By: Erin Kim January is usually a fresh start, but 2026 is starting with some tough news for North Korean refugees. The Canadian government recently released its immigration plan for the year. While Canada has often been seen as a safe place for those fleeing oppression, the new targets show that the door is starting to close. The biggest concern is the cut to Privately Sponsored Refugees. These are people supported by groups like HanVoice rather than just the government. In

By: Eileen Lee North Korea has protected the private lives of its ruling family for decades. When Kim Jong Un publicly introduced his young daughter during a missile test observation in 2022, it changed the precedent and sparked a discussion about her future in politics. In one of the most secretive political systems in the world, analysts now closely examine every appearance for hints of succession. Her presence signifies a significant shift in the regime's messaging and pot

By Alvin Shin, Joseph Kim Seollal, the Lunar New Year, is traditionally one of the most important holidays in Korean culture, centered on family gatherings, ancestral respect, and shared meals. In North Korea, however, Seollal exists in a highly controlled form shaped by state ideology, economic scarcity, and political priorities. While the holiday is officially recognized and celebrated, its meaning and practice differ significantly from traditions observed elsewhere on the

By: Alvin Shin, Joseph Kim Peter Ward, “What North Korea’s inflated grain prices reveal about persistent food insecurity, ” NK News, July 23, 2024. North Korea’s agricultural industry is shaped by constant chronic shortages, harsh winters, and limited infrastructure. How food and supply is stored becomes just as crucial as how much is produced in a poverty stricken country such as North Korea. Storage methods range from state grain warehouses to buried kimchi jars and meat re

By: Eileen Lee + Sorin Park Voice of America (2016, April 8). Children eat at a daycare center in Taedong County, South Pyong-an Province, North Korea. http://www.voakorea.com/a/3276923.html Education in North Korea is deeply intertwined with state ideology, serving as both a social service and a political tool. From an early age, children are taught to respect the leadership and embody ideal values. Early Childhood Education (ECE), including nurseries and kindergartens, is

By: Amy Kang + Jimin Oh Han, S. (2021, January 22). A couple walking on a winter street in Pyongyang, North Korea [Photograph]. The Hankyoreh. https://flexible.img.hani.co.kr/flexible/normal/800/1200/imgdb/original/2021/0122/6116113065475707.webp Imagine the charm of campus dating: studying together in the library, strolling through campus hand in hand, sharing meals together, and maybe even an all-nighter together in a classroom. From the moment your eyes first locked tog

By Erin Kim “ The Yalu River in winter ” by Jacky Lee under CC BY 3.0 For many of us, the word home is a place you return to. However, for Hyeonseo Lee, it was a place she had to obtain again. Born in Hyesan, a North Korean town, she grew up believing her country was the best in the world. Her family lived right next to the Chinese border, where she could even sometimes see the lights on the other side of the river. She became curious about what life is like across the borde

By Sehar Warraich North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), remains one of the most tightly controlled information environments in the world. The state exercises near-total dominance over all forms of communication—print, broadcast, and digital—to preserve the political authority of the Kim regime. Access to independent or foreign information is considered subversive, and surveillance mechanisms ensure citizens remain ideologically aligned with

By: Minsung Kim On October 10th, 2025, the Workers’ Party of Korea celebrated its 80th anniversary with a typical show the world comes to expect every year. As floodlights stretched over Kim Il Sung Square, tens of thousands of soldiers marched in formation so perfect it felt unreal. Typically, these parades are dismissed by the outside world as propaganda, a theatre that is carefully choreographed with very little actual significance. But this time was different. As the wor

Imagine a night of fireworks, elaborate performances, and extravagant celebrations. Families gather together over rice cakes, & spend time together lighting up lanterns. It feels like any other celebration in Asia - a night of joy, comfort, and celebration. However, what may surprise you is that this scene belongs to Pyongyang. Although North Korea has a reputation as the world’s most isolated & enigmatic nations, it has its own list of celebrations. One of North Korea’s mos