Comrades and Strangers: Behind the Closed Doors of North Korea

In 1987 Michael Harrold became the first Briton to live and work in North Korea.  For seven years he was the language adviser for English translations of speeches by the country's president, Kim II Sung.  It was an experience that gave him a unique insight into what is, perhaps, the world's most misunderstood nation.

From Pyongyang he went to Beijing, working first on the international desk at the Xinhua News Agency and suvsequently with China Central Television.  In 2000 he moved to Poland where he was editor of Poland AM and Supervising Editor of the Warsaw Business Journal. He lives in Warsaw with his wife and two young sons.