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More articles by 'Jin'
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: 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 snacks are most popular in the DPRK?
The state gives out low-quality sweets on major holidays, but what people really covet are imported treats from abroad
Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans think of foreign countries?
Schools teach very little about the outside world as Kim regime focuses on nurturing pride for the DPRK above all
Ask a North Korean: What are the most popular university majors?
Most North Koreans have little choice over their course of study, unless they can pay hefty bribes
Ask a North Korean: What are weddings like in the DPRK?
Ceremonies are simple affairs quite different from those in South, while food is an important part of the ritual
Ask a North Korean: What is beach culture like in North Korea?
Much like people around the world, North Koreans like to eat, drink and play at the beach. The problem is getting there.
Ask a North Korean: How do you move to a new house in the DPRK?
North Koreans can only move under specific circumstances, and even then finding affordable housing is nigh impossible
Ask a North Korean: The long, dangerous journey to freedom in the South
The final chapter in a harrowing escape from North Korea that forced one defector to leave her child and husband behind
Ask a North Korean: How bright lights in China inspired a defection
‘You cannot change where you were born, but you can choose where you live’