Witness to North Korea: Three Years on the Ground in the DPRK (PB)

A rare, first-hand account of life in North Korea, written by a former UN Resident Coordinator, that charts the successes and failures of attempts to deliver humanitarian aid under a secretive regime. A rare first-hand account of international humanitarian efforts in the secretive world of North Korea written by a former UN Resident coordinator who spent 3 years living and working in North Korea - an authoritative reflection on the challenges and opportunities for the international community’s efforts to engage with PDR Korea. The People's Democratic Republic of Korea has become one of the most secretive and isolated societies in the world, with NGOs, UN agencies and even embassies being expelled from the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Witness to North Korea, Jerome Sauvage presents a unique first-hand account of life in North Korea based on his time as a UN Special Resident coordinator in Pyongyang. Recounting his work organising and delivering humanitarian aid, Sauvage reflects on his experience working with North Korean citizens, the successes, the setbacks and the missed opportunities. The book asks the question: how can the world rebuild its relationship with this secretive regime. “[A] valuable book. Jerome Sauvage does not recycle the usual stale information on North Korea but offers fresh ground truth, with eye-witness accounts of key meetings, of the mourning for Kim Jong Il, of the complexities of dealing with North Koreans, and of myriad details of everyday life.” - John Everard, Former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to North Korea.