March 19, 2024

Ask A North Korean

Your chance to ask questions to North Koreans about life growing up in the DPRK

Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans interact with nature?

Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans interact with nature?

An escapee writes about the devastation of the DPRK environment and why few people think about conservation

Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans interact with nature?
Jin March 13, 2024
Ask a North Korean: Behind the scenes of wedding shoots for the DPRK’s new rich

Ask a North Korean: Behind the scenes of wedding shoots for the DPRK’s new rich

A former videographer writes about how couples spent days filming videos before crackdown on ‘anti-socialist’ practice

Ask a North Korean: Behind the scenes of wedding shoots for the DPRK’s new rich
Rose March 7, 2024
Ask A North Korean: What games do children play in North Korea?

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: What games do children play in North Korea?
Joshua Kim February 29, 2024
Ask a North Korean: What was it like playing soccer professionally in the DPRK?

Ask a North Korean: What was it like playing soccer professionally in the DPRK?

A defector writes about his training schedule and the hurdles he faced trying to represent his country

Ask a North Korean: What was it like playing soccer professionally in the DPRK?
David February 13, 2024
Ask a North Korean: Does the DPRK have digital payment systems?

Ask a North Korean: Does the DPRK have digital payment systems?

Services have cropped up for transferring money and making payments, but distrust in banks poses obstacles to their use

Ask a North Korean: Does the DPRK have digital payment systems?
Rose February 6, 2024
Ask a North Korean: Why a DPRK laborer in Russia decided to defect

Ask a North Korean: Why a DPRK laborer in Russia decided to defect

A recent defector writes about growing disillusioned during 90s famine and how pandemic pushed him to make a break

Ask a North Korean: Why a DPRK laborer in Russia decided to defect
Jin Ju-dong January 17, 2024
Ask A North Korean: Do North Koreans celebrate Western holidays?

Ask A North Korean: Do North Koreans celebrate Western holidays?

A defector writes about her memories of festivities in the DPRK and her first experience of Valentine’s Day

Ask A North Korean: Do North Koreans celebrate Western holidays?
Rose January 9, 2024
Ask a North Korean: Do North Koreans get tattoos?

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: Do North Koreans get tattoos?
Joshua Kim January 2, 2024
Ask a North Korean: Can children in the DPRK express their creativity?

Ask a North Korean: Can children in the DPRK express their creativity?

David, who defected in 2012, writes about discovering the joys of self-expression through his work as a YouTuber

Ask a North Korean: Can children in the DPRK express their creativity?
David December 25, 2023
Ask a North Korean: What I learned from visiting a DPRK restaurant abroad

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: What I learned from visiting a DPRK restaurant abroad
Joshua Kim December 15, 2023
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