SpyCast

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


Listen Later

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*

                Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

                ...more
                View all episodesView all episodes
                Download on the App Store

                SpyCastBy SpyCast

                • 4.4
                • 4.4
                • 4.4
                • 4.4
                • 4.4

                4.4

                1,467 ratings


                More shows like SpyCast

                View all
                The Truth of the Matter by CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

                The Truth of the Matter

                274 Listeners

                War on the Rocks by Ryan Evans

                War on the Rocks

                1,083 Listeners

                Modern War Institute by Modern War Institute at West Point

                Modern War Institute

                766 Listeners

                Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence by Secrets & Spies

                Secrets and Spies Podcast: Current Affairs | Geopolitics | Intelligence

                268 Listeners

                Darknet Diaries by Jack Rhysider

                Darknet Diaries

                7,876 Listeners

                Cold War Conversations by Ian Sanders

                Cold War Conversations

                447 Listeners

                The Team House by dee takos

                The Team House

                1,777 Listeners

                True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics by SPYSCAPE

                True Spies: Espionage | Investigation | Crime | Murder | Detective | Politics

                1,960 Listeners

                In Moscow's Shadows by Mark Galeotti

                In Moscow's Shadows

                360 Listeners

                Irregular Warfare Podcast by Irregular Warfare Initiative

                Irregular Warfare Podcast

                391 Listeners

                SpyTalk by SpyTalk, Jeff Stein

                SpyTalk

                204 Listeners

                Global Security Briefing by The Royal United Services Institute

                Global Security Briefing

                21 Listeners

                SPYCRAFT 101 by Justin Black

                SPYCRAFT 101

                320 Listeners

                NatSec Matters by Beacon Global Strategies LLC

                NatSec Matters

                247 Listeners

                The Spy Who by Wondery

                The Spy Who

                548 Listeners