“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 are the characteristics and stereotypes of different regions in North Korea?

Jin — who was born and raised in North Korea and lived there until she defected in 2014 — writes about the DPRK’s nine provinces, as well as the capital Pyongyang, and how their residents are perceived.