Ask Me About North Korea

Ildar Daminov built this podcast around a simple and effective concept: take the most common questions people have about North Korea and answer them in short, focused episodes. Across 57 episodes and 3 seasons, the show tackled everything from how the military hierarchy works to what the COVID response looked like to how international trade operates under sanctions. Episodes range from quick 4-minute explainers to longer 36-minute deep conversations with guest experts and tour organizers. The brevity is the selling point. Where other North Korea podcasts give you hour-long policy discussions, Ask Me About North Korea gives you a focused answer to a specific question and then stops. That makes it a great entry point for someone just starting to learn about the DPRK -- you can pick episodes based on what you are curious about rather than working through a chronological narrative. The show earned a 4.2-star rating from 38 reviewers who generally praise the research quality and accessible tone. It wrapped up in September 2021, so the information reflects that era rather than current developments. Some reviewers pushed back on source transparency, wanting more explicit citations. Fair criticism, but for a free podcast that efficiently breaks down complex topics about one of the hardest countries to report on, it delivers real value. Good for building baseline knowledge before moving to heavier shows.