A Trip into the Twilight Zone: North Korea

Journalist Robert S. Boynton and author Suki Kim come together to discuss their books on North Korea and give us a glimpse into the workings of the regime. In The Invitation-Only Zone: The True Story of North Korea’s Abduction Project, Boynton focuses on the North Korean regime’s abduction of ordinary Japanese from the streets of Japan in the nineteen seventies, and tells the story of their lives in North Korea and their return to Japan in 2002. Boynton’s initial research for the book was undertaken during his time as a Japan Society U.S.-Japan Media Fellow. Suki Kim chose to write about North Korea via undercover journalism, teaching English there for six months at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. She writes of her experience in Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite. In her TED talk, she says “. . . to write about it [North Korea] with any meaning, or to understand the place beyond the regime’s propaganda, the only option was total immersion.” Kim will share her insights into life in North Korea.

Please Note: This program has changed as Yonghi Yang is unable to join us due to unforeseen circumstances

Followed by a book-signing and reception.

Tickets: $10/$8 Japan Society members, seniors & students.

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