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At the start of December, about 12,000 North Korean soldiers were reported to have joined the war in Ukraine, fighting on the Russian side. At first, both Russia and North Korea denied it, but soon enough, various open-source intelligence accounts started picking up on it. Eventually, the White House and other Western officials confirmed what many had been speculating for a while—North Korea was indeed there, fighting in Europe. The full impact of this still isn’t clear, but we can make some educated guesses. These 12,000 soldiers were originally thought to be fighting in Kursk, but they’ve also turned up in Donbas. While they probably won’t change the outcome of the war, it does raise an important question: Why would Kim Jong-un send his people into a war zone where so many could end up dead? This week, I want to dive into why North Korea is getting involved in Ukraine, what they might be learning from it, and how this could affect their ongoing standoff with South Korea. Honestly, t...

In the shadowy world of North Korean politics, one name stood out—Kim Jong Nam. He was the half-brother of Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, and his life was marked by both privilege and peril. However, it was his shocking assassination that thrust him into the global spotlight, raising questions about the lengths to which the North Korean regime would go to eliminate perceived threats.  In this blog post, we will delve into the life of Kim Jong Nam, from his early years to his tragic end, examining the circumstances surrounding his assassination. Kim Jong Nam, in 2010 in Macau.  EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY Kim Jong Nam was born on May 10, 1971 in Pyongyang, North Korea. He the eldest son of Kim Jong Il, the leader of North Korea at that time, and a significant figure in the ruling Kim dynasty. Growing up amidst the corridors of power, he enjoyed a privileged upbringing, surrounded by the symbols of authority and influence. His mother was purportedly Song Hye Rim, one ...

What led to the unfortunate situation of an exceptional young man, often described as the epitome of the "all-American boy," being arrested in North Korea and eventually returning home after seventeen months in a feeble and pitiable state? We delve deep into Otto Warmbier's story, examining the transition from a trip of a lifetime to an absolute nightmare. In the first part  of this harrowing account, we explored Warmbier's background, the reasons behind his visit to North Korea, and a comprehensive examination of his arrest. The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) accused him of engaging in espionage on behalf of the United States of America. They subjected him to a farcical "kangaroo court," parading him in front of cameras as he pleaded for his life, only to then confine him in a harsh labor camp without any communication with his family for several months. What unfolded during Warmbier's time in captivity, and how did h...

In the shadows of the global stage, North Korea stands as a notorious symbol of a heartless regime, its brutal gulags, and the deplorable conditions endured by its prisoners. The haunting accounts of survivors from these harrowing "labour camps" expose a world where sadistic prison guards unleash torture, starvation, and unimaginable abuse upon helpless inmates day after day. Today, we delve into the devastating story of Otto Warmbier—a promising, young, and vibrant "All-American" college student with a future brimming with possibilities. Little did he know that his journey would take an unexpected turn when he embarked on a package tour to North Korea from China, where he was studying abroad. What transpired within the confines of the reclusive nation remains shrouded in mystery, but one undeniable truth remains: Otto returned home to Cincinnati, his beloved hometown, in a coma, tragically passing away on 19th June 2017. Did this young American student fall victim ...

The last bastions of the Iron Curtain, North Korea is run under a regime that has no parallel in the world. No other country is as oppressed, and uses methods of torture, public executions and mass famine to subdue their population into submission. The North Korean people face extreme punishments for the smallest crimes, and live in constant fear and dread that they will be thrown to a gulag, or be tortured and killed if the say the wrong thing or do something illegal. And, in the DPRK, almost everything is illegal! UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL INVESTIGATION   In 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council launched an unprecedented investigation into human rights in North Korea. The conclusion, in 2014, led to a 372 page report detailing the atrocities that the Kim regime forces on his people. The report set out to investigate the systematic, wide spread human rights abuse in nine basic areas that were identified in North Korea. These were the main categories: Violations of t...

Abductions by North Korea were never a mystery to the world. Since the 1950s, scientists, politicians and skilled workers from South Korea were often kidnapped and forced to put their knowledge to the benefit of the regime. However in 2002, under the rule of Kim Jong-Il, North Korea admitted to also being responsible for snatching unsuspecting victims from Japan, Italy, and other countries. Their disappearances and treatment shocked the world, it was something like the plot from an action movie!  In this post, we will cover the disappearance of Doina Bumbea, a Romanian painter taken from Italy, and the man who she was forced to marry, James Dresnok, a US soldier and deserter to North Korea.  JAMES JOSEPH DRESNOK  From a young age, James' life was in turmoil. He was born in Richmond, Virgina in USA on November 24, 1941. His parents were Joseph and Margaret Dresnok. They were quite poor and often fought over money. When James was younger, his mother left their fathe...