Passcode to the Third Floor

Thae Yong-ho was a leading North Korean diplomat to the United Kingdom and Northern Europe—until his dramatic defection to South Korea in 2016. In this gripping tell-all, he reveals the inner workings of the North Korean regime and shares the story of his decision to leave.

Thae Yong-ho was North Korea’s deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom before fleeing with his family to South Korea, making him the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat ever to defect. He currently serves as a member of the National Assembly for the Gangnam district of Seoul and is the first North Korean defector to win a South Korean parliamentary seat.

Robert Lauler studied Korean at the University of Washington and Seoul National University. He currently works as English-language editor at Daily NK, an online newspaper that operates a clandestine network of sources inside North Korea.

A powerful narrative, seamlessly blending personal and political dimensions to offer an unparalleled and gripping exploration of a life in service of North Korea.

Victor Cha, author of The Impossible State: North Korea, Past and Future:
An informative look inside the North Korean black box by one of the mysterious regime's former elites. Absolutely fascinating read for the expert and general reader.

Ramon Pacheco Pardo, coauthor of Korea: A New History of South & North:
How does the North Korean government really work? This question remains unanswered to the outside world. As one of the highest-level defectors from North Korea ever, Thae Yong-ho provides unique and previously unknown insights into the country’s inner workings. His memoir is recommended reading for anyone interested on North Korea.

Andrei Lankov, author of The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia:
One of the most interesting books written by a North Korean defector I have ever encountered. Thae Yong-ho’s trademark is a deep and analytical approach, and the wealth of information he provides allows readers to learn much about North Korean foreign policy and who runs it. Readers will appreciate his remarkably balanced view of how North Korea works, and his deep insight into how decisions are made and implemented.