Telling Tales: North Korea's Use of Re-Defectors

Background

The regime under Kim Jong-un is experiencing multiple challenges to its legitimacy, with one of the most serious being the inflow and circulation of outside information. The leadership has attempted to combat this surge of external data in various ways, including taking a more proactive stance toward perceived threats. One tactic is to use “re-defector” press conferences to shape the image of the state at home. The identity of these “re-defectors” is hotly contested; nevertheless, the idea that people might opt to “re-defect"from South Korea is a powerful element in shaping inaccurate perceptions in North Korea of life south of the DMZ.