North Korea My Journey through this Enigmatic Country & Its Role in the Identity of Post Soviet Kore

Seminar by: Victoria Kim, Researcher and Multimedia Journalist, Affiliations: Johns Hopkins SAIS and The Diplomat Magazine North Korea holds a very special place in the identity of the post-Soviet Korean diaspora known as Koryo Saram. The original journey the Koryo Saram took in the mid-19th century began in Korea and passed through the border into Russia over the Tumen River. Journalist Victoria Kim recalls her recent visit to this uniquely remote country, following the same route taken by the Koryo Saram, which was formed by two fighting super-powers in the wake of the 20th century’s Cold War and as a direct outcome of another major war, was forgotten by many. During this discussion, she will elaborate on the details regarding the role Soviet Koreans played in the establishment of the DPRK (and their very unfortunate fate there as a result), and share photo-impressions from her recent trip through North Korea by passenger train.