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Quotes of the Day:
“Remember that the White House has always wanted to be well regarded by the media. That has not changed. It’s just that the media that the White House wants to be well regarded by has changed fundamentally, in the direction of right-wing and left-wing extremes, exacerbated by a noticeable increase in self-righteousness, and politicians have moved with the times. This fragile, finite earth of ours rests, above all, on moderation, which this new age of technology is fundamentally undermining. This is what at root fuels our permanent crisis. Remember that Weimar had moderate leaders, until one day it didn’t. At least we can take solace in the fact that our institutions, as imperfect as they are, are far more robust than Weimar’s.”
— Waste Land: A World in Permanent Crisis by Robert D. Kaplan
"The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion. That intellectuality is more vigorous that has attained its strength gradually. It is the man who carefully advances step by step, with his mind becoming wider and wider — and progressively better able to grasp any theme or situation — persevering in what he knows to be practical, and concentrating his thought upon it, who is bound to succeed in the greatest degree."
– Alexander Graham Bell
“In a global and totalitarian war, intelligence must be global and totalitarian."
– William J. Donovan — OSS in China: Prelude to Cold War by Maochun Yu
1. US will strike N. Korea if it attacks South with nukes, says Seoul’s spy chief nominee
2. Russian Ties Do Little for Iran While Boosting North Korea
3. S. Korea closely coordinating Lee-Trump summit with U.S.: presidential office
4. Defense ministry to mull appointing Marines to four-star posts
5. N. Korea fires 10 multiple rocket launcher shells after trilateral air drills
6. N. Korea reaffirms commitment to defense treaty with Russia on 1st anniv.
7. Spy chief nominee vows to help build peace on Korean Peninsula
8. Japan's Ishiba says he 'aligned on views' with Lee in 1st summit
9. With latest troop dispatch, North Korea wades even deeper into the Ukraine war
10. Spy chief nominee grilled over his perceptions of North Korea
11. Lee Jae-myung’s election raises hope for inter-Korean military agreement
12. USFK cuts may signal weakened commitment: ex-US diplomat
13. N. Korea touts 'absolute solidity' of alliance with Russia on 1st anniv. of key treaty
14. Lee Jae Myung engages in ‘empathy diplomacy’ at G7 Summit
15. Help escapees expose the reality of North Korea
1. US will strike N. Korea if it attacks South with nukes, says Seoul’s spy chief nominee
I should certainly hope so, otherwise we have no deterrence effect.
US will strike N. Korea if it attacks South with nukes, says Seoul’s spy chief nominee
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/us-will-strike-north-korea-if-south-attacked-with-nukes-souths-spy-chief-nominee-says
North Korea is believed to have stockpiled fissile materials to build atomic weapons, although it has not tested a missile mounted with such a weapon.PHOTO: REUTERS
UPDATED Jun 19, 2025, 04:59 PM
SEOUL - South Korea’s nominee for spy agency director said on June 19 he believed the United States would strike North Korea with nuclear weapons if Pyongyang launched a nuclear attack against South Korea.
Mr Lee Jong-seok made the comment during a nomination hearing in answer to a question if he believed Washington would strike the North and put Americans at risk from a country even if Pyongyang has deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles.
“Yes, that is my belief,” said Mr Lee after noting that the hypothetical scenario of South Korea coming under the North’s nuclear attack is directly related to the security alliance between the two countries.
North Korea has for years pursued a nuclear programme and is believed to have stockpiled fissile materials to build atomic weapons although it has not tested a missile mounted with such a weapon.
Mr Lee is nominated to lead South Korea's National Intelligence Service under new liberal President Lee Jae Myung, who took office on June 4. REUTERS
2. Russian Ties Do Little for Iran While Boosting North Korea
Russian Ties Do Little for Iran While Boosting North Korea
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-19/russian-ties-do-little-for-iran-while-boosting-north-korea?sref=hhjZtX76
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un during a reception in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024 in a pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik.Photographer: Vladimir Smirnov/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
By Soo-Hyang Choi and Alastair Gale
June 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM GMT+8
Takeaways
by Bloomberg AI
Hide
- Russia has received artillery shells and troops from North Korea and drone technology from Iran in its war on Ukraine, but the payback for the two countries has been different.
- North Korea has bolstered its military with modern anti-aircraft missiles and advanced electronic warfare systems from Moscow, and has gained valuable experience on the battlefield in Russia.
- The alliance between Russia and North Korea has altered the calculus for the US, South Korea, and other countries, with North Korea now in its strongest strategic position in decades and able to hold at risk US forces and allies in Northeast Asia.
During its war on Ukraine, Russia has leaned on North Korea for artillery shells and troops, and on Iran for drone technology. The payback for the two members of what George W. Bush once called the “Axis of Evil” has been markedly different.
A year after Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense pact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the North Korean leader appears to be in his most secure position since taking power in late 2011.
Alongside valuable experience gained on the battlefield in Russia pushing back incursions from Ukraine, Pyongyang is believed to have bolstered its military with modern anti-aircraft missiles and advanced electronic warfare systems from Moscow. Russian supplies of oil and food have also helped Kim’s regime overcome the effects of suffocating global sanctions.
In contrast, Iran has little to show for its relationship with Moscow as it continues to be pummeled by waves of Israeli attacks.
“North Korea is in its strongest strategic position in decades, possessing the military means to hold at risk US forces and US allies in Northeast Asia, while continuing to improve its capability to threaten the US Homeland,” the US Defense Intelligence Agency said in its 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment report earlier this year.
In an indication of North Korea’s growing confidence, it has reportedly rejected a letter from President Donald Trump to Kim that might restart a dialogue after three summit meetings between the leaders during Trump’s first term.
Key to North Korea’s ability to leverage its ties with Russia has been its willingness to send troops into battle and to resupply fast depleting Russian munitions. More than 6,000 North Korean troops are believed to have been injured or killed in fighting in Russia’s Kursk region, according to the UK Defence Ministry. South Korean intelligence authorities estimate Pyongyang deployed at least 15,000 soldiers to Russia since last fall.
Tehran’s strategic partnership agreement with Moscow is less comprehensive. Tehran has supplied Moscow with hundreds of attack drones since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. It also joined Putin in supporting President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in the war in Syria before his overthrow. But the pact doesn’t bind the two countries to defend each other if one is attacked, unlike the alliance between Russia and North Korea.
Putin has offered to act as a mediator between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and told Trump as much in a phone call. That move likely points more to an opportunistic attempt to improve ties with Trump and deflect attention from the war in Ukraine than an effort to defend its strategic partner in the Middle East.
Read more: Russia Fears for Ally Iran With Few Tools to Influence Crisis
Back in Pyongyang, the frequency of high-level contact with Moscow was on display this week when Putin’s top security official, Sergei Shoigu, visited the North Korean capital for the third time in less than three months. According to Russia’s Interfax news service, Shoigu said on Tuesday that North Korea agreed to dispatch 5,000 military construction workers to help rebuild infrastructure in Kursk and 1,000 sappers to clear mines from Russian territory.
Read more: Putin Aide Shoigu Meets Kim as Pyongyang Plans More Military Aid
Alongside artillery shells, North Korea transferred at least 100 ballistic missiles to Russia last year which were used to target civilian infrastructure in major cities including Kyiv, according to a recent report from a coalition of 11 countries that investigates violations of United Nations sanctions on North Korea.
The prolonged conflict in Ukraine has stretched Russia’s supplies of men and basic weaponry. That’s enhanced the value of what North Korea is able to provide even if the support remains more symbolic than critical. In return, Moscow is suspected of transferring more advanced equipment, helping North Korea plug gaps in its military capabilities.
The recent coalition report cited evidence that Russia has sent military supplies, such as electronic warfare systems, to North Korea using cargo planes. Ukraine, meanwhile, is tracking evidence that Russian-Iranian drone technologies have spread to North Korea. So far, there’s little indication that Russia might be supplying Pyongyang with its most advanced military technology, such as the ability to build nuclear-powered submarines.
Fyodor Lukyanov, the head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a think tank that advises the Kremlin, said North Korea’s support for Russia has played an important role in the conflict in Ukraine.
“Politically, Russia has demonstrated that it has reliable partners,” he said, referring to the alliance with North Korea. “Militarily, the supply of weapons and participation in combat operations in the Kursk region clearly played a role — not a decisive one, but a sufficient one.”
According to the coalition report, Russia also appears to have supplied over a million barrels of oil to North Korea in 2024, exceeding the cap of 500,000 barrels set by the UN Security Council.
The stronger hand that North Korea has gained has altered the calculus for the US, South Korea and other countries such as China and Japan. With a new leader in office, South Korea is trying to resume dialogue with North Korea as part of Lee Jae Myung’s pledge to reduce geopolitical risks. It’s far from clear whether North Korea will respond.
The North Korean leader made a strategic decision in recent years to break off communications with the US and its allies as he pressed ahead with modernizing and increasing the size of his nuclear arsenal.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that North Korea has assembled around 50 warheads, possesses enough fissile material to produce up to 40 more and is accelerating the production of further fissile material.
Read more: North Korea Appears to Have Added to Its Nuclear Complex
As ties between Russia and North Korea have deepened, new questions have been raised about the durability of the US-South Korea alliance.
Trump administration officials have been clear that the US will focus on deterring China, and Trump has himself reiterated demands for Seoul to pay more to keep 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea. The US denied a recent report that it might move around 4,500 American troops out of South Korea, but talk of a drawdown continues to circulate.
Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said a reduction of US troops in South Korea could create instability and undermine the credibility of US deterrence in the region.
“This could create an environment in which the North Koreans feel a little bit more confident than they should be and could lead to miscalculation,” Cha said.
— With assistance from Henry Meyer and Anthony Halpin
3. S. Korea closely coordinating Lee-Trump summit with U.S.: presidential office
I hope we have one before Lee has one with Xi.
S. Korea closely coordinating Lee-Trump summit with U.S.: presidential office | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · June 19, 2025
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States are coordinating the details of a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump after their planned meeting at the recent Group of Seven (G7) summit was canceled, the presidential office said Thursday.
A presidential official told reporters that discussions are ongoing regarding the timing and format of the summit, adding that details will be announced once the schedule is finalized.
"It has not yet been confirmed whether President Trump will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting," the official said when asked whether a separate bilateral meeting is being arranged amid speculation Trump could skip next week's NATO summit.
Lee had initially planned to hold a summit meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit earlier this week, but the meeting was called off after Trump's abrupt return to the U.S. amid the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
Lee is reportedly considering attending the NATO summit, scheduled for June 24-25 in the Netherlands.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump are shown in these two file photos released by Yonhap News Agency and Europe's news photo agency EPA, respectively. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Yi Wonju · June 19, 2025
4. Defense ministry to mull appointing Marines to four-star posts
An interesting development. I did not see this coming.
(LEAD) Defense ministry to mull appointing Marines to four-star posts | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 19, 2025
(ATTN: ADDS details in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry plans to review the possibility of promoting Marines to four-star general posts in line with President Lee Jae Myung's campaign pledge to make the Marine Corps akin to an independent armed service, officials said Thursday.
The ministry made the suggestion the previous day in a policy briefing to the State Affairs Planning Committee, which set sail this week as a transition team to present a policy blueprint for the new government's five-year term.
As part of his election pledges, Lee vowed to restructure the three-pronged military structure, consisting of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, to one that gives more independence to the Marine Corps. He also proposed specializing its operations and equipping troops with advanced surveillance systems.
Currently, a three-star general conducts the role of Marine Corps commander. Such a policy change would allow Marines to assume four-star general posts, such as the chairman or vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Meanwhile, the ministry called for a "phased" approach to the possible restoration of a now-scrapped 2018 military tension reduction agreement that Lee has vowed to revive, citing its effect on the military's readiness posture and the need to wait for inter-Korean tensions to ease.
Also among issues debriefed to the state affairs committee was revamping the Defense Counterintelligence Command, a military intelligence agency embroiled in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 martial law bid.
The defense ministry and the committee concurred on reforming the command, Jo Seoung-lae, spokesperson at the committee, told a regular briefing, without elaborating.
Reforming military intelligence units was among Lee's election pledges that included restructuring the tasks and roles of military commands that engaged in the short-lived martial law imposition.
Jo Seoung-lae, spokesperson of the State Affairs Planning Advisory Committee, attends a press conference at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on June 19, 2025. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 19, 2025
5. N. Korea fires 10 multiple rocket launcher shells after trilateral air drills
Political warfare and blackmail diplomacy.
(LEAD) N. Korea fires 10 multiple rocket launcher shells after trilateral air drills | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 19, 2025
(ATTN: RECASTS headline; lead; ADDS details throughout)
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired around 10 artillery shells from its multiple rocket launcher system Thursday, South Korea's military said, a day after the South conducted joint air drills with the United States and Japan.
The North fired the shells toward the Yellow Sea at around 10 a.m. from the Sunan area near Pyongyang, the military said, adding that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting an analysis of the latest weapon test.
The North's 240mm multiple rocket launcher puts Seoul and its adjacent areas in target range. Last year, the North conducted a test-launch of what it claimed to be a multiple rocket launcher equipped with a new guidance system.
The weapon test came a day after South Korea, the U.S. and Japan conducted a three-way aerial exercise as part of efforts to strengthen their trilateral security cooperation against North Korean military threats.
The exercise, the first to take place under the Lee Jae Myung government, involved the South Korean F-15K, the U.S. F-16 and the Japanese F-2 fighter jets.
A test-fire of a 240mm multiple rocket launch system (MRLS) being produced at defense industrial enterprises under the Second Economic Commission takes place under the inspection of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Aug. 27, 2024, in this photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Lee Minji · June 19, 2025
6. N. Korea reaffirms commitment to defense treaty with Russia on 1st anniv.
50% of the CRInK. It is the adversarial cooperation that we must also address.
N. Korea reaffirms commitment to defense treaty with Russia on 1st anniv. | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · June 19, 2025
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to a mutual defense treaty with Russia, marking the first anniversary of its signing amid growing military cooperation between the two nations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin sealed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty on June 19, which calls for either side to provide the other assistance "without delay" if one of them comes under armed attack.
In a statement released on the anniversary, a North Korean foreign ministry official overseeing Russian affairs said the country's commitment to strengthening friendly relations with Russia remains "unchanged."
The ministry described the treaty as a "political event of great strategic importance," calling it a foundational guarantee for the present and future of bilateral ties.
The ministry said Pyongyang had demonstrated the strength of its alliance with Russia by deploying troops to the Kursk region, noting the bilateral solidarity would continue to deepen.
Under the treaty, North Korea deployed around 14,000 troops to the Russian side in the war against Ukraine between October last year and February this year, according to intelligence authorities.
Russian media reports said earlier this week that the North will send about 6,000 military construction workers and sappers to Russia's Kursk front-line region for mine removal and war recovery.
On Thursday, North Korean state mouthpiece the Rodong Sinmun featured the anniversary, describing the treaty as opening "a new chapter in the friendship" with Moscow and an outcome of the leaders' "extraordinary" leadership
Gallery Gallery画报写真ギャラリーألبوم الصورGaleríaPhóng sự ảnh
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) sits next to Russian President Vladimir Putin in an Aurus Senat limousine that the latter gifted to him while driving on the grounds of the Kumsusan State Guest House in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024, in this file photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Eun-jung · June 19, 2025
7. Spy chief nominee vows to help build peace on Korean Peninsula
Or you could gather intelligence to prevent war by undermining your adversaries plans.
But I am sure what you mean is that you will be secretly dispatched to Pyongyang as soon as possible to meet the regime and establish the only communications channel that has ever really functioned well and that is through the intelligence channel.
This is also a key aspect of the ROK/US alliance that Ameircans must understand.
Excerpts:
During the former Roh Moo-hyun administration, two competing groups clashed over key diplomatic decisions, with the other camp, dubbed the "alliance"-centered group, prioritizing the alliance between South Korea and the United States.
"I've followed practical benefits, neither the independence group nor the alliance group," Lee said.
(LEAD) Spy chief nominee vows to help build peace on Korean Peninsula | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · June 19, 2025
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in last 5 paras)
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jong-seok, the nominee to lead the National Intelligence Service (NIS), on Thursday pledged to work toward building "unwavering" peace on the Korean Peninsula during his parliamentary confirmation hearing.
Lee, who served as principal deputy national security adviser from 2003 to 2005 and unification minister in 2006, was nominated as the first NIS chief under President Lee Jae Myung, who has pledged to suspend hostilities and resume dialogue with North Korea to ease military tensions and build peace.
"I think peace can be advanced when strong defense capabilities and dialogue and negotiations based on them operate in a virtuous cycle," Lee said during the hearing. "If given the opportunity to serve as NIS chief, I will prioritize building an unwavering and robust peace."
He revealed his "long-held belief" that the priority of diplomacy and security policy should to create a favorable external environment for national security and prosperity, pledging to pursue that goal amid growing global protectionism.
He also vowed to strengthen the NIS' intelligence capabilities on North Korea to support the Lee administration's efforts to build peace on the peninsula.
Lee Jong-seok, the nominee to lead the National Intelligence Service, speaks during a confirmation hearing on June 19, 2025. (Yonhap)
Lee claimed he has pursued "practical" benefits in the direction of the country's diplomacy amid views that he is considered a key figure in the so-called independence group that views inter-Korean relations as the cornerstone of the foreign affairs and security policy.
During the former Roh Moo-hyun administration, two competing groups clashed over key diplomatic decisions, with the other camp, dubbed the "alliance"-centered group, prioritizing the alliance between South Korea and the United States.
"I've followed practical benefits, neither the independence group nor the alliance group," Lee said.
The spy chief nominee said the Seoul-Washington alliance is the "most fundamental" basis in the diplomatic policy under the Lee Jae Myung administration. President Lee has vowed to pursue "practical" diplomacy based on national interests.
"I will do my best in supporting the provision of intelligence to make the government's policy a success," he said.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Soo-yeon · June 19, 2025
8. Japan's Ishiba says he 'aligned on views' with Lee in 1st summit
This is good to hear from the Japanese PM.
(LEAD) Japan's Ishiba says he 'aligned on views' with Lee in 1st summit | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 19, 2025
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with Ishiba's remarks; CHANGES photo)
TOKYO, June 19 (Yonhap) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Thursday he had a good discussion with President Lee Jae Myung during their first summit in Canada earlier this week, noting that they "aligned on views" on shared issues.
Ishiba made the remark at an event in Tokyo held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with South Korea, referring to his one-on-one talks with Lee that took place on the margins of the Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis on Tuesday.
"We were able to have a very productive discussion, aligning our views for the stable development of Japan-Korea relations," Ishiba said of his summit with Lee, during the ceremony hosted by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo.
"While there have been various phases in the relationship, there has always been extensive exchange between the two countries," he said.
"Japan and South Korea face many common challenges and share numerous areas where we can and should cooperate through exchanges of our insights," Ishiba said.
Ishiba's attendance at the ceremony reflected the continued warming of bilateral relations that have significantly improved since March 2023 under South Korea's previous government.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba makes remarks during a reception marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with South Korea, in Tokyo, on June 19, 2025. (Yonhap)
Lee, who assumed office June 4, has signaled a shift from his previously more hard-line stance on Japan, and pledged to pursue a two-track approach in which past history issues, rooted in Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, should be dealt with separately from future cooperation efforts.
Lee and Ishiba reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the bilateral partnership with a forward-looking approach during their summit.
At the event, Ishiba stressed the need to continue close communication to ensure a stable development of ties based on what the two countries have built so far.
"This year provides us an opportunity to think about our next 60 years. I see a bright future ahead of us through natural exchanges among our younger generations," Ishiba said.
At the summit, Lee called Japan an "inseparable" nation that "shares the same front yard" with South Korea, expressing hope the two neighbors can advance their ties in a future-oriented manner.
The two leaders also agreed to bolster three-way cooperation partnership with the United States to respond to various geopolitical challenges, including North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
Thursday's event brought together key government officials, lawmakers and other guests from both sides, including South Korean Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee and Democratic Party Rep. Joo Ho-young leading the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was also among the attendees.
The celebration in Tokyo follows a mutual event held in Seoul earlier this week by the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.
Ahead of his trip to Canada, Lee delivered a video message for the anniversary event in Seoul, in which he called for Seoul and Tokyo to work together for a better future.
On June 22, 1965, South Korea and Japan signed a bilateral treaty to normalize their diplomatic relations.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · by Kim Seung-yeon · June 19, 2025
9. With latest troop dispatch, North Korea wades even deeper into the Ukraine war
Kim Jong Un is "all in" in Russia.
With latest troop dispatch, North Korea wades even deeper into the Ukraine war
Experts say military workers could lead to mass labor deployments to Russia and more offensive role for DPRK troops
https://www.nknews.org/2025/06/with-latest-troop-dispatch-north-korea-wades-even-deeper-into-the-ukraine-war/
Anton Sokolin June 18, 2025
A North Korean soldier carrying wood near Kaesong in Sept. 2008 | Image: Eric Lafforgue
Kim Jong Un’s decision to deploy thousands of military engineers and construction workers to help rebuild Russia’s war-torn Kursk border region could be a stepping stone to deeper North Korean involvement in the Ukraine war, as the allies continue to openly defy sanctions in pursuit of closer cooperation.
Following talks with Kim on Tuesday, Russian security chief Sergei Shoigu said the DPRK will dispatch 1,000 mine clearance specialists and 5,000 military construction workers to Kursk, in addition to the some 12,000 soldiers already deployed there since last fall.
The U.S. State Department reportedly called North Korea’s latest deployment plans in support of Russia’s war “very concerning,” stating that the Kim regime receives much-needed funds by exporting manpower to finance its weapons of mass destruction programs.
South Korea’s foreign ministry also expressed “serious concern over the continued illegal cooperation between Russia and North Korea” in response to NK News queries, urging both sides to stop violating U.N. Security Council Resolution 2397, which bans North Korean nationals from earning income abroad.
Experts stressed that the deployment of military engineers reflects Moscow’s attempt to gain leverage in ongoing Ukraine peace talks by bolstering the DPRK contingent, and they said this could lead not only to more North Koreans working in Russia but the potential expansion of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) role on the front lines of the war.
A North Korean officer pointing at a map in the demilitarized zone in Sept. 2011 | Image: Eric Lafforgue
THE KPA’S ROLE
The North Korean military workers will ostensibly focus on construction, but experts say they will still support Russia’s invasion by allowing Moscow to focus its attention elsewhere, while not ruling out the possibility that they could see combat.
Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told NK News that KPA “engineering units are capable of both combat and construction,” suggesting Russia may use such personnel alongside the 12,000 DPRK troops already deployed to Kursk.
Combat engineers could help Russian forces “secure troop mobility and increase their survivability” by removing mines and explosives, he explained, adding that their duties may include building bridges and trenches as well as “destroying enemy facilities and setting up defensive positions.”
These units are likely to “operate alongside infantry and receive combat training,” the expert said. By contrast, military construction workers are likely to be stationed in rear areas outside combat zones, constructing roads and barracks and rebuilding war-damaged areas.
“From Russia’s perspective, it needs to eliminate risks in the recaptured zones and minimize further casualties by building fortified defensive positions, military outposts; removing mines planted by Ukrainian forces; and setting up border security facilities and bridges for the movement of personnel and equipment,” the expert said.
Hong noted that hostilities haven’t completely ended in the Kursk region either and that Moscow appears to view “stabilization of the area” as its essential task.
“To steer future ceasefire talks in its favor, Russia is moving quickly to carry out additional troop deployments,” the expert observed. “Pyongyang did not reveal specifics but allowed Russia to publicize them, signaling acceptance and possibly aiming to extend Russia’s reciprocal benefits.”
Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, an associate professor at Tokyo International University’s Institute for International Strategy, noted that the additional North Korean manpower will help Russia focus its energy on other parts of the front.
But it still remains unclear whether “these personnel will purely focus only on civil engineering and construction, or whether they are going there as combat engineers to support Russian forces,” he said.
“If they’re engineers, they’re not really suited for infantry combat, although it is possible to fight as combat engineers.”
Yang Uk, a military analyst at the Seoul-based Asan Institute for Policy Studies, expressed skepticism about the new DPRK units seeing combat but noted that they still can provide essential support by setting up defenses for Russian forces.
North Korean workers in Pyongyang in May 2010 | Image: Eric Lafforgue
OVERSEAS WORKERS
Russia’s open admission of plans to bring in DPRK workers has once again drawn attention to its apparent disregard for the U.N. sanctions regime, while suggesting that Moscow will bring in more North Koreans to fill war-induced labor shortages.
Hinata-Yamaguchi noted that both North Korea and Russia are already under heavy sanctions but have shown they will disregard them when they see fit, not ruling out the dispatch of more DPRK workers to Russia.
Russia has historically been one of the largest recipients of North Korean laborers abroad, particularly in the construction sector.
Last year, the country saw a sharp influx of DPRK nationals, largely on education visas, though experts assessed they were likely manual laborers sent to earn foreign currency for their families and the Kim regime. A Kursk business association even struck a deal to deepen economic cooperation with North Korea in February.
Yang from the Asan Institute pointed out that Russia’s manpower shortages due to war mobilization have created favorable conditions for North Korean laborers to step in, while funneling hard currency to Pyongyang.
“This is the price Putin has to pay to Kim for the troops,” the expert said, explaining that Moscow is laying the groundwork for long-term bilateral cooperation beyond the war. “They can send as many as they want — it’s Russia’s way of repaying North Korea for its help in the long run.”
Russian propagandists have notably proposed bringing in huge numbers of DPRK workers, and Chris Monday, a Russia researcher at Dongseo University, said the allies largely have a “free hand” to skirt sanctions with the world distracted by the conflict in the Middle East and Donald Trump’s disruptive return.
North Korean troops marching in a military parade in Pyongyang on April 25, 2022 | Image: KCNA (April 26, 2022)
MORE TROOPS INCOMING?
North Korea does not appear to be deploying more soldiers to the front lines of the Ukraine war for now, but its decision to send military construction workers suggests that more troop deployments can’t be ruled out.
Hinata-Yamaguchi raised the possibility that DPRK soldiers already in Kursk could carry out “more offensive operations” along other parts of the front line, while noting this would take extensive negotiations and could lead to significant North Korean losses.
The expert suggested KPA forces could play a role comparable to the ill-fated Wagner Group, which served to “supplement Russian forces, especially in carrying out dirty tasks” and missions “where they need expendable manpower.”
Chris Monday also said the Russian public “won’t be too shocked” if North Korean troops are redeployed to Donbas or even toward Kyiv, as nationalist pundits have called for “substantial DPRK contingents” to help win the war.
“My guess is that many will join the war effort in Ukraine now that the world’s eyes have shifted to the Middle East,” he said, suggesting this could serve as an “asymmetric response” to recent Ukrainian drone strikes.
However, Yang argued that this would only be viable if Russia was gearing up for a large-scale “counterattack or more extensive operation,” as the DPRK would otherwise risk heavy casualties and Moscow would need to be willing to pay a “big reward.”
“These troops would need to be fully integrated with Russian forces while given a certain degree of operational autonomy,” the expert said. “That’s not an easy task. They’d need far more time to train [and adapt to the new] operational environment.”
Joon Ha Park contributed reporting to this article. Edited by Bryan Betts
10. Spy chief nominee grilled over his perceptions of North Korea
This is a key point. The leaders of the ROK/US alliance and their policymakers must have sufficient aligned assumptions about the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime.
Unfortunately there are some American policymakers, pundits and even Congress member who share Lee Jong-seok's views about north Korea.
Spy chief nominee grilled over his perceptions of North Korea
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · June 19, 2025
Lee says he would consider meeting with bereaved family of S. Korean official murdered by N. Korea in 2020
Lee Jong-seok, the National Intelligence Service director nominee, attends his confirmation hearing Thursday. Yonhap
Lee Jong-seok, the nominee to be the director of the National Intelligence Service, faced scrutiny over his past acquaintance with a former deputy governor convicted over illegal cash transfers to North Korea at his confirmation hearing Thursday.
At the hearing, Lee was asked about his past ties to former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Gov. Lee Hwa-young, who served when President Lee Jae Myung was governor of the province. The former deputy gov. was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison for a 2019-20 scheme to transfer funds to the North.
Prosecutors allege that the president, when he was governor, used the undergarment maker Ssangbangwool to send $8 million to North Korea. Lee has consistently denied any wrongdoing or involvement in the case.
The NIS director nominee and the former deputy governor had worked together at the inter-Korean peace committee at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office since 2018. The nominee said he knew the former deputy governor strictly in a professional capacity and that he had no knowledge of the scheme at all.
When asked about his past public remarks opposing the introduction of THAAD, the US antiballistic missile defense system and GSOMIA, the intelligence-sharing framework with Japan, the nominee said he believes that those were "things that are already agreed upon and should be complied with."
Lee said that the foundation of South Korea's security is its alliance with the US. "That is the stance of the Lee Jae Myung administration, and I believe the same," he said.
In response to The Korea Herald's question after the confirmation hearing, Lee said that he would be open to meeting with the bereaved family of a South Korean fisheries official who was shot dead by North Korean troops at sea in September 2020.
"I have not yet looked into the matter, but I would consider it," the nominee said.
In Wednesday's prehearing brief, seen exclusively by The Korea Herald, Lee said if he is appointed as the director, he would "look into" the shooting murder of the South Korean official. He was responding to a lawmaker's question about his stance on the case.
In 2022, the NIS filed a criminal complaint against its former director Park Jie-won, who is now a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, for allegedly destroying the spy agency's confidential materials related to the South Korean official's death. Park denies all allegations.
The criminal trial for Park and other high-level officials at the time is ongoing.
In the prehearing brief, Lee also denied the accusations that he was lenient toward North Korea. "I absolutely cannot agree with the claims that I am pro-North Korea only because I have studied North Korea and the Korean Peninsula in depth," he said.
Lee served as minister of inter-Korean affairs under the late former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun in 2006.
The post of the director of the NIS requires confirmation by the National Assembly.
arin@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Kim Arin · June 19, 2025
11. Lee Jae-myung’s election raises hope for inter-Korean military agreement
This is exactly what Kim Jong Un wants because the CMA supports his political warfare strategy. It weakens the military forces along the front line and drives a wedge in the ROK/US alliance.
(Interview) Lee Jae-myung’s election raises hope for inter-Korean military agreement
“High-ranking officials who are knowledgeable about Korean Peninsula affairs regard Lee Jae-myung as presenting opportunities both politically and militarily speaking," a high-ranking official told Daily NK
By Seulkee Jang - June 19, 2025
dailynk.com
(Interview) Lee Jae-myung’s election raises hope for inter-Korean military agreement - Daily NK English
A liberal president’s election in South Korea appears to have kindled a conciliatory mood among North Korean officials, as well as hope for improved relations with the South.
With President Lee Jae-myung seeking to restore the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) to ease military tensions between the two sides, a high-ranking North Korean official who recently spoke with Daily NK said such a plan may be feasible.
The CMA was signed by South and North Korea on Sept. 19, 2018, and then scrapped under the watch of deposed president Yoon Suk-yeol.
“The CMA was originally envisioned by the Democratic Party and implemented by (former President) Moon Jae-in, [. . .] who spoke with such conviction and greeted the people with such warmth on his visit to Pyongyang,” the North Korean official said. “If they’re committed to peace and mutual respect, we could consider (restoring the CMA).”
North Korean officials closely associate the CMA with former president Moon Jae-in. Since Lee Jae-myung is from the Democratic Party (just like Moon) and since the Democratic Party, which was behind the CMA, is currently in power, those officials think it would be possible to discuss reinstating that agreement, depending on the intentions of the South Korean government.
Daily NK’s interview with the North Korean official is presented below in Q&A format.
Daily NK: President Lee Jae-myung said in his inaugural address that “peace, no matter the price, is better than war,” promising to “open channels of communication with North Korea and build peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation.” Is North Korea also willing to engage in dialogue with the South Korean government?
“As for whether dialogue is possible or not, that’s essentially something for Kim Jong Un to decide. That said, no country prefers war to dialogue. It’s important for South Korea’s new administration to show whether it can adopt an independent line without the meddling of outside forces. I think dialogue would be possible as long as it doesn’t adopt a servile position toward those forces.”
Daily NK: What do you think of the possibility of restoring the CMA?
“The CMA was originally envisioned by the Democratic Party and implemented by [former] President Moon Jae-in, an icon of peace who spoke with such conviction and greeted the people with such warmth on his visit to Pyongyang, so we could restore and uphold it or even discuss a better agreement. If they’re committed to peace and mutual respect, we could consider that.”
Daily NK: Two weeks have passed since Lee Jae-myung became president. Have the Party, Ministry of State Security or Ministry of Foreign Affairs received any orders about South Korea?
“The Party, Ministry of State Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs haven’t been informed of any new policies. The ‘enemy narrative’ is being maintained about ‘two hostile states’ and South Korea being a country to be occupied rather than reunited with. For now, we’re monitoring the practical steps taken by the Lee administration, including its North Korea policy and appointments. We definitely regard Lee Jae-myung as being distinct from the conservative thugs intent on crushing our Republic [North Korea] like Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee is regarded as a more amicable figure because he has adopted a positive attitude toward joint ventures and exchange with us since his time in local government. But the most crucial part of our analysis of a new South Korean administration is its dependence upon the United States. We’re watching to see how pro-American he is.”
Daily NK: Would North Korea be actively interested in any offers of economic cooperation or assistance from the South Korean government?
“Direct cash transfers would be out of the question, but based on past precedent, trade or indirect assistance by means of civilian cooperation channels or joint ventures overseas ought to be feasible. I think anything is possible once we’ve set our mind to it. That could be organized by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification or local governmental bodies, but it could really take any form whatsoever, such as the involvement of foreign organizations or companies or groups run by Korean Japanese or overseas Chinese.”
Daily NK: How do North Korean officials view the new administration in South Korea? Are there hopes for an improvement in inter-Korean relations?
“High-ranking officials who are knowledgeable about Korean Peninsula affairs regard Lee Jae-myung as presenting opportunities both politically and militarily speaking. But the important thing is putting words into practice. We’re waiting to see whether Lee can back up his words with actions — in other words, whether he really wants peace. For now, the prevailing view is that we’re open to limited dialogue as long as we’re offered a form of cooperation that’s guaranteed to be beneficial for us.”
Daily NK: The nominee for director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) is Lee Jong-seok, former minister of unification and architect of the Sunshine Policy, as well as a staunch proponent of dialogue. Do you regard him as a figure who can help repair inter-Korean relations?
“Older officials remember Lee Jong-seok as someone who framed the policies of former president Kim Dae-jung. While Lee Jong-seok has interacted with us in the past, it remains to be seen whether his past experience will help restore a relationship of trust in the Lee Jae-myung administration. But I do think we stand to gain from adjustments to the NIS’ intelligence and espionage priorities. Nevertheless, we need to remain on guard because the NIS is fundamentally anti-Communist in nature.
Read in Korean
Seulkee Jang
Seulkee Jang is one of Daily NK's full-time reporters and covers North Korean economic and diplomatic issues, including workers dispatched abroad. Jang has a M.A. in Sociology from University of North Korean Studies and a B.A. in Sociology from Yonsei University. She can be reached at skjang(at)uni-media.net.
dailynk.com
12. USFK cuts may signal weakened commitment: ex-US diplomat
If not handled correctly they will.
If they are called cuts, it will.
But if properly articulated as part of a holistic strategy for the Asia/Indo-Pacific region that includes allies it can be shown that it these are not cuts but rather effectively force alignment to improve comprehensive deterrence against multiple fores and to provide the strategic agility to respond to multiple contigencies then it will nto be a weakening of the commitment.
USFK cuts may signal weakened commitment: ex-US diplomat
koreaherald.com · by Jung Min-kyung · June 19, 2025
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (GettyImages)
Any “substantial adjustment” to the size of the US Forces Korea could be seen as a sign of Washington “reducing” its commitment to maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the broader Indo-Pacific region, a former US senior diplomat said Thursday.
"My worry will be that any substantial adjustment will be misinterpreted (or) will be interpreted as somehow the United States reducing its commitment to peace and stability, or raising questions about whether the US is somehow withdrawing from fundamental commitments in the Indo-Pacific," Kurt Campbell, a former deputy secretary of state said.
His remarks were made during a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Campbell served in the position during the former Joe Biden administration.
Campbell’s remarks follow a May report in The Wall Street Journal, which claimed that the Donald Trump administration is weighing the option of pulling out some 4,500 troops, or around 15 percent of the USFK, and moving them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam, which is an American island territory.
The report added to security concerns in South Korea amid volatilities stemming from North Korea’s advancing nuclear weapons program.
The USFK dismissed the report at the time, saying that claims that Washington plans to reduce US troops in South Korea are “not true.”
The WSJ report aligned with a Washington Post report in March that said the second Trump administration plans to “reorient” the US military to prioritize deterring China’s seizure of Taiwan and shoring up homeland defense. It cited secret internal guidance distributed throughout the Pentagon in mid-March.
Campbell pointed to the current security situation surrounding the peninsula, with North Korea’s advancing nuclear weapons program coupled with its strengthening military cooperation with Russia. Taking steps to show US’ commitment to defend South Korea, its decades-long ally, would work in Washington’s strategic interest, he added.
"The fact is we were able to work hard with our ROK friends to take some steps to buttress and underscore our continuing commitment to extended deterrence over the Korean Peninsula," he said.
ROK stands for South Korea’s official name Republic of Korea. Extended deterrence refers to the US commitment to use a full range of military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to deter attacks on allies.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
koreaherald.com · by Jung Min-kyung · June 19, 2025
13. N. Korea touts 'absolute solidity' of alliance with Russia on 1st anniv. of key treaty
The CRInK is getting stronger.
N. Korea touts 'absolute solidity' of alliance with Russia on 1st anniv. of key treaty
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · June 19, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) attend a welcoming ceremony on June 19, 2024 in Pyongyang, North Korea. (GetttyImages)
North Korea on Thursday underscored the "absolute solidity" of its alliance with Russia and reaffirmed bilateral cooperation as it marked the first anniversary of the signing of a mutual defense treaty with Moscow.
The North's mainstream Rodong Sinmun newspaper, which reflects the regime's official position, issued the message in an article marking the first anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty on June 19 last year in Pyongyang between leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The daily touted the treaty as opening "a new chapter in the friendship" between North Korea and Russia and as an outcome of the leaders' "extraordinary" leadership. It said the two countries have "unsparingly shown off the absolute solidity of the alliance relationship."
Under the treaty, which calls on one party to come to the aid of the other without delay if it comes under armed attack, North Korea deployed around 14,000 troops to the Russian side in the war against Ukraine between October last year and February this year.
In a meeting with Russia's security chief earlier this week, Kim has reportedly decided to send 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Russia's Kursk frontline region for mine removal and war recovery.
The Rodong Sinmun described the military deployment and North Korean troops' engagement in the war as the "most exemplary" implementation of the treaty.
"It is an unwavering stance of the two countries' peoples to deepen militant friendship and achieve mutual prosperity and well-being," the newspaper said.
It also highlighted growing cooperation between the two countries in the economy, diplomacy, education, public health and the arts, adding that "bilateral solidarity and cooperation are becoming broader."
On Tuesday, just ahead of the anniversary, Kim held talks with Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang, where Russian media reported Kim had decided to send additional troops and workers to Kursk.
North Korean media, however, did not report the decision in their reports, only mentioning plans between North Korea and Russia to commemorate North Korean soldiers killed in action while fighting for Russia.
An official at South Korea's unification ministry assessed the North likely decided on the additional troop deployment to gain more rewards from Russia in exchange for its military support, adding the decision appears to have been driven by not only economic but also strategic considerations.
However, the regime likely omitted media coverage of the decision out of concern for domestic public opinion, the official said.
Through the decision, North Korea appears to be aiming to further solidify its alliance with Russia, and the move could likely lead to an increase in North Korean labor exports to Russia at a time when its exports to China remain sluggish, the official said. (Yonhap)
koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · June 19, 2025
14. Lee Jae Myung engages in ‘empathy diplomacy’ at G7 Summit
Lee Jae Myung engages in ‘empathy diplomacy’ at G7 Summit
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President Lee Jae Myung, left, wraps his arm around Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as they leave the venue after a group photo session with G7 and invited country leaders during the Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/foreignaffairs/20250619/lee-jae-myung-engages-in-empathy-diplomacy-at-g7-summit
By Bahk Eun-ji
Published Jun 19, 2025 3:00 pm KST
Updated Jun 19, 2025 5:52 pm KST
From shared childhood struggles to Bollywood films, Korea’s new president builds rapport with global leaders
President Lee Jae Myung showcased a style of diplomacy rooted in personal storytelling and emotional connection at his first appearance on the international stage at the G7 Summit. During the two-day summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, he met with leaders from Brazil, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and the European Union, earning praise for his warm and approachable manner.
Lee’s conversation with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was notable for its emotional resonance. The two leaders have similar backgrounds, having both worked in factories. Lee, who has a disability in his left arm following an accident involving a press machine during his youth, opened the meeting by recounting his experience. Lula responded by sharing how he lost a finger in a metalworks factory at the age of 19.
“Never forget why the people chose you,” he advised Lee, prompting a quiet nod of agreement from the Korean leader. Later, cameras captured the two leaders walking together, with Lee patting Lula on the back. Lula also invited Lee to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.
During his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lee expressed his love for Indian cinema, declaring himself a fan of Bollywood films.
In response, Modi highlighted the long-standing cultural connections between India and Korea. He referred to the legend of Queen Heo Hwang-ok from Ayodhya, who is said to have traveled to Korea 2,000 years ago to marry King Suro of the Gaya Confederacy, founding the Gimhae Heo clan.
President Lee Jae Myung, fifth from left, holds a summit with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, second from left, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap
President Lee Jae Myung, fifth from left, holds a summit with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, second from left, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap
Lee also asked Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum — the first woman to become that country's president — about the secret behind her high approval ratings, which currently stand at almost 80 percent. Sheinbaum said that she regularly meets with citizens and engages in dialogue with opposition parties, a practice in which Lee expressed interest.
During a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the two leaders bonded over their shared background as human rights lawyers. According to presidential aides, the conversation was characterized by mutual respect and a joint commitment to pragmatism and national unity.
Lee extended invitations to several leaders to attend the upcoming APEC summit in Gyeongju later this year. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres encouraged Lee to speak about Korea's democratic resilience at the U.N. General Assembly in September.
15. Help escapees expose the reality of North Korea
De Oppresso Liber - the help the oppressed free themselves.
Please consider donating to the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly who are preparing for future leadership roles in a free and unified Korea.
Help escapees expose the reality of North Korea
“I once believed I had no voice. But in Washington D.C., I stood in front of diplomats, senators, and UN leaders—and shared the truth I once risked my life to hide.” — 2024 NKYLA Participant
Each year, brave North Korean defectors escape one of the most oppressive regimes on Earth. But survival is only the beginning. To truly reclaim their future—and shape a better one for others—they need the tools to become leaders, advocates, and changemakers.
That’s where the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly comes in: an annual U.S.-based leadership and diplomacy program that brings together 10 North Korean escapees to meet with lawmakers, diplomats, think tanks, and global human rights experts.
They don't just learn—they speak out. They testify. They become the voice their country tried to silence.
Your donation directly impacts North Korean escapees.
The North Korean Young Leaders Assembly is the only international-level program of its kind led by North Korean escapees and focused on building actionable leadership—not passive storytelling. We train these leaders to share their truths, influence policy, shape global opinion, and one day...rebuild a free and unified Korea.
From escapee to founder:
Meet Hyunseung Lee
“I remember the exact moment I realized I was no longer just an escapee. I was a voice. I had to use it.”
Hyunseung Lee was born in North Korea, escaped its dictatorship, and built a new life as a scholar, strategist, and human rights advocate. Today, he’s the founder of the North Korean Young Leaders Assembly (NKYLA). He created this program to give others what he never had—a global platform, direct access to policy leaders, and the power to change lives beyond survival.
Who are these young leaders?
They are not just participants—they are survivors, leaders, and changemakers.
Meet the faces of courage behind NKYLA 2025:
● One escaped North Korea after witnessing brutal purges. That moment shattered their belief in the regime and forced them to flee for truth.
● Another hid in China for years without legal protection, constantly at risk of repatriation and death, before finding freedom.
● One was born into the “hostile class” in North Korea, treated as less than human for their family background—but today, they are thriving in university.
● Another suffered starvation as a child, having to scavenge for food before escaping on foot and eventually earning a scholarship abroad.
● One was captured during a failed escape attempt, interrogated and punished—yet they tried again and succeeded.
● Several realized the lies of the regime—that North Korea wasn’t a “paradise,” and made the daring choice to leave everything behind.
Today, they are:
● University graduates from institutions in Korea and the United States
● Public speakers, activists, and community builders
● Authors, Lawyers, IT specialists, and aspiring diplomats
They’ve lived in North Korea, China, South Korea, and the U.S.—each step shaping them into bridges between isolated North Koreans and the free world. They no longer run from the past—they are using it to rewrite the future.
What your donation supports:
Education & Leadership Training Participants gain first-hand exposure to U.S. foreign policy, international human rights law, and Korean unification strategies through programs with the U.S. Government, UN, and civil society.
Global Advocacy & Testimony Participants present public testimonies at the United Nations, participate in media interviews (including C-SPAN and VOA), and engage with influential policymakers.
Healing Through Community Beyond policy, NKYLA provides emotional healing through cultural exchange and the rare experience of reclaiming their North Korean identities without fear.
Together, We Can Light a Way Forward
These youth are not running from North Korea anymore—they’re running toward a future of dignity, justice, and unification. They are no longer victims. They are the future builders of a free Korea.
Will you stand with them? Please give, share, and join the movement.
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De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
Senior Fellow, Global Peace Foundation
Editor, Small Wars Journal
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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