It's only natural to expect people in the U.S. to be fascinated by — and a little wary of — news out of North Korea. The Hermit Kingdom has become our new boogeyman, replacing China and Russia as the focus of our Red Scare. But given the United States' near-total lack of communication with the … Continue reading The Accusation: A Review
He was just like every other little boy in Pyongyang, taking taekwondo lessons and dreaming of becoming a general in Kim Il-sung's army. In Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea, DPRK-escapee Sungju Lee tells of his family's fall from grace, his life as an orphan on the … Continue reading Every Falling Star: A Review
North Korea has built a nigh-impenetrable facade. Those who manage to gain access tell the same tale, in which they are escorted around Pyongyang to churches, stores, restaurants, and landmarks populated with state-employed actors. If you were ever curious about what goes on behind these scenes, look no further than Barbara Demick's Nothing to Envy: … Continue reading Nothing to Envy: A Review
In the early 2010s, Korean-American journalist Suki Kim taught English at North Korea's Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. In Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea's Elite, Kim recalls the events of those few months. The story is incredible. For more than 70 years, while its southern … Continue reading Without You, There Is No Us: A Review