North Korea: Yesterday and Today

Interesting Facts

• The book reveals a surprising paradox: despite its apparent monolithicity and isolation, North Korean society is permeated not only by fear but also by remarkable ingenuity in everyday life—from underground markets to secret ways of exchanging information.
• The author skillfully shows how ideology and the cult of personality in North Korea penetrate the most intimate spheres of daily life, turning even family conversations into acts of caution and self-preservation.
• Special attention is given to the phenomenon of «juche»—North Korea's unique philosophy of self-reliance, which has become not only a political slogan but a kind of religion for millions of citizens.
• The book presents rare accounts of how, under conditions of total control and scarcity, the country's residents find ways to survive, displaying resourcefulness and remarkable resilience.
• The reader is immersed in the atmosphere of Pyongyang, where luxurious façades conceal harsh realities, and daily life is filled with contrasts between official propaganda and people's true feelings.