On April 18th, NKnet invited former gulag prisoner Mr. Kang Chol-hwan to speak about recent political and social developments in North Korea. Kang is known well for his book “The Aquariums of Pyongyang,” in which he described his experiences growing up in a North Korean political prison camp. Rather than talking about his internment at the Yoduk political prison camp, Kang provided the audience with an insightful narrative on North Korea’s development over the past 20 years.

Early on in his remarks, Kang reminded the audience of Hwang Jang-yeop’s story – a high ranking cadre who defected to South Korea