Pyongyang Chronicles: A modern-day Judas at Kim Il Sung University



Opinion Pyongyang Chronicles: A modern-day Judas at Kim Il Sung University An early friendship ends with betrayal, demonstrating how the North Korean system begets hypocrisy and doublethink Alek Sigley February 23, 2023 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Korean students in Pyongyang \| Image: NK News (Oct. 2016) The three semesters I spent as a foreign student at Kim Il Sung University were a bittersweet period in my life. Even before North Korean agents arrested me, I had mixed emotions about the country. Foreign residents in the DPRK live under stifling surveillance and a veil of suspicion. I was unable to overcome the intense system of social control, which blocks the way at every turn to prevent real, meaningful connections between foreigners and local people. The three semesters I spent as a foreign student at Kim Il Sung University were a bittersweet period in my life. Even before North Korean agents arrested me, I had mixed emotions about the country. Foreign residents in the DPRK live under stifling surveillance and a veil of suspicion. I was unable to overcome the intense system of social control, which blocks the way at every turn to prevent real, meaningful connections between foreigners and local people. Become a member for less than $5.75 per week. Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

Opinion

Pyongyang Chronicles: A modern-day Judas at Kim Il Sung University

An early friendship ends with betrayal, demonstrating how the North Korean system begets hypocrisy and doublethink

Alek Sigley February 23, 2023

Pyongyang Chronicles: A modern-day Judas at Kim Il Sung University

North Korean students in Pyongyang | Image: NK News (Oct. 2016)

The three semesters I spent as a foreign student at Kim Il Sung University were a bittersweet period in my life. Even before North Korean agents arrested me, I had mixed emotions about the country.

Foreign residents in the DPRK live under stifling surveillance and a veil of suspicion. I was unable to overcome the intense system of social control, which blocks the way at every turn to prevent real, meaningful connections between foreigners and local people.

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