Best Pyongyang Podcasts (2025)

1
Is North Korean Denuclearization Dead? 44:30

Play Pause

16d ago44:30

44:30

On this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderates a discussion with Amb. Cho Byung Jae and Dr. Jun Bong-geun on North Korea’s nuclear program and the future of diplomacy. The episode explores Pyongyang’s constitutional embrace of nuclear weapons, Seoul’s E.N.D. initiative to revive dialogue, and President Trump’s push for summitry.…

1
Seoul floats scaling back US-ROK drills, and proposes talks with North Korea

1M ago

—

This week, NK News correspondent Joon Ha Park joins the podcast to recap a week’s worth of news from Seoul and Pyongyang, starting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s comments about potentially scaling back joint military exercises with the U.S. to support diplomacy with North Korea. He talks about how previous progressive governments, such…

1
What Does China Want? 38:03

1M ago38:03

38:03

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Zenobia Chan, and Ms. Henrietta Levin discussed whether China is a status quo power with limited global aims, or a revisionist state with goals of expanding power and reshaping the global international order, and more.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Evil Corp: 6. Fatherland 1:08:16

1M ago1:08:16

1:08:16

Investigators hunting for Maksim Yakubets, allege he is working with the FSB – Russia’s security agency. They say the Evil Corp gang has stolen more than $100m from at least 300 victim organisations in 43 countries - but who is the powerful man in Moscow said to be protecting Maksim, their alleged leader? We follow his family’s journey from a humbl…

1
Elizabeth Campbell: Behind the scenes of North Korea’s Hollywood dreams

1M ago

—

Dr. Elizabeth Campbell, a visiting scholar at Korea University’s Research Institute of Korean Studies, joins the podcast to discuss all things North Korean film — from former leader Kim Jong Il’s love of foreign cinema to what is arguably the country’s most famous movie, “The Flower Girl.” She sheds light on the second Kim leader’s […]…

1
Russian firms in Pyongyang, North Koreans in Kursk and a prize for Kim Jong Un

1M ago

—

This week, NK News Data Correspondent Anton Sokolin joins the podcast to discuss Russian participation in North Korea’s fall trade fair and the latest in the two sides’ military cooperation over the war in Ukraine. He talks about how over a dozen Russian commercial firms hawked their electronics and foods in Pyongyang last month, as […]…

1
Evil Corp: 5. Game over 45:26

1M ago45:26

45:26

As the cyber criminals reinvent themselves, FBI Special Agent Keith Mularski goes undercover to infiltrate the operation. But as kingpin Tank is finally arrested, another leader rises with the creation of a new crew: Evil Corp. The group’s alleged leader, Maksim Yakubets, would go on to steal millions using “one of the most prolific and successful …

1
South Korea’s Nuclear Submarine Deal: What’s Next? 37:39

1M ago37:39

37:39

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Kang Choi, and Dr. Beomchul Shin discussed the outcomes of the APEC meetings, South Korea’s nuclear submarine deal with the United States, and potential next steps.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
How Seoul and Kyiv can join forces to counter North Korea-Russia military ties

1M ago

—

This week, a former Ukrainian lawmaker and a Ukrainian military official join the podcast to discuss North Korea’s support of Russian forces, and why this poses a threat to South Korea’s security. Dr. Hanna Hopko, co-founder of the International Center of Ukrainian Victory, and Ukrainian National Guard Lt. Volodymyr Vernygora examine the evolving D…

1
Death of a North Korean official, and the mystery around Pyongyang Papers

1M ago

—

This week, NK News founder Chad O’Carroll joins the podcast to discuss the life of Kim Yong Nam, the longtime No. 2 in North Korea’s leadership who died this month at 97. He also unravels the mystery behind Pyongyang Papers, the website that anonymously published information on North Korea’s sanctions-evading network before disappearing without war…

1
Evil Corp: 4. The insider 32:51

2M ago32:51

32:51

A cyber-crime kingpin in a US prison speaks for the first time. How did he dodge the FBI when they came to his home? And how did he and his alleged crime gang steal millions of dollars from their victims? We learn that Jabber Zeus boss Tank had friends in high political places in Ukraine – and a budding young business associate in Russia. Hosted by…

1
Maarten Jongsma: Growing potatoes, and partnerships, in North Korea

2M ago

—

Maarten Jongsma, a senior researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, joins the podcast to discuss his years of collaboration with North Korean agricultural scientists and efforts to help improve potato cultivation in the DPRK. He shares his recollections from his multiple visits to North Korea between 2004 and 2012, describing the coun…

1
How North Korea impacted the APEC summit from afar

2M ago

—

This week, three members of the NK News team unpack their time at the APEC summit in Gyeongju and discuss how North Korea featured in the week’s diplomatic drama. Despite high expectations, U.S. President Donald Trump did not meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his trip to Korea, though Pyongyang still loomed large […]…

1
Evil Corp: 3. Agents on the doorstep 29:32

2M ago29:32

29:32

The net tightens on the Jabber Zeus crew. Police and intelligence services across borders are poised to synchronise raids, but cops in London are thrown a last-minute curveball that could see the whole operation implode. Meanwhile, tales of Tank’s past emerge - and his former life as club DJ Slava Rich. But as FBI agents working in Ukraine brace to…

1
Bong Seung Shin: How a South Korean journalist reported from inside the North

2M ago

—

In this episode, veteran KBS journalist Bong Seung Shin shares his experience reporting from North Korea and communicating with journalists on the ground in the country. Shin first traveled to Pyongyang in 2008, crossing the demilitarized zone by air as part of a trip organized by an NGO. He describes the excitement of entering North […]…

1
US-North Korea summit prospects, a new envoy in Seoul and Kim’s cemetery visit

2M ago

—

NK News founder Chad O’Carroll joins the podcast this week to unpack the busy week ahead on the Korean Peninsula as APEC kicks off and U.S. President Donald Trump heads to South Korea. He discusses the growing speculation over whether Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the first time in over […]…

1
Evil Corp: 2. Into the storm 34:07

2M ago34:07

34:07

A rookie FBI agent is swept up in a case that goes from Main St, USA, to the UK, Ukraine and Russia. Cyber-crime victims are everywhere. This is way bigger than Jim Craig thought. He travels to Ukraine to meet his counterparts. Over vodka and fine food in a dacha in the Ukrainian forest, they make a plan to go after the suspected cyber hackers. Hos…

1
Remco Breuker: How North Korea built illicit networks that outlasted sanctions

2M ago

—

This week, historian Remco Breuker explores how Pyongyang has built illicit networks that operate far beyond its borders to oversee labor exports, arrange business deals and traffic arms. He reflects on the collapse of the U.N. Panel of Experts that once tracked sanctions violations, warning that the world has lost a vital mechanism for understandi…

1
Upcoming U.S.-ROK Summit and the Future of Inter-Korean Engagement 38:39

2M ago38:39

38:39

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Andrew Yeo, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed the future of inter-Korean engagement, the upcoming APEC meetings, and the upcoming summit meeting between Presidents Trump and Lee.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
Evil Corp: 1. Zeus 38:40

2M ago38:40

38:40

Moscow drag racers, an opulent Russian wedding and a malware code named after the Greek god of thunder - how do they all connect? A cyber-sleuth and “dark hero of the internet” Lawrence Baldwin sees signs of an emerging underworld. As money vanishes from accounts across the US, Lawrence follows the trail, infiltrating the gang - holding out for clu…

1
Evil Corp: Trailer 4:21

2M ago4:21

4:21

Accused of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars – Russia’s most wanted hackers. Just who are Evil Corp? In season 3 of Cyber Hack, we follow the years’ long trail with investigators as they try to track down the man alleged to be at the centre of it all, hacker Maksim Yakubets. Follow or subscribe to Cyber Hack, so you never miss an episode.…

1
What to Expect? New Leadership in Japan 41:37

2M ago41:37

41:37

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. James Brady, and Mr. Tobias Harris discussed the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sanae Takaichi—who is likely to become the next prime minister following a parliamentary vote in mid-October—as well as trilateral relations among the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, foreign po…

1
The Lazarus Heist S2: A message to listeners 1:05

2M ago1:05

1:05

A message from Geoff White on changes you'll see to The Lazarus Heist podcast feed, which will now be called Cyber Hack, from the BBC World Service. From this point on we're giving all series of this podcast the over-arching name of Cyber Hack. But don't worry, series 1 and 2 will remain as The Lazarus Heist, co-hosted by Geoff and Jean Lee. And th…

1
President Lee's First 100 Days 43:13

3M ago43:13

43:13

By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
S3, Ep 8: General Butt Naked - From Cannibal Warlord to Preacher 48:30

3M ago48:30

48:30

Send us a text In this episode, we speak with Joshua Milton Blahyi, better known to the world as General Butt Naked, one of the most feared rebel commanders of Liberia’s brutal civil war, which ravaged the country from 1989 to 1997. Once infamous for his violent tactics and ruthless reputation, Blahyi has since turned his life toward faith, preachi…

1
Trump and the Autocratic Axis 45:29

3M ago45:29

45:29

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Patricia Kim, and Dr. Thomas Wright discussed the growing cooperation among the autocratic countries of China, Russia, and North Korea as they push back against U.S. influence and the U.S.-led international order; the strategies the United States might leverage to counter this bloc; the implications for U.S. policy and its allie…

1
Is China Eating Our Lunch? 35:36

3M ago35:36

35:36

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Ely Ratner, and Mr. Scott Snyder discussed two of China’s major diplomatic events—the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and the Victory Day Parade—as well as the Xi-Putin-Kim meeting, Kim Ju Ae's international debut, the growing alignment of hostile actors, and what all these developments mean for the Korean Peninsu…

1
S3, Ep 7: Bougainville - Culture, Conflict, and the Path to a New Nation 31:03

4M ago31:03

31:03

Send us a text Recorded during our recent trip to Bougainville - a corner of the pacific some say will soon become the world’s 194th country. From WWII relics and island villages to the Tama Festival and even a visit to the Twin Kingdom of Me’ekamui and Papaala, YPT’s latest visit went deeper than ever before. In this episode, YPT co-founder Gareth…

1
Are allies or autocrats managing Trump better? 28:02

4M ago28:02

28:02

This episode is a special crossover with our CSIS sister podcast, State of Play. After a busy month of U.S. diplomacy, Victor Cha and Max Bergmann join Will to discuss what East Asian and European allies are learning about summits with President Trump and what patterns are emerging about how President Trump engages with autocrats. "⁠Statesmen’s For…

1
The Lazarus Heist S2: Special: The biggest heist yet 55:45

4M ago55:45

55:45

$1.5 billion disappears in minutes. But what follows reveals North Korea’s expanding reach — from elite hackers to soldiers on the battlefield. The audacious attack was on the ByBit crypto exchange in February 2025. Investigators say North Korean hackers the Lazarus Group are responsible – the biggest heist in the history of crypto. With our hosts …

1
The Trump-South Korea Trade Deal: Who Wins? 32:48

5M ago32:48

32:48

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Yoojin Kim, Dr. Philip Luck, and Mr. Bill Reinsch discussed the implications of this major trade development, including its impact on U.S.–South Korea economic ties; the outlook for allied investment in critical sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, steel, and shipbuilding; and the broader geopolitical dy…

1
US-South Korea Trade Deal and Alliance Modernization? 34:32

5M ago34:32

34:32

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed prospects for a U.S.-South Korea trade deal before the end of the August 1 pause on 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Korea, and ways to modernize the 72-year old alliance under the new Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump administrations, and more.…

1
Special Conversation with Senator Andy Kim 33:06

6M ago33:06

33:06

Join us for a bonus episode of the Impossible State Live podcast, recorded during the Looking Forward: The Future of United States–Japan–Korea Trilateral Relations event on June 18, 2025. Senator Andy Kim engaged in a conversation with Victor Cha to discuss the key challenges and opportunities across various sectors that will shape the future of tr…

1
S3, Ep 6: Lebanon Unveiled - Navigating History, Culture, and Resilience 32:25

6M ago32:25

32:25

Send us a text Join Caitlin Graham, YPT's Middle East and Central Asia Manager, as she explores the complex history of Lebanon from the heart of Beirut. In this episode, Caitlin interviews our local guide, Mira, who shares invaluable insights into Lebanon's rich tapestry of cultures and religions, shaped by centuries of diverse influences. As Leban…

1
Getting Started: The New Lee Jae-myung Government 34:35

6M ago34:35

34:35

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Jake Kwon, and Mr. Wonchul Kim discussed recent political developments under President Lee’s administration, outcomes of the G7 Summit, and the future direction of U.S.–ROK and U.S.–ROK–Japan relations.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

1
South Korea's New President 43:45

7M ago43:45

43:45

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Pacheco Pardo, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed South Korea’s new president, the foreign policy challenges facing the incoming administration, and the implications of the election for U.S.–ROK relations and the broader Indo-Pacific region.By CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies