Ask A North Korean
Your chance to ask questions to North Koreans about life growing up in the DPRK
Settling in Seoul: What is it like to speak to South Koreans about North Korea?
People in the DPRK are curious about the far wealthier South, but the interest doesn’t always go in the other direction
Ask a North Korean: How a woman’s disappearance led a family to defect
New columnist Rose writes about discovering the world via foreign media and yearning to escape a country-sized prison
Ask a North Korean: What was it like to travel abroad for the first time?
Joshua Kim writes about marveling at Incheon airport, how Vietnam reminded him of the DPRK and more
Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ
New columnist David writes about the challenges of army life and how a South Korean leaflet convinced him to defect
Ask a North Korean: What are popular sayings and proverbs in the DPRK?
Everyday expressions offer a window into how North Koreans think and see the world
Ask a North Korean: What is it like to raise a child in the DPRK?
Mothers do the best they can for their children but face challenges ranging from poor health care to paying for school
Settling in Seoul: What was your first year like after reaching South Korea?
Some adjust faster than others to a capitalist lifestyle, even when it causes tensions with those closest to us
Settling in Seoul: A North Korean surfs the internet for the first time
Online world can be overwhelming at first, but defectors quickly discover value of access to a world of information
Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think about anti-government protests?
State media reports on protests in capitalist countries, but most in DPRK can’t imagine voicing discontent with regime
Ask a North Korean: How did you learn to use a computer?
Schools provide limited computer education to most students, and buying one requires submitting to strict state controls
