Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ

Ask A North Korean

Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ

New columnist David writes about the challenges of army life and how a South Korean leaflet convinced him to defect

David April 28, 2023

Ask a North Korean: How one soldier escaped across the heavily armed DMZ

A Noth Korean soldier smiling at the camera near the North Korean border on Sept. 2015 | Image: NK News

“Ask a North Korean” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years.

Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing [email protected] and including their first name and city of residence.

About the Author

David

David is from Hamhung Province in North Korea. When he was younger, he was a footballer and later joined the North Korean army. In the army, David was deployed to the front lines and crossed the DMZ to South Korea in 2012. He graduated from university in South Korea and currently works as PR manager for North Korean human rights organization NAUH.

View more articles by David Got a news tip?Let us know!