“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.

Today’s question asks what “equality” means to North Koreans and how living in a different country has impacted their perceptions of socialism and capitalism. 

David — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until he defected in 2012  — writes about North Korea’s “our-style socialism,” how he became