About the author
More articles by 'Joshua Kim'
Ask a North Korean: How did you experience the seasons in the DPRK?
Each season brings new challenges, especially for farmers, as the state promotes ‘battles’ to achieve grain targets
Ask a North Korean: Does North Korea really carry out public executions?
A defector writes about witnessing someone sentenced to death and why the regime ‘kills the chicken to warn the monkey’
Ask a North Korean: What are working hours like in the DPRK?
The state frames labor as a form of war and gives workers little rest, wringing out everything it can from citizens
Ask a North Korean: What games do children play in North Korea?
A defector writes about the popularity of card, board and smartphone games and why he used to love flying kites
Ask a North Korean: Do North Koreans get tattoos?
Ink is common among older generations, but usually as a way to show loyalty rather than as a form of self-expression
Ask a North Korean: What I learned from visiting a DPRK restaurant abroad
A defector writes about his surreal meal at a North Korean restaurant in Laos and how it led him to reflect on his life
Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans think about sexual and gender identity?
The regime does not acknowledge gay and transgender people, but that does not mean they don’t exist 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
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: 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
