The world of foreign aid is a murky one, not least in North Korea, where international organizations and NGOs operate under strict restrictions imposed on them by the state.

Amid tight government regulations and the impact of international sanctions on the ground, many workers from the agencies present in the DPRK could be forgiven for feeling that change is happening at a snail’s pace.

It’s also rare that they talk to press – for good reason. Many are anxious to protect colleagues still working in-country, afraid to impact ongoing programs that have taken years to put together.

Since she left