March 28, 2024

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taylor Darby

Taylor Darby

Taylor Darby is a pseudonym for a foreign diplomat that worked in Pyongyang before leaving in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Columns

A diplomat’s life: Christmas in North Korea has lots of lights but little cheer

While foreigners can celebrate privately, Dec. 25 is just another cold winter’s day for the rest of the country

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyDecember 23, 2022
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: Parting advice for those going to work in North Korea

Foreigners must learn to accept the political system but remain critical, while caring for their own mental health

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyDecember 29, 2021
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: The mundane, ordinary routines of the North Korean people

For most in Pyongyang, worshipping the Kim family is just a part of the 9-to-5 grind

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyDecember 23, 2021
Opinion

The good, the bad and the memorable of expat life in North Korea

The system is stifling for Koreans and foreigners alike, but human interactions carry one through difficulties

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyDecember 15, 2021
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: On the ground in Pyongyang during the ‘fire and fury’ era

North Koreans in the capital city seemed to genuinely believe conflict could break out at anytime

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyDecember 9, 2021
Evergreen

A diplomat’s life: Tight schedules and resort-like thrills touring North Korea

State travel agencies plan every detail of visitors’ itineraries, careful to show only the best it has to offer

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyDecember 1, 2021
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: Navigating North Korea’s complex travel permission system

North Korea’s extreme social controls mean a complex process for any travel request, even for foreign diplomats

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyNovember 24, 2021
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: Pyongyang meals for diners with adventurous palates

From Korean hot pot to sturgeon blood, the DPRK capital has a range of restaurant options beyond just burgers and pizza

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyNovember 17, 2021
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: Dining on pizza and ‘meat in bread’ in Pyongyang restaurants

A handful of specialty eateries serve international fare, but many locals stick to kimchi and Korean classics

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyNovember 10, 2021
Opinion

A diplomat’s life: The ephemeral beauty of concrete Pyongyang

North Korean builders are highly skilled, but erratic leadership priorities and few materials make for an unsafe skyline

Taylor DarbyTaylor DarbyNovember 3, 2021