N.D. Cent. Code § 32-18-03
Notice of cancellation shall be served upon the vendee or purchaser, or the vendee's or purchaser's assigns, in the manner provided for the service of a summons in the district court of this state, if the person to be served resides within the state. If such vendee or purchaser, or such vendee's or purchaser's assigns, as the case may be, resides without the state or cannot be found therein, of which fact the return of the sheriff of the county in which said real estate is situated that such person cannot be found in the sheriff's county shall be prima facie evidence, then such notice shall be served by the publication thereof in a legal newspaper within said county, or, if there is no legal newspaper within said county, then in a newspaper published in an adjoining county and having a general circulation in the county, once each week for three successive weeks.
N.D.C.C. § 32-18-03