July 2024

The national flag of Cuba.

SENIOR NORTH KOREAN DIPLOMAT DEFECTED TO SOUTH KOREA

• A senior North Korean diplomat stationed in Cuba, Ri Il-kyu, fled to South Korea with his wife and child back in November 2023.

• South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed the incident, which marks the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to escape since 2016.

• Ri was reportedly a 52-year-old counselor working at the North Korean Embassy who had defected due to disillusionment with North Korea’s political system, an unfair job evaluation by Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry and the ministry’s disapproval of his hopes to visit Mexico to treat his neural damage.

• The South’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper described that Ri’s work involved stopping Havana from forging official diplomatic ties with Seoul, though the two governments eventually established official relations in February 2024.

• According to the news agency, Ri joined North Korea’s foreign ministry in 1999 and received a commendation from Kim Jong-un for successfully negotiating with Panama to secure the release of a North Korean ship caught carrying arms from Cuba in 2013.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv3xk9klwzo
https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-diplomat-defects-cuba-south-korea-501f64302b42782fcb8f7d02ff7e4ef6 

SEOUL SANCTIONS HONG KONG SHIPPING COMPANY

• South Korea has imposed sanctions on a Hong Kong shipping company, HK Yilin Shipping Co., and a North Korean cargo ship for engaging in an illegal transfer of North Korean coal in March in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

• According to Seoul’s foreign ministry, any entity planning to engage in financial transactions with the shipping company must obtain authorization from South Korea’s financial watchdog and its central bank. Sanctioned vessels are also unable to enter South Korea without receiving permission.

• The ministry described that its sanctions demonstrated the government’s “strong will to end North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile development by blocking its illegal maritime activities.”

• Under United Nations sanctions, maritime transshipment with North Korean vessels and the export of North Korean coal are prohibited.

Source:
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/hong-kong-shipping-sanction-07182024042645.html
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/fc/4/218524/South-Korea-sanctions-HK-firm-for-illegal-transfer-of-North-Korea-coal 

NEW WAVE OF NORTH KOREAN BALLOON LAUNCH PROMPTS ANTI-PYONGYANG LOUDSPEAKER BROADCASTS 

• South Korea’s military conducted a loudspeaker broadcast campaign against North Korea in response to the “despicable, shameful and vulgar” launch of balloons by Pyongyang carrying trash across the border.

• Previous broadcasts included K-pop songs, weather forecasts, news on Samsung and criticisms of North Korea’s missile program and its crackdown on foreign videos.

• Given the North fired artillery rounds across the border when the South restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years back in 2015, South Korean military is now on alert for possible reactions by North Korea.

• Meanwhile, South Korea denounced the North for floating trash balloons in its seventh such balloon campaign in recent months.

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-conducts-loudspeaker-broadcasts-north-korea-2024-07-18/
https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-trash-balloons-south-6300e7f182920e9a9ba0de7b1ffcb575 

SOUTH KOREA APPOINTS NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR ITS VICE MINISTER

• Tae Yong-ho, a former minister of the North Korean Embassy in London who had defected to South Korea in 2016, was recently appointed as a vice minister in South Korea.

• After Tae’s defection to the South, North Korea called him “human scum” and accused him of embezzling government money and committing other crimes.

• This new appointment marks the highest-level government job for any North Korean defector who has resettled in the South.

• As the new head of the unification council, Tae will be advising on peaceful Korean unification as he is able to utilize his experience living in North Korea and work experiences as a member of South Korea’s parliament’s committee.

Source:
https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-defector-minister-role-annoy-north-korea-experts-2024-7
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/north-korean-diplomat-appointed-vice-minister-south-korea-112053512

Two Hands

This June, a missions team from Shepherd Church in California spent a week in South Korea serving and loving on the North Korean women of Elim House and Elim Community. The team led an art therapy activity with our Elim House residents called “Two Hands.” It was led by Althea, one of the members of the team, who works as a nurse in a hospital caring for the mentally ill. The “Two Hands” activity we did with our Elim House residents was one that she does with her patients back home.

As part of the activity, we traced both of our hands on a large piece of construction paper. Using markers, we were asked to fill the left hand drawing with words, phrases or pictures of things we needed to hold onto. On the right hand drawing, we were asked to fill it with things we needed to let go of.

A powerful time of sharing ensued. We were struck by the universality of our pain and suffering as we shared the things we needed to let go of. As Americans, we were worlds apart in so many ways from the North Korean refugees sitting across from us, yet we could immediately empathize with their core feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, insecurities, and pain inflicted by others. Our Elim House residents also expressed surprise and empathy while listening to our Shepherd Church members’ struggles which were similar to their own.

We also found commonality in the things that we needed to hold on to. Most of us mentioned exceptional people in our lives who showed us incredible love to help us get to where we were. Many of us had Jesus at the center of our drawing.

At the same time, there were moments that sharply demarcated our residents’ struggles with our own. Like when Brenda shared that she needed to hold on to the memories she had of her two lost sons in North Korea and let go of her memories of endless days of starvation in North Korea. Or when Jamie shared that she needed to hold on to her mom who was still in North Korea. That afternoon she showed me a picture of her mom that was taken a year ago. The woman who stared back at me in the picture looked gaunt and lifeless. Jamie kissed the picture on her phone screen as she muttered under her breath about the injustice of her 73-year-old mom looking like she was well past 90.

Through the disparities and similarities, we connected deeply with one another in the short time we spent doing this activity. Being vulnerable with each other as we shared some of our deepest pains and joys gave us a sense of unity in our life journeys. We encouraged and prayed for each other to earnestly surrender with both hands those things that held us back from our full flourishing. At the same time, we rejoiced as we witnessed each other dearly holding with both hands the gifts God had graciously given us to push us towards more hope, joy, and love.

“Beyond Utopia”: A film review by our executive director, Dan Chung

(Warning: This Article Contains Spoilers)

North Koreans who escape their country have a long and arduous journey to freedom. They must traverse about 2,000 miles from North Korea to Laos. Through Laos, they walk on drug roads through mountains for hundreds of miles in order to reach Thailand, where they are finally free. If they are caught in China, Laos, or Vietnam, they will be sent back to North Korea where they will likely receive the harshest of treatment.

I have heard hundreds of testimonies over the years about this perilous journey but, because of the sensitive nature of the refugees and their stories, I have never seen video footage. The 2023 documentary “Beyond Utopia” is some of the first footage I have seen from this journey, and it is shocking. The film offers an up-close look at the hardships of the journey from the physical challenges, to their emotional and mental struggles.

The main story of this documentary is about Pastor Seungeun Kim who has been helping North Korean refugees through the perilous Modern-Day Underground Railroad since 2000. In the movie, he helps a family, a father, mother, two daughters, and a grandmother through China. Together, they escape North Korea into China and are looking for people to help them to escape to Thailand, where they will receive refugee status. North Koreans are extremely vulnerable in China because they have no human rights and most are sold into China’s expansive sex trade industry.

If you have read the harrowing tales of North Koreans on our website, this film will add incredible color and detail to these stories. We can tell you about the routes, the dangers, and what the refugees' memories are of their journeys. But the film gives the viewer a look at the beads of sweat that fall down the face of Pastor Kim and the families that he is helping along the way. It details the unpaved terrain through thick jungle that most of the 33,000 refugees in South Korea had to crawl through.

In one scene, the group is making its way through the Laotian jungle and Pastor Kim, a man who was in his 50s at the time of filming, looks absolutely exhausted. He sits down along the way and it appears as if he cannot make it another step. Somehow, he finds the strength to carry on. The grandmother of the party walks with a limp, she walks slowly up and down stairs in their well-maintained stopping point in Laos. She too must walk up and down unpaved, often slippery, terrain for hours on end. The children, who mostly are carried on their parents’ backs, often get cut by the overgrowth of the jungle.

One of the most dramatic moments of the documentary is an interview with the grandmother of the party. In Laos, far from the North Korean regime, they ask her what her thoughts are about the North Korean leadership, in particular, Kim Jong-un. She says that Kim Jong-un is a hard worker and that he cares for his people. Her daughter then whispers in her ear and says that she doesn’t have to say that anymore, and that they are free to express their true opinion about their leadership. The grandmother continues in her praise of the leadership and says that the only reason she escaped was because she wanted to stay with her family.

The family makes it to South Korea. We can see their new, clean apartment and the children playing. The grandmother seems to have made a shift in her thinking about the regime. She expresses her gratitude for her new country and how she would never be able to live like this in her old one.

I highly recommend this documentary to anyone who is interested in the plight of North Korean refugees. It is worthy of the praise that it has received and adds a healthy dose of humanness to the perilous journey that readers of our website know so well.

Inaugural North Korean Defector’s Day

In January, President Yoon Suk Yeol called for a day devoted to North Korean defectors to promote their “inclusivity and settlement support” in South Korea. The administration officially designated July 14 as North Korean Defectors’ Day.

Seoul is currently gearing up for this inaugural celebration. "In commemoration of the first North Korean Defectors' Day, we hope that both South and North Korean citizens will appreciate the importance of freedom and human rights, and foster mutual understanding and consideration," said Lee Dong-ryul, head of the Administration Bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Starting on Sunday, July 14, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will host events throughout the week, with a goal of combating prejudice against North Korean defectors and encouraging and fostering a sense of unity and belonging among all Seoul citizens, South and North Koreans alike. From talks given by government officials and subject matter experts throughout the week to movie screenings and cultural experiences, there is a concerted effort to raise awareness and encourage change in South Korea.

Problems North Koreans Face

A Lack of Community

A majority of North Koreans who arrive in South Korea do not have family and struggle to find a community. According to the Hana Foundation's survey of North Korean refugees in South Korea, “living away from family (family in North Korea or a third country)” is the top reason for dissatisfaction of living in South Korea (29.1 percent of respondents in 2022). In 2021, only 18.4 percent of respondents said they engaged in any type of social group activities.

Physical Health

Only a third of North Koreans living in South Korea rated their health status as “good.” Most defectors received what is called “Tier 1” Medical Benefits of the Basic Livelihood Security Program as a part of their resettlement services. From our experience in helping North Koreans through Elim House, this poor self assessment is not from a lack of access to medical benefits but a combination of a somatization of the trauma they carry with them and a desire to not draw negative attention to themselves.

Suicidal Impulses

The rate of suicidal impulses felt by North Koreans living in South Korea continue to be more than double that of their South Korean neighbors, which points to the hopelessness many feel. The top four reasons for feeling this impulse were “physical-mental illness or disorder,” “economic hardship,” and “loneliness, solitude,” and “family troubles,”  which totaled 79 percent. 

Discrimination

South Korea is a homogenous country made up of 95 percent Koreans. Many of the 4.9 percent foreign residents are ethnically Korean with citizenship in other countries, which makes South Korea even more homogenous. It is difficult to be a foreigner in such a homogenous setting. Our conversation with both refugees and those who work in the field of helping North Koreans affirm that most North Koreans in South Korea experience some form of racial discrimination.

The Ways It Can Have Impact

North Korean refugees we encounter through Elim House are often lonely, in poor health and fleeing from destructive relationships. Creating nation-wide awareness that open dialogue is a good and promising step towards helping people who continue to struggle to find their place. Korea has already established resettlement services through the Hana Foundation, its own nonprofit arm that assists North Koreans. However, help is needed beyond services, training and financial support. Most North Koreans carry with them a great deal of trauma from the oppression in North Korea, human trafficking, and the threat of repatriation in China, and the inability to be accepted in South Korea.

We believe that their ultimate sense of hope and belonging can only come from Jesus. Until they have an encounter with this living hope, a recurring reminder like North Korean Defector’s Day will cause the 51 million living in South Korea to pause and consider the people who suffer quietly in their midst.

North Korea’s Latest TikTok Sensation

Kim Jong-un on TikTok (KCTV)

In an unexpected twist, North Korea’s latest propaganda song, “Friendly Father,” has taken the TikTok world by storm. The upbeat melody with a Soviet-sounding twist has garnered praise from Gen Z users on the social media platform. However, beneath its upbeat melody lies a more sinister message. The popularity of this propaganda song highlights the power of music and social media in shaping global perceptions. This appears to be an ongoing tactic deployed by North Korea both inside and outside the country. For instance, it is reported that the former North Korean Youtuber, Song A, who posted videos of her life in Pyongyang back in January 2022 before her channel was shut down by Google for promoting the North Korean regime in June 2023, has recently reappeared in the media as a promising first-year student at Pyongyang Missionary Elementary Middle School and winner of a national foreign language conversation contest, with more content expected to be released.

THE RISE OF “FRIENDLY FATHER” AND ITS HIDDEN MESSAGE

North Korean music is not created for the sake of art or entertainment, but must follow the “seed theory,” which implies that a piece of artwork must contain an ideological seed that is disseminated to the masses as art, in other words, as propaganda. “Friendly Father” is no exception. Released in April, “Friendly Father” describes the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, as “warm-hearted” and “friendly.” The lyrics encourage singing praises to Kim, referring him as “the great leader” and “our friendly father” who holds “a million children in his arms and takes care of us with all of his heart.” TikTok users flooded the platform with reactions. Some found the song “dystopian in the catchiest way possible,” while others likened it to the climactic scene in a movie where the whole town gathers to sing in unity while spinning in a circle. Isolated users have even created dance moves and crafted piano versions of the song, joking that this is “real K-pop.” Despite the music video’s apparent ideological intent, commentators expressed their hope for “Friendly Father” to land on Spotify, as the tune gives them “anime vibes.”

Ironically, Kim Jong-un, the same leader praised in the song, has vowed to “thoroughly annihilate the US” and has launched dozens of ballistic missiles this year alone. Considering the juxtaposition of “Friendly Father’s” innocent tune and its alarming intentions, North Korea’s propaganda machine challenges us to consider the impact of seemingly harmless pop songs. In particular, as North Korean analyst, Peter Moody, described, “North Korean songs have gone viral before, but usually, it’s been to mock them. But this is one of the first, if not the only, times I’ve heard about a North Korean song going viral with people in different parts of the world expressing appreciation for it, musically.” As TikTok users dance to its beat, they unwittingly become part of a global conversation – one that blurs the lines between entertainment and political messaging.

SOUTH KOREA SHUTS IT DOWN

However, not everyone is grooving to “Friendly Father.” South Korea swiftly banned videos featuring the song, citing violations of the National Security Act that blocks access to the North’s government websites and media, as well as penalizes behaviors and speeches in favor of the regime. According to Seoul’s Korea Communications Standards Commission, 29 versions of the music video will be blocked, as requested by the country’s National Intelligence Service to restrict exposure of the efforts by Kim’s regime to glorify its leader. Violations of the National Security Act can lead to up to seven years’ imprisonment, though enforcement of the law has eased recently.

In response, the ban has attracted the interest of many South Koreans, who left comments on the video asking the authorities to leave it accessible “so that more people can enjoy the joke.” Some TikTok users even said that they listened to the song while working out at the gym or doing homework, while others praised how its nostalgic tune reminded them of older Spanish and French pop music. The captivating tune’s glorification of Kim Jong-un undeniably clashes with the tense relations between the two Koreas. Despite the ban, the song continues to resonate beyond borders, sparking discussions about the intersection of music and politics.

Top Headlines from North Korea - June 2024

Trash Balloon Fight!

• Earlier this month, North Korea sent more than 1,600 trash-carrying balloons to South Korea that landed at 778 sites across the country.

• The locations include South Korea’s capital city of Seoul, the eastern province of Gangwon and the southeastern city of Gyeongju.

• Pyongyang had previously warned that it would launch “100 times” the filth if balloons containing anti-North Korean propaganda continue to be sent from activists in the South.

• Concerns were raised in relation to whether the balloons could be used for possible biological or chemical weapon attacks in the future.

• The South Korean military responded by broadcasting anti-Pyongyang propaganda with loudspeakers near the DMZ for the first time in six years.

Source:
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3266247/wise-south-korea-would-rise-above-norths-trash-balloons 
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240614_16/

North Korea Beach Resort Opening Soon

• North Korea is expected to welcome more tourists as it prepares to open a beach resort on the east coast after several years of construction delays.

• According to satellite images collected by Planet Labs, the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area began its construction works in 2018 and appeared “mostly finished” in early 2020, before the pandemic “complicated plans for opening.”

• The resort includes hotels, shops, car parks and even a turtle-shaped arena.

• Russian tour companies have been told that the resort will open soon but no further details have been revealed yet.

• However, propaganda authorities within the country have been promoting the resort to its domestic audiences, which suggests that it could open up soon.

Source:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/north-korean-resort-ready-welcome-212629066.html?
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/north-korea-aiming-to-become-a-tourist-hotspot-by-sprucing-up-its-empty-beach/ar-BB1oass8?

Japan and North Korea’s Secret Meeting in Mongolia

• According to South Korean newspaper, JoongAng Ilbo, representatives from Japan and North Korea recently met in Mongolia, despite Pyongyang’s public refusal to talk with Japan.

• The representatives include delegates from North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau and foreign currency sectors, as well as a politician from a prominent Japanese family.

• Issues concerning Northeast Asian security were discussed at the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, though the Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, refrained from giving further detail about the meeting.

• Pyongyang appears to be exploring a “breakthrough economically and diplomatically” at a time when bilateral relations are tense with Tokyo, whose government is demanding news about the fate of Japanese citizens who were allegedly kidnapped by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s to train North Korean spies in Japanese language and customs. 

Source:
https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Japanese-and-North-Korean-officials-meet-in-secret-in-Mongolia-60940.html
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/north-korea-japan-held-secret-meeting-in-mongolia-last-month-report/ar-BB1o8S3C?

Putin Seeking More Arms from North Korea

• North Korea has sent at least 10,000 shipping containers that hold as many as 4.8 million artillery shells to Russia.

• According to Bloomberg News, Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, will likely visit Pyongyang soon to seek for more arms.

• Putin’s visit would mark his first trip to the North since July 2000.

• In return, Russia aided North Korea by supplying the reclusive state with technology to deploy an array of spy satellites and arms such as tanks and aircraft.

• Pyongyang has allegedly spent about $1 billion USD on missile tests last year, which represents around 4 percent of North Korea’s economy.

• Meanwhile, the U.S. and other countries have accused North Korea of sending weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine.

Source:
https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/world/explainer-why-putin-may-visit-north-korea/ar-BB1ocrX9
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/kim-sent-russia-millions-of-artillery-shells-south-korea-says/ar-BB1ocqrx

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