North Korea: Warring with the World

by Paul L. Moorcraft

Overview

A journalist and military historian’s in-depth look at the reclusive rogue nation, its ruling dynasty, and the ongoing threat it presents.
 
Created in 1945 when Korea was partitioned, North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, remains the world’s most secretive nation. Even the few permitted visitors are closely monitored by minders, so accounts of those who have escaped are the main source of information on conditions within the country.
 
What is not in doubt is the totalitarian control over the population exercised by the ruling dynasty. Kim Jong-un is the grandson of the first dictator, Kim Il-sung. Until the development of a credible nuclear arsenal, it was possible to ignore North Korean posturing. But that is no longer an option as test firing proved that not only were other Asian nations directly threatened but the United States as well. While President Trump and Kim Jong-un met in Singapore in June 2018, there remains distrust and dangerous uncertainty. In this book, longtime foreign correspondent and military historian Paul Moorcraft traces the history of this small rogue nation that represents a major threat to world peace—and examines the situation’s political and military implications.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526759474
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	07/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	21 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Professor Paul Moorcraft has frontline experience reporting on over 20 years, from A-Z, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, as a correspondent for print, radio and TV for nearly 40 years. He is currently Visiting Professor at Cardiff University and Director of the Centre for Foreign Policy Analysis, London.

Table of Contents

About the Author x

Timeline xi

The Leaders xiii

Glossary of Abbreviations xiv

Glossary of Terms xv

Introduction: The Mouse that Roared xvi

Chapter 1 The Origins of the North Korean State 1

Chapter 2 The Korean War 9

Chapter 3 Half War/Half Peace 27

Chapter 4 The Leadership 42

Chapter 5 Nukes 59

Chapter 6 Inside the Beast 67

Chapter 7 Daily Life 86

Chapter 8 On the Front Line: South Korea 94

Chapter 9 Japan - The Old Imperial Power 112

Chapter 10 The Big Brother - China 117

Chapter 11 Enter Trump 129

Chapter 12 Renewed Friendship: Russia 142

The Future of Suspicious Minds 149

Appendix: The North Korean Security Forces 165

Notes 173

Select Bibliography 175

Index 177