Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee - A Look Inside North Korea

Freedom is freely given to anyone born in a free land, but others have to risk their lives for it.

I've read a lot of books about North Korea, but this one is unique in that the main character was actually fairly highly placed in North Korean society. He was one of Kim Jong Il's poet laureates, even meeting him a couple of times. His insights into how the government views its country's problems and some historical context for how it got there was interesting and unique when compared with other books I've read on this topic. You can tell the author was a poet, because the writing of the book was extremely lyrical in places, extremely descriptive, and extremely compelling. Some of the incidents he describes early on in the book while still in North Korea are chilling, particularly his visit to his home town and what had happened after he left.

I only allowed myself to reduce my rating from 5 to 4 stars on the principle that a 5-star rating ought to obtain its status with little if any, reservation. Something has me wondering if this memoir is a direct, strategic move put in action by a highly motivated counterintelligence team buried deep inside Pyongyang. While I am an ardent supporter of those who flee from the DPRK and an involved student of the difficulties as they progress on the peninsula, with this account being the first of its kind I feel a modicum of hesitation toward unrestricted confidence.

I must add my thoughts that the information provided in this account is fascinating. If nothing else, the mere possibility of what has been reported as truth, kept me on the edge of my seat as I considered it's implications for US foreign policy, international criminality, and relief aid for those still ruled by the Kim dynasty.