“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 is: What was it like for North Korean overseas laborers during the pandemic?

Jin Ju-dong — who was born and raised in North Korea and defected during the pandemic — writes about his experience hearing that any North Korean who caught COVID-19 would be considered a traitor and how pandemic