“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 about how North Koreans allocate their time throughout the day and punctuality in the DPRK.

Rose — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until she defected in 2019 — writes about the most challenging time of the day for her when she was living