The Aquariums of Pyongyang by Kang Chol-Hwan

#4 My family was better off than most, living in a newly built neighborhood that was exceptionally quiet and verdant. We were never asked to do anything too difficult. We were taught about the morals of communism and the history of the Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il regime. Kang Chol-Hwan is the first survivor of a North Korean concentration camp to escape the hermit kingdom and tell his story to the world. #3 In North Korea, the education of the revolution’s soldiers was a top priority. Despite their adherence to communist educational methods, almost all the teachers were attentive and patient with their pupils. #2 I had fond memories of my time at the School of the People, a grammar school in Pyongyang.

In economic terms, the country was neck and neck with the South, and in Pyongyang, the regime’s privileged showcase, it seemed the Party’s talk of triumph and promise might actually be true. Sample Book Insights: #1 In the 1960s, North Korea’s disaster was not yet on the horizon. Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.