Ask A North Korean
Your chance to ask questions to North Koreans about life growing up in the DPRK
Ask a North Korean: What is it like to serve in North Korea’s army reserves?
All men must enlist in local forces in case of the outbreak of war, and training is often brutal and unpredictable
Settling in Seoul: What a North Korean escapee thinks of South Korean politics
DPRK’s ‘revolutionary’ politics left no room for choice, but ROK’s democratic system can be bewildering for defectors
Ask a North Korean: What do socialism and capitalism mean to you?
A defector shares what DPRK taught him about equality and how living in South Korea has shaped his views on capitalism
Ask a North Korean: What is it like to be a musician in North Korea?
Artists have little say over what they perform, and they must make immense personal sacrifices to practice their craft
Ask a North Korean: What are self-criticism sessions really like?
Joshua Kim explains why citizens must criticize themselves and others and gives an example of what this looks like
Ask a North Korean: What’s different about food in North and South Korea?
Most in DPRK worry about whether they can eat rather than what, but some dishes still elicit nostalgia for defectors
Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think about war?
The DPRK extols its ‘victory’ in Korean War, but ordinary soldiers must confront harsh reality of potential conflict
Settling in Seoul: The movies and books that influenced a North Korean escapee
The Kim regime heavily restricts artists, but South Korean culture shines a light on what the Koreas share in common
Ask a North Korean: Are alcoholism and drunk driving major problems in the DPRK?
The regime treats drinking as a ‘political cancer,’ but alcohol is the only way for many to escape their harsh reality
Ask a North Korean: What did state propaganda teach you about love?
While praising sacrificial love between comrades, schools discourage romance and treat it as taboo
