“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: How do North Koreans interact with nature?

Jin — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until she defected in 2014 — writes about the differences in the environment of North and South Korea and how North Koreans are forced to prioritize feeding themselves over