"The North Korean Defector" – with Former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo

SpyCast

Education, News, History

4.4 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 20 June 2023

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Summary This week on SpyCast, Andrew (Twitter; LinkedIn) is joined by former DPRK Agent Kim, Hyun Woo. This is the first time Dr. Kim has stepped out from the shadows to speak. *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* What You’ll Learn Intelligence The organizational structure of North Korean intelligence The journey of a defector The training and skills needed to be a DPRK agent North Korean intelligence priorities in the East Reflections Bravery and courage in the face of danger State conformity vs. Personal convictions And much, much more … Quote of the Week “When I envision reunification, I am envisioning reunified Korea under a liberal democratic system as opposed to say, unified Korea under a more North Korean system – That I oppose. My desire is that in a unified Korea, even North Korean populous or population living in northern parts of the Korean Peninsula will be guaranteed fundamental, standard rights as humans.” – Agent Kim, Hyun Woo. Resources SURFACE SKIM *SpyCasts* Spies: The Epic Intelligence War Between East vs. West with Calder Walton (2023) The Counterintelligence Chief with FBI Assistant Director Alan Kohler (2023) The Counterterrorism and Counter WMD Strategist with Dexter Ingram (2022) Becoming a Russian Intelligence Officer with Janosh Neumann (2022) *Beginner Resources* The Current Situation in North Korea, United States Institute for Peace (2022) [Fact sheet] A Brief History of North Korea in 3 Minutes, G. Willson, New York Magazine (2017) [3 min. video] *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE* DEEPER DIVE Books Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer’s Insights, J. H. Pak (Ballantine Books, 2020) The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future, V. Cha (Ecco, 2018) In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom, Y. Park (Penguin Books, 2015) Korea’s Place in the Sun: A Modern History, B. Cumings (W.W. Norton, 2005) Primary Sources Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un Delivers Speech at Military Parade, KCNA Watch (2020) Key Issue Paper for Secretary of State-designate Madeleine Albright, Subject: Korean Peninsula Issues, National Security Archive (1994) China: Potential Response to Korean Contingencies, DIA Special Report, National Security Archive (1994) DPRK: Slow-Motion Succession: the Secretary’s Morning Intelligence Summary, National Security Archive (1994) Protocol for the Phased Withdrawal of Troops (First Draft), Wilson Center (1954) Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea, US Forces Korea (1953) Statement by President Syngman Rhee, Wilson Center (1953) Congratulatory Message [from Mao Zedong] to the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, Wilson Center (1953) Telegram from Stalin to Mao Zedong, Wilson Center (1952) Cable Nos. 408-410, Shtykov to Vyshinsky, Wilson Center (1950) Statement by the President, Truman on Korea, Wilson Center (1950) *Wildcard Resource* Inspired by Dr. Kim’s love for Sherlock Holmes: His Last Bow is the last chronological short story installment of the Sherlock Holmes series. In this story, Sherlock tracks down a German spy during the First World War! *EXTENDED SHOW NOTES & FULL TRANSCRIPT HERE*

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the CyberWire Network, powered by N2K.
0:11.0	Welcome to Spycast.
0:15.0	The official podcast of the International Spy Museum.
0:19.0	I'm your host, Dr. Andrew Hammond, the museum's historian and curator.
0:23.0	Each week we explore some aspect of the world of intelligence and espionage.
0:28.0	It's past, it's present, or its future.
0:32.0	Coming up next on Spycast.
0:35.0	One major difference between how NSA agent is being trained in North Korea
0:41.0	compared to other intelligence agents in different countries may be
0:45.0	that North Korea is rigorous in teaching ideological education through its agents.
0:51.0	It is fundamental and basic curriculum for all NSA agents
0:57.0	to be taught the principles of Kim Il Songism and Kim Jong-ilism.
1:11.0	This week's guest is a double rarity.
1:13.0	A North Korean defector and one who has come out from the shadows after nine years of silence.
1:20.0	In 2014 Kim Yong-woo was recalled back to his country from his tour in Beijing.
1:26.0	He traveled south to the border with North Korea, but he suddenly stopped.
1:32.0	He realized that if he went home, he would most probably be perched.
1:37.0	A euphemism for executed.
1:40.0	Since he had found himself on the wrong side of a violent power struggle
1:44.0	at the very heart of North Korean intelligence.
1:47.0	He decided to go back to the Chinese capital, gather his immediate family, and go on the run.
1:54.0	Defecting to South Korea.
	...

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