Junior researcher working on North Korea’s historical presence in Africa

ASCL junior researcher Tycho van der Hoog (graduate of the Research Master African Studies) is developing his own research program on North Korea’s historical presence in Africa. Contrary to popular belief, North Korea has had a decade-long presence in the African continent. The friendly ties were developed during Africa’s liberation struggles, when North Korea supported various armed independence movements. Today, numerous African countries offer North Korea political support, engage in military cooperation or import North Korean forced laborers to construct national monuments, museums and other government buildings. Tycho van der Hoog is applying for the NWO fund ‘Research Talent’.

Tycho is currently developing the North Korea in Africa Database, an open access database that will contain all vital details on bilateral relations between African countries and the DPRK. This online project is hosted by the ASCL and comprises data on diplomatic ties, military cooperation and construction work executed by North Korean forced laborers.

Read an interview with Tycho on the Leiden University website.