Book review: The struggle in carrying out development work in North Korea



Opinion Book review: The struggle in carrying out development work in North Korea Jerome Sauvage recounts efforts to support farms and hospitals while navigating sanctions and state suspicion Stephen Mercado August 6, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON The cover of "Witness to North Korea: Three Years on the Ground in the DPRK" \| Image: Bloomsbury In his new book, Witness to North Korea: Three Years on the Ground in the DPRK, former U.N. official Jerome Sauvage offers a rare firsthand account of working inside one of the world’s most isolated countries. Drawing on his posting in Pyongyang from 2009 to 2013, Sauvage recounts the practical, political and human difficulties of delivering development assistance in a state deeply wary of foreign involvement. His introduction to North Korea was abrupt. An experienced U.N. Development Program (UNDP) official whose previous postings included Vietnam and Cambodia, he flew from China on a Russian Tupolev Tu-24 with his spouse, © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

Opinion

Book review: The struggle in carrying out development work in North Korea

Jerome Sauvage recounts efforts to support farms and hospitals while navigating sanctions and state suspicion

Stephen Mercado August 6, 2026

Book review: The struggle in carrying out development work in North Korea

The cover of "Witness to North Korea: Three Years on the Ground in the DPRK" | Image: Bloomsbury

In his new book, Witness to North Korea: Three Years on the Ground in the DPRK, former U.N. official Jerome Sauvage offers a rare firsthand account of working inside one of the world’s most isolated countries.

Drawing on his posting in Pyongyang from 2009 to 2013, Sauvage recounts the practical, political and human difficulties of delivering development assistance in a state deeply wary of foreign involvement.

His introduction to North Korea was abrupt.

An experienced U.N. Development Program (UNDP) official whose previous postings included Vietnam and Cambodia, he flew from China on a Russian Tupolev Tu-24 with his spouse,

About the Author

Stephen Mercado

Stephen Mercado is a retired officer of the CIA’s Open Source Enterprise (originally the Foreign Broadcast Information Service). A researcher primarily interested in Japanese intelligence history and Asian open-source intelligence, he earned a master’s degree in international affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is the author of "Japanese Spy Gear and Special Weapons: How Noborito's Scientists and Technicians Served in the Second World War and the Cold War" (Pen & Sword Military, 2025), "The Shadow Warriors of Nakano: A History of the Imperial Japanese Army’s Elite Intelligence School" (Brassey’s, 2002), a dozen articles and several dozen book reviews.

View more articles by Stephen Mercado Got a news tip?Let us know!