Filmed June 19, 2012

What is it like to serve as one’s national representative in North Korea? How is one received, from leaders to ordinary North Koreans? How does one deal with the political fallout of a nuclear test soon after one’s arrival? How free is a foreign emissary to travel and see the “real” North Korea and its residents? The Korea Society welcomes as part of its ongoing Knowing North Korea series the Honorable John Everard, who served as Britain’s Ambassador to the DPRK from 2006 to 2008. Though stationed in Pyongyang, Everard used his travels around the DPRK to meet and converse with many different North Koreans. Ambassador Everard’s new book, Only Beautiful, Please, published by Stanford University’s Shorenstein Center for Asia-Pacific Research, goes beyond official North Korea to unveil the human dimension of life in North Korea. Everard recounts his impressions of the country and its people, his interactions with them and his observations on their way of life. He provides a picture as well of the life of foreigners in this closed society, considers how the DPRK evolved to its current state, and discusses the failure of current approaches to tackle the challenges that it throws up. Ambassador Everard shares keen insights and striking, never-before-seen photographs taken during his stay in North Korea.

For more information, please visit the link below:
koreasociety.org/policy/policy/knowing_north_korea_book_event.html

Cast: The Korea Society

Tags: Korea, North Korea, United Kingdom and Diplomacy