Author Archive

Righteousness and Punishment: Xu Kunlin and Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Drive in Liaoning

By and | February 21, 2026

Liaoning party chief makes mark in border province with DPRK.

RG242 Files: The Day Kim Il-sung’s Voice Fell Silent

By | January 24, 2026

Pyongyang’s early radio station blacked out part of a speech by the North Korean leader, resulting in dismissals from the Party, and tighter controls.

Reading Rodong Sinmun, in South Korea

By | January 09, 2026

After decades of restrictions on North Korean literature, the ROK government has initiated reforms on the WPK’s flagship newspaper as it seeks to engage Pyongyang.

Smuggling and Border Security in Hunchun

By and | January 06, 2026

Hunchun in Jilin province has stepped up border security and anti-smuggling operations on its North Korea frontier.

RG242 Files: Rare Early Political Prisoner Data from North Korea

By | December 16, 2025

NARA file from 1947 offers unique official snapshot of political detainees in early North Korea under Soviet rule, the origin of persistent rights abuses today.