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The world’s fascination with North Korea is in inverse proportion to what we know about this “hermit kingdom”.
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Propaganda portrays a brave and glorious nation, once ravaged by American aggression, still defending itself against hostile forces under the devoted care of the Kim family. Kim Jong-un, the youthful inheritor of this personality cult, is portrayed hugging children, greeting troops and opening ambitious construction projects.
To critics it is at best a “Stalinist theme park”; at worst, a nuclear pariah and a “hell on earth” when it comes to human rights. A recent UN report has detailed decades of grave abuses.
Its population is half that of South Korea; its economy a fraction the size. Yet it is a persistent headache for the world’s most powerful nations. It has detonated three nuclear devices, with a fourth test is expected soon; yet it cannot feed its people adequately.
Because information is so tightly controlled, vast swathes of life in North Korea remain a mystery. Statistics are scant and unreliable. Much of what we know about the Kim family comes from the reminiscences of a personal sushi chef.
Yet it is an increasingly porous place. As the work of our network partners demonstrates, we are learning more about its society, economy and culture than ever before. By shining a light on one of the world’s least understood regions, the Guardian’s new North Korea network will provide new insights into the lives of the 25 million people who call this secretive place home.
Meet our partners
Our network of partners provide unique reporting and analysis about the state of North Korea today. Some report on the latest developments, such as NK News, a specialist site focused on news, data and opinion, and Daily NK, whose reporters are North Korean defectors, South Korean democracy activists and international researchers. Sino NK publishes articles from academics specialising in North Korea’s relations with its border countries; North Korea Leadership watch focuses on politics and the people at the heart of the Kim regime. North Korea Tech is dedicated to reporting on IT and internet coverage across the country (“yes, it does exist”). North Korea: Witness to transformation, a blog supported by the Peterson Institute, provides analysis of economic, political and social change. The Conversation is an independent hub of of news and opinion, sourced from academic experts, and The Choson Exchange is an organisation working inside North Korea to educate young professionals.
We’ll also feature articles from the Guardian's own correspondents, commission exclusive pieces from regional experts and provide plenty of opportunities for readers to get involved to help us expand coverage of this remarkable nation.
The mythbuster – submit your burning questions
Are all North Korean students forced to get Kim Jong-un’s haircut? Did Pyongyang send drones to spy on Seoul? Was Kim Jong-il really afraid of flying?
So much is unknown about the Pyongyang regime, and speculation often fills the void. We want your help to sort the facts from fiction. Do you have a myth you’d like us to try and debunk? Or a question you’ve always wanted to ask? Get in touch and let us know.
You can also follow the Guardian North Korea network on Twitter @GuardianNK and keep up-to-date with our partners on Twitter.
