About the author
More articles by 'Andrei Lankov'
Turning Chinese money into profit in North Korea
Ethnic Koreans from China, unlike those from Japan, capitalized on the changing economy of the ‘90s
How I became a Koreanist
Soviet academia emphasized Asian Studies in the ‘80s, and North Korea’s role was unique
The deal with Japan and the risks of honesty
N. Korea’s statements on Japanese abductions, though atrocious, have a certain rationale
The diet of the North’s new rich
Far from starving, Pyongyangites enjoy a large and diverse restaurant scene
Money matters: The three-tiered system of 1980s North Korean currency
Won came different forms, but the redder your money the better in 1980s Pyongyang
North Korea in 1984: The Fatherly Leader is watching you
Foreign students, even from Pyongyang’s supposed allies, had their activities severely curtailed in the 1980s
Fun times: How to enjoy a stay in North Korea
A few clubs, hotels, travel opportunities cater to expats facing crippling boredom
A minority in a minority: College students in 1980s North Korea
Most university students came to Pyongyang for the Korean language, but got limited interaction
Enjoying a very unusual life indeed: North Korea in 1984
Lankov says life for a foreign visitor in 1980s Pyongyang had its own pleasures, amusements
