North Korean defector and poet Jang Jin-sung is featured in the cover story for The Times Magazine in the U.K. this week.

The magazine describes how Jang escaped North Korea and his activities thereafter in its cover story, "How I Escaped North Korea."

The article said Jang, who had belonged to a privileged group in North Korea as a writer, escaped from the totalitarian state across the Tumen River in 2004. Since entering South Korea, Jang has published numerous poetry collections and essays on his escape and the reality of life in North Korea, it said.

Before his defection, Jang was a propaganda writer for North Korea's Workers' Party, following his graduation from the Pyongyang University of Music and Dance and Kim Il Sung University.

After escaping North Korea, Jang spent time with the Institute for National Security Strategy, which is under the National Intelligence Service. Jang is currently the head of an online newspaper on North Korean issues.