The world must expand its channels of communication with North Koreans working overseas to prevent human rights abuse.

In mid-November 2023, Daily NK posted a banner ad on our website that said, “We want to hear from North Koreans living overseas.” A number of North Korean workers who saw the  banner emailed us directly about the despicable behavior of a state security officer in Russia. Specifically, the officer was accused of demanding money from workers and taking away their cell phones, claiming they were watching South Korean news or dramas. 

After Daily NK released the article, however, the North Korean government response was disappointing: Instead of punishing the state security officer in question, the North Korean authorities sought to reassure him, and the incident was used as grounds to increase surveillance and oppression of workers in Russia. 

Read more: thediplomat.com

Photo: thediplomat.com