“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 is it like to work on a construction site in the DPRK?

Jin Ju-dong — who was born and raised in North Korea and defected during the pandemic — writes about the difficulties of commuting, tyrannical managers and the hazardous conditions he faced on the job.

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