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38 North

@38north.org

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Informed analysis of events in and around the DPRK. A publication of the Stimson Center. Innovative Ideas Changing the World.

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38 North @38north.org · 1d

TOMORROW‼️Join North Korean escapees Gyuri Kang & Hannah Oh, RFA's Rohit Mahajan, & the Stimson Center's Martyn Williams & Jenny Town for a discussion on information access and information freedom in the DPRK. In-person at the Stimson Center + online from 1-2:30 PM ET. www.stimson.org/event/inform...

Investing in the North Korean People: Broadening Access to Information in North Korea • Stimson Center

The event will discuss the current status of information access and freedom in North Korea, first-hand accounts of effective models for information dissemination, and challenges faced by the sector. S...

www.stimson.org

38 North @38north.org · 7d

🚨EVENT: Join us on Wed. Oct 8 from 1-2:30 PM ET for a deep dive into information access and information freedom in North Korea. Featuring Rohit Mahajan, @martynw.bsky.social, Hannah Oh & @jennytown.bsky.social.

Investing in the North Korean People: Broadening Access to Information in North Korea • Stimson Center

The event will discuss the current status of information access and freedom in North Korea, first-hand accounts of effective models for information dissemination, and challenges faced by the sector. S...

www.stimson.org

38 North @38north.org · 7d

Read the latest installment of Inspector O on 38 North.

Inspector O and the Abyss - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

As usual, the table was in the corner. I sat down and waited. Inspector O looked up and stared. ...

38 North @38north.org · 29d

Rachel Minyoung Lee analyzes DPRK state media's portrayal of Kim's visit to Beiing.

Kim Jong Un’s Beijing Visit: A View From North Korea - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

Kim Jong Un’s participation in China’s recent “Victory Day” celebrations, widely viewed as a ...

38 North @38north.org · Sep 5

What did Kim Jong Un's visit to Beijing signal about the status of DPRK-China relations? Feng Zhang analyzes the event and both state media readouts.

China's Grand Reception for Kim Jong Un: Strategic Reset or Warning Shot? - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

On September 3, China gave North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a high-profile reception at its ...

38 North @38north.org · Aug 21

Rüdiger Frank, Robin Brehm, & Dan Gudgeon posit the ethical questions that arise when researching North Korea and provide a pathway forward to keep these concerns in mind. bit.ly/45nvqIz

Ethical Issues in North Korea Research - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

How do we conduct research on a country where data are often unavailable or of questionable ...

38 North @38north.org · Aug 21

Commercial satellite imagery indicated beach activity at Chongjin against the backdrop of other beach openings along the country's east coast. bit.ly/41TDEG7

Quick Take: A Day at the Seaside - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

Commercial satellite imagery from August 19 has captured hundreds of colorful tents on the ...

38 North @38north.org · Aug 21

This week on 38 North, David Hong discusses findings from the Korea Health Policy Project's webinar series on the DPRK's approach to public health and international engagement. bit.ly/4mSLAPV

Global Health Cooperation as a Foundation for Trust on the Korean Peninsula - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

The Korea Health Policy Project (KHPP), a policy research group focused on healthcare on the ...

38 North @38north.org · Aug 1

Following the opening of Wonsan-Kalma Beach Resort, Rüdiger Frank explores DPRK's shift from foreign to domestic tourism, its similarity to tourism policies in other authoritarian states, and the move toward domestic consumption as an economic driver.

Authoritarian Leisure: North Korea’s Wonsan-Kalma Tourism Project in Comparative Perspective - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

Domestic Reorientation, Background, and Implications The recent opening of the Wonsan Kalma ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 29

Commercial satellite imagery of Sohae Satellite Launching Station shows that more than two years after construction on its seaport began, the jetty now includes a docking slip for large vessels.

Quick Take: New Seaport Shaping Up at Sohae Satellite Launching Station - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

The full nature of the seaport at North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launch Center is finally ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 29

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's visit to Wonsan marked a shift in the Russia-DPRK relationship, showcasing that the war in Ukraine is not the only driver of cooperation. @dcsneider.bsky.social discusses what else is at play.

For Moscow, the North Korean Alliance With Russia Takes a Turn - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

The three-day visit earlier this month of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the North ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 16

Commercial satellite imagery shows activity at Wonsan Kalma Beach Resort following a high-level visit from Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. Analysis by Martyn Williams, Peter Makowsky & Iliana Ragnone. bit.ly/3UlmdtO

Wonsan Kalma Beach Resort Hosts a High-Level Visit - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

Less than two weeks after it finally opened to domestic tourists, the Wonsan Kalma Tourist Zone ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 15

In the final article in our 20x10 regional development policy series, Rachel Minyoung Lee analyzes the strategy behind the policy and how it is discussed in North Korean state media.

One Year In: Contextualizing 20x10 Policy for Regional Development - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

In February 2025, North Korean media reported on “successfully completing” the first year of ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 14

In a study based on 38 North's report on the DPRK's health app, Heeje Lee & Angie Sohn examine available disease-specific treatments, their costs, and the integration of Western and Koryo medicine.

What North Korea’s Health App Reveals About Domestic and Imported Pharmaceuticals - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

A recent article published on 38 North introduced a health app developed in North Korea. Among ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 9

Demolition of Mt. Kumgang Tourist Area continues, but not with any apparent urgency. Analysis by @martynw.bsky.social & @ilianaragnone.bsky.social

Demolition of Mt. Kumgang Tourist Area Slowly Drags On - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

Work to remove the remaining traces of the Mt. Kumgang Tourist Area continues in North Korea, ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 9

@thedailynk.bsky.social's Sang Yong Lee discusses how the DPRK's new car rental system reflects deeper tensions between state control and individual autonomy in North Korean society.

Behind the Wheel of Change: North Korea's Car Culture and the Politics of Movement - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

When Kim Jong Un visited the newly transformed “Amisan Automotive Technology Service ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 9

If reengaging with the DPRK, the US "should focus on building a more stable relationship through small, concrete steps: practical measures that reduce military tensions and manage hostile relations." Analysis by Shawn Rostker.

The Korean Peninsula Has Seen Grand Overtures Come and Go – What Matters Now is Whether Small Steps Can Still Lead Somewhere - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

For decades, US policy toward North Korea has ranged from bombast to paralysis. The Trump-Kim ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 8

Text of North Korea's Space Development Law highlights a maturing space sector and overall space strategy, specifying the use of space for both national and defense purposes.

North Korea Revised its Space Law to Permit Military Use - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

North Korea revised its Space Development Law (우주개발법) in 2022 to allow for use of space for ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 8

The Plastic Surgery Treatment Law was passed in 2016 and amended in 2019 and 2024, defining the conditions under which plastic surgery can be performed in the country.

North Korea’s Plastic Surgery Law: A Socialist Beauty - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

North Korea quietly passed a law in 2016 that regulates where and under what conditions plastic ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 8

A revision to the DPRK's Radio Wave Control Law expands the legal framework around the use of radio adn electronic equipment to accommodate for the growing range of digital communications devices inside North Korea.

North Korea’s Revised Radio Wave Control Law - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

A key North Korean law that provides the technical basis for much of the country’s censorship ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 8

38 North's NK TechLab project obtained a database of North Korean laws updated through mid-2024. Learn more below:

NK TechLab Law Database - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

NK TechLab, a new project of 38 North, will be creating and publishing data obtained from North ...

38 North @38north.org · Jul 1

How big is North Korea's ICBM force? Vann Van Diepen responds to the DIA's recent estimate that the DPRK deploys "10 or fewer" ICBMs.

Does North Korea Really Have So Few ICBMs? - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

On May 13, the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), as part of the unveiling of the ...

38 North @38north.org · Jun 25

38 North is excited to welcome the second cohort for our Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program! Read more about our 2025-2026 fellows here:

Meet the 2025-2026 Cohort for the 38 North Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

The 38 North Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center is excited to welcome our 2025-2026 cohort ...

38 North @38north.org · Jun 24

Rachel Minyoung Lee analyzes North Korea's Foreign Ministry statements on the Israel-Iran conflict, and what they might reveal about Pyongyang's strategy. bit.ly/3HXiKyQ

North Korea Shows Concern Over Israel-Iran Conflict but Keeps Distance From Iran - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

If Iran expected North Korea’s public support for its armed conflict against Israel, it may be ...

38 North @38north.org · Jun 20

Nika Pasko discusses how "Moscow and Pyongyang’s bilateral ties in non-military sectors have been largely overlooked or dismissed, although have been driven by both governments under the guidance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty."

North Korea-Russia People-to-People Exchanges as a Tool for Sustained Dialogue - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

At the meeting with Kim Jong Un on June 17, Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of the Russian ...