North Korea

Why does Pyongyang have a nuclear bomb and ballistic missiles? Do Koreans really go hungry? Do they always wear badges of their leaders on their clothes? Why do they worship their leaders so much, and how can a foreigner talk about topics that are sensitive for Koreans? How do Koreans relax—what women and men are considered beautiful? Why and how do incredible rumors appear about “executions by mortar fire”? Why, not long ago, in the DPRK they moved the clocks back by half an hour? How does North Korea manage to stand its ground despite all external pressure? What is actually going on with the economy there now? What should you learn from the DPRK? What should you see in North Korea and what souvenirs to bring—these and many other questions the author has tried to answer in this book.

Contents:
Foreword
Chapter I. We don’t envy anyone
Our country is the best
The biggest, the highest, the deepest
And the eternal battle
Colorful phrasing of official statements
Why “The Irony of Fate” is impossible in Korea
What’s your sanbun
With a badge or without
Half an hour for fighting imperialism

Chapter II. What is sacred in the DPRK
We always speak with respect—Leader, Party, Juche, and the army
Juche—religion, ideology, and a way of life
Kim Il Sung—the most revered person in North Korea
The successor of Juche’s cause. Second leader of the DPRK Kim Jong Il
The young general Kim Jong Un—the current leader of the Juche country
Who is the main one here at all

Chapter III. How you live, Juche country
Sketches from ordinary life
All roads lead to Pyongyang
All work is good
Korean standards of beauty
Cards are good
We don’t just have it hard, because…
Main holidays
Not only by work
Don’t you want a dog?
How to say “Korea” in Korean

Chapter VI. Myths and reality
A conveyor belt of unverified sensations, or the reasons for the appearance of lies about North Korea
Tales of starving dogs and executions by mortar fire
The technology behind rumors
Do they starve in North Korea?
Religions and multi-party system under Juche
Borders with China—the window to the outside world
A country with a 5000-year history—or fairy tales about ancient Korean elephants
Historical roots of many peculiarities

Chapter V. Features of Korean diplomacy in the rocket-nuclear era
The art of survival when everything is against you
How Koreans sold America empty air
And what is on the other side of the 38th parallel
Russian motifs of the Korean soul
Soft restaurant diplomacy—North Korean dining in other countries

Chapter VI. The wind of change
A market response to an economic crisis
Rebranding the Juche country
Life has become better, comrades. Life has become more fun
Capitalism enclaves—special economic zones
And let’s make a selfie
Li Sol Ju, North Korea’s first real First Lady in history
How to get there and what to expect
What to see and bring back from North Korea
What is worth learning
How to behave in North Korea. A few tips
When will reunification happen
Instead of an epilogue