“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: Do North Korean children have the opportunity to be creative?

David — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until he defected in 2012  — writes about art and music education in DPRK schools, a shortage of self-expression and how he has found new creative