Let me introduce you to an acquaintance of mine, Mr. Pak (not his real name, of course). I have known him for a long time, and have even worked with him on a number of projects. I think many of you might find his life story rather interesting, though I must warn you in advance that some of the details are omitted for the sake of his personal security and the security of his family. Do not worry, though; most of what is omitted is minor.

Mr. Pak is now in his late 40s. He was born in the late 1960s into a family of well-educated, low-level elite North Koreans, and due to his academic abilities and perfect political background went to Kim Il Sung University, where he specialized in hard science.