Comrades and Strangers : Behind the Closed Doors of North Korea

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it!
Review: I thought this was a great book, but some prior knowledge about North Korea would be helpful for the average reader. I consider myself a Koreafile and hunger for firsthand knowledge of the Hermit Kingdom.

Rating:
Summary: What it's like to be an ex-pat in Pyongyang
Review: The author responded to an ad in Britain and found himself working for the North Korean government, polishing the English of their propaganda output. At the beginning of his employment, the author was incredibly naive, knowing nothing about North Korea yet taking a paycheck from its government. During his seven years in Pyongyang, 1987-1994, the author gradually became less naive while gaining a fondness for the North Korean people and its government. Eventually he realized that his love of North Korea was strictly a one-way street and that he would never be totally accepted. Yet even after leaving North Korea and learning how the rest of the world regards it, he is still excessively sympathetic toward its government.

The author describes what it is like to be an ex-pat working for the North Korean government - his daily life and his relationships with both Koreans and other foreigners. Some readers will regard the author as a communist dupe or stooge, while others will enjoy learning how the world looks from a North Korean perspective. Nonetheless, this is a readable and entertaining book for anyone interested in Korea.