Witness to North Korea

Jerome Sauvage is an International Affairs Consultant based in the USA and specializing in humanitarian affairs and human resource management. He was previously a UN Resident Coordinator in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

'This is a valuable book. Jerome Sauvage does not recycle the usual stale information on North Korea but offers fresh ground truth, with eye-witness accounts of key meetings, of the mourning for Kim Jong Il, of the complexities of dealing with North Koreans, and of myriad details of everyday life.'

• List of IllustrationsPrefaceAcknowledgementsNote on SpellingAbbreviationsPART I – Arrival and Collision Chapter 1 CALL TO NORTH KOREA Arrival in Pyongyang -–– Doubts about the UN, and my career –– Our expertise in Asian Communist dictatorshipsChapter 1.5 BEFORE THE RETURN: UNDP’S NORTH KOREAN SCANDAL Chapter 2 ROUGH START UNDP premises in bad shape – Doomed currency reform – Early pressure regarding old projects Chapter 3 A FAILED PEACE MISSION Personnel challenges – The humanitarian situation - Pascoe Visit – UN flagChapter 4 THE SINKING Sinking of Cheonan corvette – Introducing Leni - Trying to understand North Korea’s decision-making - Impact on UN Agencies - A word on UN sanctions – Chapter 5 HEART OF DARKNESS First field visit - A drive to Hoechang – Rural Energy - A Korean lunch. Chapter 6 COUNTING SOULS A first look at the humanitarian situation - The first Population Census in 10 years Chapter 7 ECONOMY OF HUNGER Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission - A conversation - The Public Distribution System and markets - A cooperative farm - UN expert on economics and politics of food – Chapter 8 ASHES OVER YEONPYEONG Relationship breakthrough with Government - Coal mine – North Korea bombs Yeonpyeong Island - A colleague is "citizen-arrested" - Christmas and New Year among the international community - The UNDP team - Family tourism: Munt Kumgang, Kaesong, DMZ - Musings about this past year PART II – Working Within the SystemChapter 9 SETTLING IN Strengthening the office’s operations and programmes - Seeing results in rural energy projects - Our home - Carolyn gets a car - A walk in Moran parkChapter 10 SPROUTSExpanding the role – Jimmy Carter and former Presidents visit - Maternal Mortality – An orphanage – One colleague leaves - Back surgeryChapter 11FLOODS AND PARADES International emergency response - Performances and parades - Kimchi in the office Chapter 12 WHOSE VOICE? Duties and bullies – The Millennium Development Goals Report – Addressing criticisms on human rights PART III – Exit and Reflection Chapter 13 TRANSITION WITHOUT CHANGE Passing of Kim Jong Il – Funerals - International reactions – Hopes for reforms – Preparing to leave - Night train ride from Beijing - EpilogueAppendixNotesBibliographyIndex