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Artwork for North Korea News Podcast by NK News

North Korea News Podcast by NK News

NK News
North Korea
South Korea
Kim Jong Un
Russia
Ukraine
China
United States
Kim Jong-Un
Korean Peninsula
Lee Jae-Myung
Donald Trump
Nuclear Weapons
Korean War
North Korean Defectors
Unification
Demilitarized Zone
North Korean Human Rights
Kim Il-Sung
United Nations
Pyongyang

The NK News Podcast is a weekly program covering all things North Korea: Discussion on the latest news, extended interviews with leading specialists, and insight from our own staff. We welcome both generalist and specialist audiences interested in knowing more about the Korean Peninsula. The full podcast is available to NK News subscribers.Sign up today at NK News

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for North Korea News Podcast by NK News

Latest Episodes

Editor’s note: This interview was recorded in July 2026. Some references to recent events and political developments reflect the situation at the time of recording and may differ from subsequent developments. German political scientist Carlo Masala j... more

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NK News Correspondent Joon Ha Park joins the podcast this week to discuss his exclusive interview with Canada’s Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan on what North Korea is gaining from its military cooperation with Russia and how Canada co... more

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Edward Goldring, senior lecturer in political science at the University of Melbourne and author of the new book “Purges: How Dictators Fight to Survive,” joins the podcast to discuss why authoritarian leaders remove senior officials and what those pu... more

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NK News Correspondent Joon Ha Park and Michael Bosack, former deputy secretary of the U.N. Command Military Armistice Commission, join the podcast this week to discuss the Sept. 21 landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), what investigator... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Edward Goldring
Senior lecturer in political science at the University of Melbourne and author of Purges: How Dictators Fight to Survive
University of Melbourne
Episode: Edward Goldring on the logic behind North Korea’s elite purges
Michael Bosack
Former Deputy Secretary of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission; founder of Parlay Policy Institute
Parlay Policy Institute
Episode: North Korean mine blast, disputed intent and the risk of escalation at the DMZ
Joon Ha Park
NK News correspondent who joined in-studio to discuss the incident
NK News
Episode: North Korean mine blast, disputed intent and the risk of escalation at the DMZ
Kenneth Bae
Korean American missionary and former North Korea detainee
New Korea Hope Broadcasting / New Korea Foundation International
Episode: Kenneth Bae on surviving North Korean detention: North Korea Unpacked
Joseph Kim
North Korean defector and program manager for global policy at the George W. Bush Institute
George W. Bush Institute
Episode: Joseph Kim on why North Korea is changing beyond Kim Jong Un
Colin Zwirko
NK News Senior Analytical Correspondent
NK News
Episode: North Korea’s attack drill, Wonsan Kalma slowdown and Google’s blurry maps
Anton Sokolin
NK News data correspondent
NK News
Episode: Russia bridge opens, Songdowon sanctions and North Korea’s forgotten UK insurer
Sun Kim
Co-director of North South Man Woman
North South Man Woman (co-director)
Episode: Sun Kim on documenting North Korean women, matchmaking and marriage
Kathi Zellweger
Swiss humanitarian worker, author
Miss Kathi Saving Lives in North Korea (book)
Episode: Trump’s outreach, Seoul’s dilemma and lessons from decades inside the DPRK

Hosts

Alannah Hill
Host with NK News/NK Pro affiliations; central figure across episodes.
Jacco Zwetsloot
Host of North Korea-focused program; lead interviewer and analyst.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 593 ratings
  • Jacko is the Best

    This show is unique and the host is excellent at getting fascinating guests and interviewing them. I have learned so much about the DPRK. Love the roundtable of reporters also.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cesare Beccaria
    United States2 years ago
  • Jeongmin Kim is fantastic

    The entire podcast is great, but Jeongmin Kim really stands out when she’s on. She is very well spoken and fantastic at explaining things and providing commentary. She would make a great lead host for the podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amelialanb
    United States2 years ago
  • Backseat “Journalists”

    Who talk about reports, which are none. Pretty ridiculous stories and conclusions.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nickhjj
    Germany2 years ago
  • I'm always a fan of Kim Jong Un and North Korea -- there is no other credentialed leader of our time.

    Podchaser
    5
    Tara Ray
    2 years ago
  • Such good info, room for sound quality improvement

    I love this show. I’m a lay person who is interested in North Korea and I listen to this show start to finish every week. So well done and a good mix of wonky stuff with super accessible info.

    But can we get Jacko a good mic for when he’s doing interviews from home? They’re not that spendy and the sound quality is so bad when he does interviews outside the studio.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boo 5769
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, well-researched interviews with strong guests.
Some episodes feel very host-driven; would appreciate more diverse guest voices.
High-quality analysis and on-the-ground reporting resonate with experts.
Consistently deep, nuanced coverage that goes beyond basics.
Sound quality and production are strong; hosts ask thoughtful questions.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Edward Goldring on the logic behind North Korea’s elite purges
Q: What stops a purge from creating exactly the coup threat that it's supposed to prevent?
Goldring says purges can provoke coup attempts, but he found little evidence that early purges of military elites generally lead to successful blowback. Unsuccessful attempts can instead enable further purges and consolidation, although retaliation and conflict remain possible.
Edward Goldring on the logic behind North Korea’s elite purges
Q: What actually counts as a purge for you?
Goldring defines an elite purge as a dictator removing someone from their inner circle, leaving that person without positions that qualify them for membership. The removal can be nonviolent or violent.
Jerome Sauvage on North Korea’s crises, contradictions and quiet moments
Q: What was your first impression of Pyongyang and how did it evolve?
The city seemed modern at first glance, but beneath the surface there was a noticeable lack of everyday life activity; over time the facade revealed deeper constraints and the importance of looking beyond the surface to understand daily realities.
Jerome Sauvage on North Korea’s crises, contradictions and quiet moments
Q: What drew you to accept a posting in North Korea despite the risks?
Two reasons: a longstanding interest in Asian authoritarian regimes and the belief that UNDP's work could have meaningful impact where major players are not present, enabling development that is not tied to Western funding leverages.
Rudiger Frank on North Korea’s hidden middle class: North Korea Unpacked
Q: What is the most important lesson observers should take from decades of engagement and sanctions?
The lesson is not that engagement or pressure failed; rather, North Korea's economy and society function very differently, and the middle class emerged through monetization, making future reforms and external cooperation more likely as the regime recognizes the need for outside inputs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About North Korea News Podcast by NK News

What is North Korea News Podcast by NK News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show focuses on North Korea, its economy, diplomacy, security dynamics, and society, anchored by extended interviews with researchers, policymakers, and on-the-ground reporters. Episodes balance deep dives into historical context (from currency reforms to armistice diplomacy) with high-frequency analysis of current events, sanctions, and regional geopolitics, often featuring expert guests and correspondents who provide on-the-ground perspectives. A notable strength is the breadth of guest profiles—from former diplomats and military officers to scholars and NK-centric analysts—paired with rigorous reporting and satellite/contextual data to ground discussions. Listeners are likely drawn to nuanced, research-driven coverage that connects ... more

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3. Pekingology
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North Korea News Podcast by NK News launched 9 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on North Korea News Podcast by NK News?

Recent guests on North Korea News Podcast by NK News include:

1. Edward Goldring
2. Michael Bosack
3. Joon Ha Park
4. Kenneth Bae
5. Joseph Kim
6. Colin Zwirko
7. Anton Sokolin
8. Sun Kim

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