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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2010 > December > 31 > Entry
What’s up with North Korea?
Every day there seems to be more unsettling news from North Korea. What do we really know about this mysterious country? James Church knows a lot about it. Church (not his real name) has been to North Korea many times. James Church is the pen name of a man who has spent many years serving as a member of a Western security service.
Church is the author of 4 detective novels that are set in North Korea. His knowledge of that place informs his story lines. I interviewed him for his most recent book in his Inspector O series. He titled it “The Man With the Baltic Stare” (Minotaur Books).
North Korea is a puzzling place. James Church is a man of mystery. In our conversation we talked a lot about North Korea.
You can hear my interview with James Church today on WYSO Public Radio (91.3fm) at 1:30.
Vick Mickunas
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By Survivors
December 31, 2010 2:59 PM | Link to this
North Korea is a closed totalitarian state. In my youth, my Dad explained living under harsh political systems, as he survived National Socialism and Communism, sort of in a one-two punch, growing up in eastern Germany. He survived the carnage, and escaped to the U.S. in the late 1940’s. Vick, you would have enjoyed talking with him. He mastered the English language. So well in fact, that he spoke with a “mid-western” American accent…sounded like you and I. There wasn’t a hint of a German accent, unless he would get really animated (or angry) in a conversation…usually about destructive political systems, or me borrowing the car for the 983rd time. He spoke of North Korea. He helped sponsor a few lucky refugees that escaped. He commented once that a more dispicable style of Communism does not exist anywhere else on the planet. He did not comment any further on it, and I did not press asking for more information. I saw the look of distress/concern on his face. It said: “Don’t press me”. I suppose he learned all he needed to know about North Korea from the refugees he helped. He passed away in 1987, but left his legacy in me of me understanding the different degrees of evil in this world. Thanks for your information on North Korea. Keep up the truth.