The New York Philharmonic's trip to North Korea may be unique but it's hardly the first American classical-music group to perform in the politically isolated nation. Violinist Young-Nam Kim performed there with a string quartet in 2004 and is returning there to teach next month. He joins us.

Also: two views on the orchestra's trip, from Drew McManus, an orchestra consultant and author of the blog Adaptistration; and Norman Lebrecht, British cultural critic and author of several books on the orchestra world.