Ask A North Korean: Defectors Talk About Their Lives Inside the World's Most Secretive Nation

by Daniel Tudor, Andrei Lankov (Foreword), NK News (Primary Contributor)

Understanding North Korean Through the Eyes of Defectors.
The weekly column Ask a North Korean, published by NK News, invites readers from around the world to pose questions to North Korean defectors. By way of these fascinating interviews, the North Koreans themselves provide authentic firsthand testimonies about what is happening inside the "Hermit Kingdom."

North Korean contributors to this book include:
• "Seong" who came to South Korea after dropping out during his final year of his university. He is now training to be an elementary school teacher.
• "Kang" who left North Korea in 2005. He now lives in London, England.
• "Cheol" who was from South Hamgyeong in North Korea and is now a second-year university student in Seoul.
• "Park" worked and studied in Pyongyang before defecting to the U.S. in 2011. He is now studying at a U.S. college.

This book sheds critical light on all aspects of North Korean politics and society and shows that even in the world's most authoritarian regime, life goes on in ways that are very different from what you may think.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Audiobook, Asia, Adult, Biography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 2018

About the author

Daniel Tudor is The Economist's Korea Correspondent. He was born in Manchester, England, and is a graduate of Oxford University in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and also holds an MBA from Manchester University. His first book, 'Korea: The Impossible Country' was released in November 2012.

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is comprised of written answers to a wide range of questions submitted to North Korean defectors. The approach differs from that of Barbara Demik in her definitive work :Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea which gives an in depth profile of 6 defectors. This book gives a snap shot about life in North Korea rather than an individual’s experience.

The questions are arranged in chapters devoted economic life, media and information, comparing the north and south regions, religion, love and sex, fun and defection to name a few.

You learn about the difficulties of child birth and you learn funeral customs. I did not know that malnutrition was so rampant in the army that soldiers steal food nor that women cannot ride bicycles. Students who guard schools or provide their custodial services from 5pm – 7am invite friends for slumber parties. Women wash out not just diapers but sanitary napkins – both are difficult to dry in winter months.

To travel within the country, a purpose is needed (a funeral, wedding, etc.). It is near impossible for rural residents to get documents to go to Pyongyang. It is difficult to get tickets for train travel and getting a seat and keeping your travel bag secure are issues. Electrical shortages or mechanical problems can turn a one day trip into two weeks.

While the internet is unavailable to almost everyone and cell phones work only within the country the outside world is permeating North Korea. South Korean pronunciation and clothing (usually a few years behind) are catching on. The biggest reason is the smuggling of bootleg K-pop and films on flash drives. If someone is caught with bootleg or listening to South Korean radio, guards and informants are not so patriotic anymore. Everyone needs money, so bribery is common.

Of the many stories the one that stays with me takes place in a town along the Yalu River. A visitor was amazed and gushed about seeing so many lights in the Chinese town across the river. She had to be warned to hide her excitement of this since speaking so highly of another country could have great consequences.

Despite the horrible punishment for small slights to the country, I was surprised that none of these defectors spoke of any fear incarceration of the families they had left behind.

The publisher of this book is worthy of note. It seems to be a small regional publisher, but has offices in Tokyo, Singapore and UK. It states in its mission that it aims to “bring together people one page at a time.” This book clearly serves the mission.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this book I felt mentally scattered. Many of the essays lack focus and jump around, and back and forth, between the question at hand and extra details. The extra details are great but could be presented better. I feel like this is an editing problem. There is a difference in thought patterns and speech that just doesn't seem to have translated very well. Also, sometimes the same thought is expressed repeatedly in a single essay.

Additionally, the "intros" by the author after each question were mostly unnecessary, but there were a few times in those intros when DT mentioned that people's responses may vary based on the region where they lived, their age, and when they defected. I think adding that to the names before the essays would have been very useful. Like John Smith, 34, defected in 2010 at age 25, from Pyongyang. I did find myself trying to guess the writers' ages, genders, and regions to understand their responses in better context.

Overall I am glad to have read it due to the knowledge within the content and feel like I learned a good bit about the daily lives of North Korean people.

[Pezi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and thought it very interesting. I enjoyed the different perspectives of the defectors and that they all came from a different social status in North Korea and led very different lives before they left. They portrayed the cruelty of the regime and the humanity of its people very well and I hope they will be able to meet their families again. I definitely have a lot more knowledge about NK now and the book is very informative.
I enjoyed the Q&A style, but the narrator's thought pieces at the beginning of a chapter or question often felt quite unneccessary to me. Also some questions were very similar to each other and the "random questions" chapter at the end was a little weird. So editing could have been a bit better.

[Caitlin McCay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is presented in a Q&A format, as it's an extrapolation of a column. Broken up into several sections, the interviewer speaks to several North Korean defectors living in South Korea, England and America. It was a compelling read because it focused mostly on the daily lives of those people while living in North Korea - I really learned a lot about the average person and how living under a Communist dictator structures their lives, work, relationships, etc.

Somewhere in the book, someone makes the point that outsiders probably mostly think of the North Korean population as mindless, or zealots for the regime, but the respondents show that most citizens are relatively clear eyed about their political situation and wish for reunification with the South (if relatively naive about the outside world, although they all speak to the increase in outside media like music and movies making it's way into North Korea via smuggling). Something I learned was that the communist system essentially crashed within the country after the famine that plagued the country in the 90's - I knew about the famine, but the effect was that since the government all but stopped handing out rations during this crisis, citizens began trading amongst each other for goods and an impromptu market economy grew to meet their needs. This system has spread, and the government still seems economically crippled to the point that they cannot afford to force the country back into the old purely communist distribution system.

A quick and interesting read if you like human stories or want to know more about the inner workings of the DPRK from the perspective of average citizens.

[Anita ♪ ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so insightful. I can not even imagine the horror of living under the stone cold iron fist of such a controlling regime. I have always struggled with the feeling of not being in control of my own life, yet now as I have finished this book, I can only feel immense gratitude for not living under such severe conditions. Just the thought of it genuinely terrifies me. I remember the fear and hopelessness I felt as I read 1984 by George Orwell a few years ago. I was so relieved that this book was just fiction. Yet I came to realise that 1984 is indeed not "just fiction", and although North Korea now is built upon bribery and illegal marketing, the long ways the state will go to hinder free thinking is absolutely horrifying and JUST like 1984!

I truly, truly hope the North Korean regime collapses in the near future, and that the Kim dynasty's legacy dissolves into a small stain in Korea's long history. This is no way for any human being to live.

[colton :] · Rating 3 out of 5]

informative without feeling like overt propaganda (from either side) with lots of insights that you're not likely to get anywhere else. though i couldn't help but feel like the translations were stiff, making most of the individuals' voices read the same. there were a handful of editing errors, but i read an ebook so who knows if they're in the printed version. recommended if this kind of thing interests you

[Julia Boitsova]

Вроде ничего нового, но некоторые вещи шокируют. Три ставлю за не очень хорошую структуру книги- много повторений, много противоречий. В конце уже стало скучновато.
Ну и конечно ужасный перевод. На одной странице «токпокки» превращаются в «токбокки”, часто встречается что-то в стиле «мы стали более лучше жить» и тд.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read! it's so interesting but it also helps you understand humanity everywhere. should honestly be required reading for politicians.

[Paige Zalewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

A very interesting read for someone like me, who has been learning about North Korea over the last five years and has a good grasp on the history, society, and current climate. I wouldn't suggest this as the first book someone ever reads about NK (maybe 'Escape from Camp 14' or 'Nothing to Envy'), but definitely recommend to those who want to hear directly from multiple NK defectors and multiple topics.

The Q&A structure can feel a little too... much like an assignment for school? And a little too repetitive? The short blurbs by Daniel Tudor after every question weren't very necessary, in my opinion. And I found it very bizarre that the last question to wrap the whole book up was "How do you make yourself pretty in North Korea?" I mean... really?

Overall, an interesting read, and it is always important to remember that North Korea is much more than what you hear of in the news. People over politics.

[City Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending could have been better.

[jammaster_mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the type of book that I normally read but I really enjoyed it.

This book is set up as a series of answers to questions about different aspects of life for someone who grew up in North Korea. The answers are provided by those who have fled the country and are now living in South Korea or Europe. The book is based on a news column/blog and still reads that way. There is some repetition in both questions and responses but these are average people who are answering and they are really sharing from their own experiences. There isn't a huge focus on the horrors of living in DPRK, but it is still there woven throughout the responses. Those who break the law, even a small infraction, face execution or living out the rest of their lives in a prison camp. Those who go to the camps are never heard from again. The level of fear and stress they live under is touched upon and the resulting issues when adapting to life in a different country.

They do also share the good times they spent with their families, friends and neighbors. They share a very interesting perspective on what Western society and modern South Korea hold as important. The importance of kindness in a country without very many material things to give is very touching. They also share their very different perspectives on what would happen with reunification of the Korea's and what the people of both nations would need to do for it to be a success.

This was a great book that gave a wonderful insight and perspective on the most closed country in the world. It is written in a way that is very accessible and easy to read/understand. Well worth the time.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book highlighted the human lives of North Korea, focussing on day to day issues that affect the population rather than nuclear weapons and the Kim dynasty.

Therefore I learned lots about various topics such as religion, sexuality, food, language, culture, consumerism, relations with Soutu Korea and China, family life and health care. It was unlike any other non fic I had read before as the responses were so raw and unfiltered.

It emphasised the importance of respecting North Korean's as unique individuals. Those who make flippant remarks like "they all just love him (The Supreme Leader) they don't know other countries exist" is naive, immature and erases them as individuals which, in turn, almost downplays their suffering.

Whilst of course propaganda is heavily prevalent and most basic human rights are stripped, their own thoughts and feelings on Kim Jong Un cannot be overlooked as a lot of information is smuggled into the country on USB sticks and thus news spreads about the "outside world". Whilst the UK is exposed to videos of military parades and portraits of Kim Jong Un, this doesn't mean his subjects are loyal. They are scared. They fear for their future and their children in a state where any criticism of leadership results in severe punishment or death.

I recommend this book to those who want to learn more about North Korean culture rather than those looking to learn more about Kim Jong Un's politics.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a beginner's guide to North Korea, but this certainly answers some questions that I hadn't understood/explored yet. Might be a more intriguing compilation if I'd been a casual reader of the blog. I also managed to miss the short list of message respondents (and their short biographical descriptors) at the very beginning of the book, so I struggled to keep track of the different people responding to each question.

One major flaw was that plenty of photos were included (both full-color at the center and b&w scattered throughout the text), but the latter were left without captions and were therefore not very helpful or interesting, as there was no context.

Let's face it: on the whole, nothing about North Korea is going to be boring... so of course this was an interesting read and worth the time.

[EuroHackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, and at times quite saddening, look at the life of ordinary North Koreans, through the lens of defectors. You have to take it with a grain if salt, as defectors themselves are certainly not the norm, but interesting nonetheless. My big takeaway is that ordinary citizens know more about the "outside world" than most people give them credit for, which is both reassuring (they aren't mindless automatons who blithely believe the propaganda that's flung at them) and sad (because they are powerless to do anything about their abject poverty; because when they finally do manage to defect, they are met with the same prejudices as all other migrants). Definitely worth a read if you have even a passing interest in Korea or Korean history/politics/ modern culture.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seven North Korean defectors talk about life inside 🇰🇵. The book answers questions such as: How to women handle their period? How is Pyongyang different from the rest of the country? Who drives a car? It is also fascinating to hear North Korean perspectives on South Korea (it’s not great).

The stated goal of the book is to give Westerners a glimpse into life as a middle class/upper middle class North Korean. Of course, the contributors don’t speak for all North Koreans. People in concentration camps and rural areas are least likely to have the means to defect and are not heard from in this book. Knowing this caveat, the book is still SO interesting.

[Steve Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books on North Korea and this one still fills a gap. It's compiled from interviews with North Korean escapees and delves into topics humans in any country face in life (marriage, work, pets, grocery shopping, etc.) and how they differ (if at all) in North Korea. One interesting thing I learned: I'd long known that in dictatorships keeping the military fed is a top priority, but it turns out that North Korea is an exception. The troops are merely told that surviving on a poor diet is a good skill that will serve them well in battle. Young men in North Korea dread being drafted into the army because they know this will be expected of them.

[Emanuelle Najjar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esse é um dos livros mais interessantes que já li a respeito da Coréia do Norte, uma vez que trata da vida comum - ou de uma vida considerada mediana. Fala sobre cultura, hábitos, comportamentos, tendências e preocupações da vida cotidiana de um norte-coreano, o que difere da bibliografia mais conhecida. Ela não ameniza o que acontece lá: a ditadura, a censura, a corrupção ou preocupações a respeito de armamentos nucleares, mas esclarece e muito outros aspectos da vida que poucos dão atenção e sobre os quais emergem diversos exageros. Interessante mesmo.

[Charlynnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy-to-read book laid out in a question/answer format and segmented into different sections covering different topics like politics, sexuality, media, everday life etc. One good thing that I like about the format is that you can clearly jump to those questions that interest you without reading through the boring bits that don't.

The center of the book has some coloured photos that depict the lift of North Koreans.

It still amazes me sometimes that in this modern world, there still exists a close, communist country like North Korea.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

¿alguna vez han querido saber tanto de un tema hasta que terminan descubriendo hasta los detalles más pequeños e insignificantes y ya nada es interesante? bueno, pues así es este libro. hay muchas cosas nuevas e interesantes que aprendí sobre la realidad de vivir en corea del norte y sus ciudadanos, pero ya había un punto en donde se metían tanto en los detalles de la cotidianidad que aburría, como por ejemplo los chistes o lo que comían los perros. creo que había detalles que ya eran innecesarios pero en general me pareció bueno.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative book that laid out some of the details about North Korea that most people might not know. I've always been fascinated about its nation from a learning standpoint and this was a harrowing read since it's surreal that a country like this exists and I feel bad for the people that are living there. Since it was published years ago, some info might be a bit outdated but it still gave us a great overview of North Korea and it really helps that it's coming from defectors who truly experienced life there.

[spruitjes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already had (read) 4 books about North-Korea and seen documentaries about it. So I already knew quite a bit about the country when I started reading the book, but still I learned new things.
For example that South Korean slang is becoming common in the North, that you can be assigned to a job, but can bribe your way into a more interesting one….

A very good read for someone who has little knowledge about the country and wants to know more.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but at times rather repetitive. However, some of the topics covered were quite different than those touched upon in other books on the modern DPRK, such as Barbara Demick's "Nothing to Envy." While there were many photos of ordinary life in North Korea, I would have liked to have seen photos of the contributors who wrote responses to the questions posed for this book. Although nitpicky, I would add that incomplete proofreading and excessive spelling/grammar errors were distracting.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book of excerpts from interviews with North Korean defectors. I definitely learned some new information about life in North Korea from this book. Had to knock off a star for the egregious editing—numerous obvious typos and errors and it just ended on a random, relatively dull question about makeup with no concluding thoughts or anything. Weird, but I’d recommend it regardless because it was very interesting.

[Sashreeka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays on multiple aspects of daily life in North Korea gives the reader a renewed appreciation for the freedom that we have in the tiniest of things like naming your child, holding hands in public, choosing a career of your liking and even buying sanitary napkins because we were just lucky to be born in a freer part of the world.
Daniel Tudor is thorough yet crisp in his inputs while the defectors talk in detail about problems we didn’t even know existed.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 3.75 out of 5. This was really interesting to read about for me personally. I have watched a lot of videos on youtube from different defectors, but to read it in this format was really unique. I know that it is from the "Ask a North Korean" column by the NK news (which makes me want to check that out now) but I liked the formatting of this book. It is also cool to read about different peoples' experiences while living and even defecting North Korean.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really captivating book regarding life in North Korea as told by North Koreans. Unlike many memoirs about North Korea and escaping, this book focused on small topics to weave together a narrative of what life is like from what it's like to be on your period to how North Koreans feel about other countries to the topic of animal ownership in the country. I think this is a great book to dive into in the situation of North Korea is of any interest!

[Pterotaktyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a book composed of questions about aspects of life in North Korea and subsequent answers of several people, who are from there.
I do not want to diminish the book by giving it a bad review, hence the 3 stars. However, it is very repetitive, even borderline boring. The issue is that it was probably a blog and someone, who edited the book did not put sufficient effort to really make from the blog a book.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very interesting and a very uniquely written book about North Korean defectors. It is written in a simple, concise G&A manner, discussing various aspects of North Korean life that only defectors can provide insight into. It needs a bit of editing here and there, but otherwise another good read for those obsessed with anything North Korea (as I am).

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of essays provides insight into many aspects of North Korean life that are not often discussed. Reading the perspective of former citizens of the hermit kingdom puts a face and personality to a group of people who are voiceless otherwise. This book was definitely a good read for anyone curious about what life is like in the most repressive and controlling nation on the planet.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on a news column that asks defected North Koreans about ordinary life in North Korea. They discuss the way the South and North Koreans think about each other and the Japanese, Chinese and Americans People in NK have been isolated by the communist leadership but hopefully with the increasing availability of cell phones they will start to learn about the outside world.