The week that was: Five North Korea articles you don't want to miss To ensure you never miss out on the best NK News content, we highlight the top five most-read features and interviews of the week

Expert survey: Is China’s pull over North Korea exaggerated? By Rob York The South Korean president is warming up to her Chinese counterpart. The international community is making requests of China to take a firmer stance. Even human rights reports mention China’s repatriation policy. It would seem there is an underlying assumption behind all of these events: that China can change North Korean behavior, that it’s lack of support would be the end of the Kim regime, or at least cause it to favor the South. However, a survey of Chinese experts finds that they don’t believe China a) can make the North Koreans change course, or b) would like to see what would happen if they tried to force them to change their ways. In essence, China is as frustrated by the situation as the West, and even experts there see little in the way of resolving the matter without turning the situation dangerously unstable. In part nine of a major new NK News expert interview series, Chinese experts give their opinions.   Click here to read the full article at NK News

N.Korea’s ‘conservative’ display contrasts with past WPK celebrations By Joost Oliemans and Stijn Mitzer North Korea’s latest display of military might, in the form of a parade commemorating the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea 70 years ago, once again featured the lavish marches, hordes of armored fighting vehicles and aerial performances the international public has come to expect from the reclusive nation. Nonetheless, it was surprisingly conservative in terms of the display of radical new systems, such as the ones that stunned military analysts during the 2012 and 2013 parades. Instead, it focused on showcasing military equipment already known to be in the KPA’s (Korean People’s Army) inventory, apparently to affirm their operational capacity. This certainly seemed to be the case with the North’s gigantic KN-08 ballistic missiles (known in North Korea as the Hwasong-13), four of which could be seen during Saturday’s parade in a new army-green military camouflage different from the 2012 parade. Most notably however, the missiles which were uncovered to be non-operational mock-ups after subtle differences were noticed between different examples in previous parades, were radically modified and redesigned with an entirely new nosecone. Click here for the full article at NK News

The plot to smuggle 100 kg of ‘N. Korean’ meth into America By Oliver Hotham It was the 27th of August, and on the dock at New York City’s southern district court Scott Stammers was pleading guilty of planning to bring 100 kilograms of crystal meth – allegedly made in North Korea – into the United States. If sold on the streets, it’s estimated the drugs would have been worth $6 million. A British citizen, Stammers was on trial with his alleged accomplices in the scheme: Philip Shackels, also a Brit, Ye Tiong Tan Lim, Allan Kelly Peralta Reyes – Chinese and Filipino respectively – and Adrian Valkovic of Slovakia. All have pleaded guilty with the exception of Shackels, who is set to take the stand any day now. So who was Scott Stammers, the ringleader of this motley crew of wannabe Tony Montanas, and where did he come from? Click here for the full article at NK News

Misconception North Korea: The missing shades of gray By Oliver Hotham It’s easy to simplify the complexity of everyday life in North Korea. Coverage of the country is often mired in cliché, and often disinformation and speculation, leaving most people with a warped and simplistic understanding of the lives of the people of one of the world’s most closed off and troubled nations. All this means, unfortunately, that North Koreans are often defined purely by the actions of their government: either as brainwashed zealots or downtrodden and oppressed serfs. The truth, of course, is that the people of North Korea are people like anywhere else, with the same hopes and dreams, and that they do not so readily accept the system they live under as much as many would think. In part 10 of a major new NK News expert interview series, we spoke with seven former and current residents of the country’s capital – both foreigners and defectors – about what they believe are the most persistent misconceptions about day-to-day life in the DPRK, and how they think minds can be changed. Click here for the full article at NK News

North Koreans’ nuclear pride By Je Son Lee Every week we ask a North Korean your questions, giving you the chance to learn more about the country we know so little about. This week’s question is: What do ordinary North Koreans think of the regime’s nuclear tests and possession of nuclear weapons? Do they just act as if they support the regime’s decision because they have no other choice while secretly disapproving of it? No, to my knowledge most ordinary North Koreans don’t have negative opinions of the regime’s nuclear program. When I was still living in North Korea, the regime had a successful nuclear test. People were very proud of it. We once had a town hall meeting where my neighbors talked about how the U.S. could not boss us around anymore. Most North Koreans are very aware of the fact that other countries make fun of and look down upon North Korea.  Click here for the full article at NK News