North Korean Research Articles

남한에서 북한이탈주민의 간호사 되기 경험

남한에서 북한이탈주민의 간호사 되기 경험

북·중 관계에서 나타난 균열(龜裂)과 북한의 대미 외교 행태

The purpose of this article is to analyze the cracks in North Korea and China’s relationship in the process of regressing from the “blood alliance” between North Korea and China to the “strategic relationship” and the factors that attempt to “stabilize the system” through North Korea-U.S. relations. Existing studies tend to analyze relations between North Korea and China from a traditional perspective, such as “blood alliance” and “pureness.” However, North Korea’s three hereditary successions and aggressive diplomacy by China’s “Xijinping leadership” are impossible to use strategic “use” centered on each country’s interests. China has maintained relations with the view that stability and peace in the region are in its interest and “maintain the status quo,” or manage and attract North Korea’s instability factors. It also maximizes its interests by using the North Korean issue and two Korean Peninsula strategies as a minefield for negotiations with the United States.

Drumming to be one, drumming to be different: ethnicity, nation, and cultural identity of Zainichi Koreans in Japan

ABSTRACT Pungmul, a form of Korean folk drumming, is prominent as a traditional Korean music practice among diasporic Koreans, including Zainichi (Korean residents in Japan). Over the last four decades, it has become popular across the globe as a tool for heritage education and a marker of ethnic identity. In this paper, I engage with several Zainichi Korean musicians who pursue pungmul as their full-time profession or as a serious leisure activity. In Japan, most pungmul musicians are third- or fourth-generation Korean migrants and, as a group, present a complex mix of state, national, and cultural affiliations as North Koreans, South Koreans, and naturalized Japanese. Considering the inherent social complexities among Zainichi, I delineate how a traditional Korean performing art form enables these Koreans to overcome and transcend social barriers and nation-state boundaries while shaping and expressing their identity as diasporic individuals.

Probabilistic Programming for Transportable Source Characterization and Uncertainty Quantification of the North Korean Nuclear Tests 2006–2017

Abstract We introduce a transportable technique to determine the yield and depth of burial (DOB) from seismic source spectra of underground nuclear explosions. We demonstrate this technique on the six declared North Korean nuclear tests. This approach derives source spectra in absolute units from regional phase (Pg) amplitudes by correcting the observations for geometric spreading, attenuation, and site amplification. We couple the source spectra and explosion source models with a probabilistic programming framework that integrates deep learning techniques and Bayesian modeling. This approach permits the exchange of information across various data categories to quantify both the data and model uncertainty. This technique stands out as an innovative use of broad-area propagation models, making it transportable across various geologic settings. This method proves to be effective in scenarios with diverse and/or limited observational data, even when the source depth is unknown. We present new independent estimates of absolute yield and DOB that are consistent with the prior assessments, underscoring the potential of this method in enhancing transportable nuclear explosion monitoring capabilities.

Effects of Everyday Corruption on Perceptions of Authoritarian Leadership: Evidence from North Korea

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the impact of everyday corruption in North Korea on perceptions of authoritarian leadership. Analyzing survey data from North Korean defectors, we find that experience with everyday corruption does not affect perceptions of the Supreme Leader’s responsibility for economic difficulties, but it does negatively affect perceptions of the Party leadership’s responsibility. This suggests that widespread petty corruption is unlikely to be a source of dissatisfaction with the system as a whole and with the Supreme Leader.

Development and effects of the PARENT (Parenting Acceptable Real Empathy Nurture Training) program for mothers who defected from North Korea

Aim and backgroundNorth Korean refugee mothers struggle with the two-fold burden of adaptation and parenting in a new environment. This study aimed to develop and examine the effects of a parenting program for North Korean refugee mothers. MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted with 65 North Korean refugee mothers who were recruited through the Korea Hana Foundation Center and Sajowi. The experimental and control groups comprised 33, 32 participants respectively. A program was conducted across eight sessions, each lasting about 90–120 min. The data were analyzed using the χ2 test, independent t-test, and paired t-test. ResultsSignificant differences were observed in the parenting efficacy (t = −10.03, p < .001) and child related stress (sub domain-parenting stress) (t = 3.24, p = .002) scores. While intergroup differences were observed for parenting efficacy (t = 5.48, p < .001), no significant differences were observed for parenting stress (parent related) (t = −0.22, p = .825) and parent–child relationship (t = 0.87, p = .387) and no intergroup differences were observed for parenting stress (t = −1.10, p = .274) and parent–child relationship (t = 1.06, p = .290). ConclusionThis study is significant to the field of nursing because North Korean refugee mothers who needed parenting education have high parental efficacy scores after intervention, which expresses confidence in parenting. This study proposed a parenting education intervention framework focusing on emotional empathy for North Korean refugee mothers who want to provide healthy parenting despite the challenges they encounter as immigrants, which will improve their confidence in parenting. It can serve as a source of basic data for designing parenting education intervention frameworks for refugees in the future.

Representing Religion in North and South Korea: Seventy-Five Years of the Semiotics of Stamp Design

As government documents, postage stamps are a rich source of information about a government’s policies on a wide range of subjects. In this article, a comparative semiotic analysis of the first seventy-five years of North and South Korean stamps is used to illustrate the similarities and differences in their attitudes towards ‘religion’ and religious practice. A corpus of stamps on a ‘religious’ theme was created for stamps issued by both governments from which a series of themes and motifs was noted. The semiotic analysis of the themes and motifs showed that while on South Korean stamps Buddhist motifs constituted the majority of stamps commemorating cultural history, there were few references to the commemoration of Buddhism itself. The reverse was found to be true for Christianity. Although Christianity was not shown to be a major expression of Korean culture, Christianity itself was commemorated extensively. On North Korean stamps, folklore and Christian motifs predominated as projections of cultural history, but the Christian motifs referred only to foreign cultures, not Korean culture. Motifs relating to the foundation myth of Tan’gun were common to both North and South Korea. However, in the South, motifs from the myth referred to the nation, while in the North they referred to the ruling family.

The Korean infrasound catalogue (1999–2022)

SUMMARY The Korean infrasound catalogue (KIC) covers 1999–2022 and characterizes a rich variety of source types as well as document the effects of the time-varying atmosphere on event detection and location across the Korean Peninsula. The KIC is produced using data from six South Korean infrasound arrays that are cooperatively operated by Southern Methodist University and Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. Signal detection relies on an Adaptive F-Detector that estimates arrival time and backazimuth, which draws a distinction between detection and parameter estimation. Detections and associated parameters are input into a Bayesian Infrasonic Source Location procedure. The resulting KIC contains 38 455 infrasound events and documents repeated events from several locations. The catalogue includes many anthropogenic sources such as an industrial chemical explosion, explosions at limestone open-pit mines and quarries, North Korean underground nuclear explosions and other atmospheric or underwater events of unknown origin. Most events in the KIC occur during working hours and days, suggesting a dominance of human-related signals. The expansion of infrasound arrays over the years in South Korea and the inclusion of data from the International Monitoring System infrasound stations in Russia and Japan increase the number of infrasound events and improve location accuracy because of the increase in azimuthal station coverage. A review of selected events and associated signals at multiple arrays provides a location quality assessment. We quantify infrasound events that have accompanying seismic arrivals (seismoacoustic events) to support the source type assessment. Ray tracing using the Ground-to-Space (G2S) atmospheric model generally predicts observed arrivals when strong stratospheric winds exist, although the predicted arrival times have significant discrepancies. In some cases, local atmospheric data better captures small-scale variations in the wind velocity of the shallow atmosphere and can improve arrival time predictions that are not well matched by the G2S model. The analysis of selected events also illustrates the importance of topographic effects on tropospheric infrasound propagation at local distances. The KIC is the first infrasound catalogue compiled in this region, and it can serve as a valuable data set in developing more robust infrasound source localization and characterization methods.

Geopolitical risk and credit rating: evidence from North Korea’s threats

ABSTRACT We examine how geopolitical risk from North Korea’s threats affects South Korean firms’ credit ratings. North Korea’s threats, measured by the number of missiles launched, are negatively related to firms’ credit ratings. Employing a sample of South Korean public firms over the period 2012–2021, we find that the credit ratings of South Korean companies decrease with the number of missiles launched. Cross-sectional analyses indicate that the negative effect of North Korean risk differs depending on the firm characteristics. Specifically, firms with higher debt ratios are more significantly affected by North Korea’s threats. In addition, firms whose financial statements are audited by Big 4 auditors are associated with higher credit ratings than those by non-Big 4 auditors. Our findings contribute to the literature on geopolitical risk by identifying the effects of geopolitical risk on credit ratings.

Living on the border of an authoritarian mobility regime: defecting, border hopping, and smuggled smartphones in North Korea

This article explores the use of smuggled Chinese smartphones in North Korea as a means of communication that can bypass government-imposed censorship and prohibitions. Adopting the theoretical framework of mobility regimes, we argue these smartphones represent a crack in the authoritarian mobility regime of North Korea and seeks to examine how this mediated practice of resistance interactions with a more traditional mode of resistance, namely defection. Drawing from ten in-depth interviews with North Korean defectors in South Korea, the paper demonstrates that smuggled smartphones and defection work together to reinforce each other and normalize resistance against the North Korean mobility regime. Most importantly, the findings show that the smuggled smartphones affectively assist defection by giving defectors the certainty that they would be able to contact their family even after defecting.

Posttraumatic growth and psychopathological symptoms as predictors in the integration of North Korean adolescent refugees: Latent profile analysis.

This study is to explore identifiable psychological differences and predictors for the subgroup of refugees who at a very early age moved from a totalitarian country to a westernized democracy, ultimately to improve policies and reduce the maladaptation of refugees to a new society. More specifically, it is to fill in significant gaps in understanding and predicting refugee tendencies toward depression, social withdrawal, aggression, and posttraumatic growth. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify subgroups based on symptom profiles within a sample of 201 North Korean adolescent refugees residing in South Korea. Four subgroups were identified: (a) High growth, (b) Low trauma with high adaptive aggression, (c) Low trauma with high social withdrawal/depression, and (d) High trauma with high comorbidity. Predictors were physical health, self-esteem, peer support, teacher support, and school adjustment. Current refugee policies in South Korea would benefit from refining services to allow customization to the specific needs and characteristics of each adolescent rather than continue the current model of homogeneity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A Study on the Experiences of Dropouts among North Korean Defector University Students

A Study on the Experiences of Dropouts among North Korean Defector University Students

북한이탈주민의 자살문제에 관한 연구

This study sought to determine the impact of PTSD experience on the risk of suicide among North Korean defectors, and to compare and verify the differences in the protective role of human support resources by country of origin in this process. For this purpose, data on 410 North Korean defectors living in South Korea were used for analysis. To test the hypothesis, a moderating effect analysis was conducted using SPSS MACRO, and the results are as follows. First, PTSD among North Korean defectors was found to have a positive effect on suicide risk. Second, human support resources from North Korea had no direct effect on suicide risk, but it was confirmed to have a significant moderating effect in the relationship between PTSD and suicide risk. On the other hand, human support resources from South Korea had a direct effect on suicide risk, it was found to have no significant moderating effect. Based on these results, we examined the role of Human resources by country of origin in the problem of suicide among North Korean defectors, and proposed specific intervention measures and practical and policy implications.

Deciphering Consistency and Coherence in U.S Foreign Policy: North Korea under Trump and Biden

Propose: This study investigated how consistent and coherent U.S. foreign policy toward North Korea was under President Trump and Biden. Methodology: Through qualitative analysis of policy shifts and diplomatic strategies, this paper explored how effectively both administrations advanced their policy objectives within the intricate dynamics of U.S.-North Korea relations. Data were collected from primary sources like official government documents and secondary sources like academic journal articles and media reports. Thematic and content analyses were employed to identify recurring motifs and evaluate the articulation and implementation of policy strategies. Findings: Findings indicated that Trump's untraditional approach of involving North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directly, alongside a "maximum pressure" campaign, yielded mixed outcomes. While it broke long-standing diplomatic deadlocks, it faced challenges such as inconsistencies and limited progress on denuclearization. In contrast, Biden's administration focused on multilateralism, alliance-building, and a structured policy framework. Nonetheless, it also encountered several challenges in making tangible progress toward denuclearization. The study underscored the importance of future U.S. administrations integrating the strengths of both approaches to enhance foreign policy effectiveness. Unique Contribution to Theory Practice and Policy: This study improved understanding of contemporary international relations by dissecting American interactions with North Korea under two different administrations. It provided crucial insights for policymakers, highlighting how maintaining consistency and coherence is pivotal in forming effective foreign policy.

Benefits of North Korea's Membership in the New York and ICSID Conventions

This article contends that North Korea should accede to the New York Convention and the ICSID Convention to provide more robust legal protections and dispute settlement mechanisms for foreign investors. While North Korea has enacted various domestic laws and established special economic zones to attract foreign investment, these measures have proved insufficient to fully assuage investor concerns, particularly regarding the enforcement of arbitral awards and protections against expropriation. Joining the New York Convention would mitigate uncertainties surrounding the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards by obligating North Korean courts to recognize and enforce such awards, subject only to limited, internationally accepted grounds for refusal. Accession to the ICSID Convention would enable aggrieved foreign investors to bring claims against North Korea before a neutral, depoliticized arbitral tribunal, providing an additional layer of protection against discriminatory or expropriatory state conduct. Membership in these conventions would significantly enhance North Korea's credibility in the eyes of foreign investors, demonstrating a commitment to upholding the rule of law and aligning its investment framework with global norms. While accession alone is not a panacea, it represents a crucial step toward building investor confidence, facilitating greater FDI inflows, and fostering North Korea's economic development and international engagement.

Unpacking Conflict Process on the Korean Peninsula with Political and Seasonal Distribution

Under what conditions does a North Korean threat escalate to the actual use of force? To address this question, we delve into the underlying causal mechanism that shapes the entire conflict process on the Korean Peninsula. Dismissing the presumption that repeated disputes are independent of one another and that factors exhibit a monotonic effect across conflict stages, we direct our focus towards the comprehensive conflict process encompassing North Korea's provocation onset and escalation. Our approach involves the systematic collection of monthly data, which we analyze using appropriate statistical models to account for the selection effect. The empirical investigation not only corroborates our theoretical proposition but also uncovers several key factors that exhibit a non‐monotonic effect across various stages of conflict. The results indicate that North Korea's domestic factors and those within South Korea influence the onset of conflict, while the escalation stage is shaped by factors within the United States. Furthermore, our findings highlight the effect of seasonality, indicating an increased frequency of conflict onset and escalation during the summer season.

North Korean nuclear weapons, 2024

ABSTRACT North Korea continues to modernize and grow its nuclear weapons arsenal. In this Nuclear Notebook, the authors cautiously estimate that North Korea may have produced enough fissile material to hypothetically build up to 90 nuclear warheads, but has likely assembled fewer than that—potentially around 50. To deliver the warheads, North Korea is enhancing and diversifying its missile force, most recently with new solid-fuel long-range strategic missiles, short-range tactical missiles, and sea-based missiles. The Nuclear Notebook is researched and written by the staff of the Federation of American Scientists’ Nuclear Information Project: director Hans M. Kristensen, associate director Matt Korda, research associate Eliana Johns, and program associate Mackenzie Knight. To see all previous Nuclear Notebook columns in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists dating back to 1987, go to https://thebulletin.org/nuclear-notebook/.

Elite Management before Autocratic Leader Succession: Evidence from North Korea

abstract: How do dictators prepare for succession? Scholars have studied the determinants of succession, but we know little about the mechanisms, including elite management, of how succession occurs. The authors argue that incumbents prepare for succession by building a power base of elites outside their inner circle, for their preferred successor; doing so helps the successor to stabilize the regime. The authors test this argument by examining preparations for succession in the prominent but puzzling case of North Korea under Kim Jong Il, leveraging the plausibly exogenous shock that Kim suffered—a stroke—that caused him to prepare for succession. Quantitative analysis of 1,573 leadership events under Kim between 1994 and 2011, with original biographical data on 230 North Korean elites, supports the argument. Qualitative evidence of elites’ roles after Kim’s death is consistent with the argument’s logic. Rather than being atypical, as North Korea is often portrayed, the findings apply to other personalist autocracies.

First record of Mytilisepta virgata (Bivalvia: Mytilidae) in Russian waters

Mytilisepta virgata was first collected as empty shells attached to plastic debris in south-western part of Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan), near Russian-Korean border. This species may be considered as a potentially non-indigenous species in Russian waters due to coastal warming, influence of warm-water currents and its presence in North Korean waters. A description, illustrations, data on distribution and ecology and taxonomic comments are provided.

Language policy of North and South Korean academism during the liberation period

Language policy of North and South Korean academism during the liberation period