An Interview with Kim, Hyun Woo, Former DPRK Agent

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the US-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance. To commemorate this partnership formed for the greater good, join us for an unprecedented discussion with a former North Korean agent.

International Spy Museum Historian and Curator Dr. Andrew Hammond will interview Kim, Hyun Woo about his extraordinary journey from North Korean agent to Senior fellow of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in the ROK. Kim worked for the National Security Agency, DPRK—North Korea’s Counterintelligence Agency—from 1998 to 2014. How did he break away from the country of his birth and become a resource for the INSS where he has worked since 2015? This organization has for more than 40 years been dedicated to intensive studies on unification, international relations, and security issues in order to ensure Korean national security. The INSS has more recently expanded its focus and scope of research to the field of global terrorism and cyber security while strengthening the existing research capability on traditional security issues. What insight does Kim’s time in the DPRK bring to this mission? What does he imagine the future holds for the DPRK and its relationship to the rest of the world? Kim’s unique viewpoint will inform this timely and wide-ranging conversation exploring the truth about North Korean capabilities and intentions.

This program is in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.