The defectors

For me, one of the greatest fascinations with North Korea is the people and their daily life. However, finding accurate information isn't easy.

Authorised visits are very strictly supervised and you will only ever see the government-approved, filtered version. Reports from North Korean officials themselves are laughable, at best.

The best accounts therefore, are from the thousands who have escaped North Korea, most usually by crossing over the Yalu or Tumen Rivers, the border between North Korea and China.

It's important to note here, the significance of leaving North Korea as travel even within the country itself is very strictly monitored and almost impossible without being granted a permit. In fact, only those who are well off or well connected can travel to, let alone live in Pyongyang, the capital.

Defectors risk their lives and the lives of their families (to three generations) when crossing the border and being caught can mean a sentence in a concentration camp or even execution for the whole family.

The reward however, is tempting and there are an estimated 25,000 North Koreans who have defected over the last two decades (BBC News, March 4 2014).

Some of those defectors choose to share their stories to raise awareness (and much needed income) and more and more books are now being published and even translated into different languages.

These stories are fascinating, eye-opening, heartbreaking and very hard to put down. I'll be sharing more about these stories and their authors soon.