“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.

This week, new AANK columnist David introduces himself and shares his defection story.

David — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until he defected in 2012 — writes about his excitement to join an inter-Korean border unit, how he grew disaffected due to the regime’s broken promises