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Without You, There Is No Us

Without You, There Is No Us

By Suki Kim

Undercover Among the Sons of the North Korean Elite. Crown, 2014

0.0 / 0

17 mins read

14 Key insights

A brief summary of Without You, There Is No Us

The incredible story of an undercover journalist’s experiences teaching English to the sons of elite North Korean officials, covering everything from the power of the propaganda machine over the students to the terrible state of the average inhabitants of this secretive country.

Key insights in Without You, There Is No Us

1
What do you get from this book? An undercover journalist’s account of North Korean students and their country
2
Korea, a country thousands of years old, was divided by the Cold War powers after WWII
3
Suki Kim’s family story saw her uncle lost forever to North Korea, and influenced her decision to teach there
4
Working at PUST meant always being monitored by the “counterparts” and the “minders,” who were both mysterious and unpleasant
5
Teaching is always a challenge, but there were several unique hurdles for Kim at the school in North Korea
6
Her students’ group spirit was unlike anything in the West, while their answers to questions sometimes betrayed difficult childhoods
7
Dos and don’ts were many at PUST, and the need to censor yourself took a heavy physical and mental toll
8
North Korea’s “Juche” ideology affects every aspect of life there, and is maintained through the vast propaganda machine
9
One student was dangerously inquisitive, while others seemed ready to report Kim at any moment
10
Many students shared anxieties with those in the West, though academic failure posed much greater risks to their prospects
11
North Koreans outside PUST remained mostly hidden from Kim, but trips off campus hinted at their appalling conditions
12
Summary of the key insights
13
Selected critiques in brief
14
Final word

Who should read Without You, There Is No Us

International politics buffs • those curious about North Korea • political theorists • historians • human rights advocates

About the author of Without You, There Is No Us

Suki Kim is a novelist and journalist who has written extensively on North Korea. Raised in Seoul, she has lectured in journalism at Princeton University and written for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and more. Her previous publications include The Interpreter, a mystery novel.

author avatar

Suki Kim

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