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This dissertation investigates some of the possible causes for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) dramatic economic setbacks that began in the early 1990s. Since the DPRK has been at the brink of famine since 1997, the focus of this study has been devoted to the DPRK's agricultural development. ... Read more

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This comprehensive and balanced history of modern Korea explores the social, economic, and political issues it has faced since being catapulted into the wider world at the end of the nineteenth century. Placing this formerly insular society in a global context, Michael J. Seth describes how this ancient, culturally and ethnically homogeneous society first fell victim to Japanese imperialist expansionism, and then was arbitrarily divided in half after World War II. Seth traces the postwar paths of the two Koreas_with different political and social systems and different geopolitical orientations_as they evolved into sharply contrasting societies. Considering the radically different trajectories of North and South Korea, Seth assesses the insights they offer for understanding modern Korea in global perspective. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fine Overview; 4.5 Stars
In crucial respects, Korea is arguably the oldest nation in the world.People of Korean ethnicity-language group have occupied essentially the same region for centuries with a remarkable degree of cultural and institutional continuity.To an unparalleled extent, Korea has been a unified state for centuries.In the late 19th century, Korea was overwhelmingly rural, discouraged foreign trade, very socially stratified, had been ruled by the same dynasty for centuries, and was more Confucian in its intellectual culture and institutions than China itself.In the early 21st century, Korea is divided and its 2 different halves the products of 2 remarkably different approaches to achieving modernization.

In this clearly written and concise book, Michael Seth outlines the very interesting history of how this happened.Seth begins with the late 19th century structure of Korea and the powerful forces that destroyed traditional Korean society.A small nation surrounded by a much larger and turbulent China, a rapidly modernizing Japan, and the expanding Russian empire, plus the aggressions of other western Imperial powers, Korea's traditional position and society was untenable.Seth outlines well how the Korean elite attempted to fend off other powers, and how a small number of Koreans attempted to push Korea down a path to modernity.Following the success of the Japanese in its wars against China and Russia, Korea became a protectorate and then an outright colony of Japan.Much of what would happen subsequently in Korea has its roots in the colonial period.The Japanese were exploitative and often brutal overloads but also began to develop modern educational systems and the initial industrialization of Korea.The disparate response of Koreans to the Japanese occupation also had lasting political consequences.Many Koreans became Japanese clients and many of these individuals became our clients in post-WWII era.Some Koreans who resisted the Japanese actively became leftist partisans and from their ranks would emerge the leaders of North Korea.These divergent paths made possible, though not inevitable, the civil war that would become the devastating Korean war.As Seth points out, one of the major effects of Japanese colonization and WWII would be the wholesale disruption of traditional Korean life, one of the factors that made the great transformations of the post-WWII era feasible.

Seth provides a very even-handed discussion of the Korean war and its causes, stressing the civil nature of the conflict and its entanglement with the Cold war.The arbitrary division of the peninsula and the devastation of the war are laid out well.This section is followed by a nice series of chapters laying out the post-war development of the 2 Koreas, a markedly contrasting story of 2 different paths to modernization, one leading to a prosperous and democratic state, the other to what the historian Bruce Cumings terms a poverty stricken "nationalistic monarchy."Unavoidably, there is more discussion of South Korea than the North because of the limitations of the documentary record.The discussions of South Korean politics and economic modernization, an intelligent application of state power, are very interesting.

In terms of achieving a concise overview without being superficial, this book is a real success.A couple of additions would have nice.A detailed map would be useful. There is an annotated bibliography but a longer such addendum would enhance this book.Finally, a few summary charts or tables on demography, economic indicators, educational indicators, etc., would enhance the book.Nonetheless, an admirable performance. ... Read more

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Product Description
Korea is one of the critical flashpoints in the world today. News of North Korea's recent nuclear tests, conducted in defiance of international pressure, drew widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns about the threat now posed to regional and international security by the regime of North Korea's dear leader Kim Jong-Il.

This book penetrates the veil surrounding the conflict on the Korean peninsula and North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes. It provides a thorough historical analysis of relations between the two Koreas since the Korean War, which traces both North Korea's path to economic ruin and South Korea's transition from struggling dictatorship to vibrant democracy.

As well as examining the political and economic development of North and South Korea at the domestic level, the book goes on to explore regional relations with Russia, China and Japan and, most importantly, America's dealings with Korea and its negotiations with North Korea, in particular. It concludes with an analysis of North Korea's current nuclear programme and its likely impact on international security in the 21st century. ... Read more

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Following its liberation from Japanese colonialism, at the end of WWII, Korea was divided into two separate nations. Because the Korean nation enjoyed a long dynastic history, its postwar partition was particularly traumatic. The ensuing Cold War years spawned the Korean War and subsequent decades of strained inter-Korean relations and tensions in the region surrounding the peninsula. This volume provides readers who are unfamiliar with Korea's heritage insight into how Korea became a divided nation engulfed in international geopolitical tensions, providing expert analysis of this rendered nation's background, modern circumstances, and future prospects.

The Korean peninsula in Northeast Asia is home to a country that was divided at the end of the Second World War after its liberation from Japanese colonialism. Because the Korean nation enjoyed a long dynastic history, its postwar partition was particularly traumatic. The ensuing Cold War years soon spawned a very hot Korean War and subsequent decades of strained inter-Korean relations and tensions in the region surrounding the peninsula. This volume provides readers who are unfamiliar with Korea's heritage with insight into how Korea became a divided nation engulfed in international geopolitical tensions, providing expert analysis of this rendered nation's background, modern circumstances, and future prospects.

After a survey of Korea's geographic setting and historic legacy, Olsen details the circumstances of Korea's liberation and subsequent division. Drawing on that background, he analyzes the evolution of both South Korea and North Korea as separate states, surveying the politics, economics, and foreign policy of each. What are the key issues for each state from an international perspective? What are the prospects for reuniting the two into one nation? What challenges would a united Korea be likely to face? Olsen determines that stability in Korea is essential to future peace in the region. He concludes that a successful move toward unification is the best way to resolve issues connected to North Korea's nuclear agenda.

Customer Reviews (1)

Overview of Korean Peninsula Culture
Up front, I would buy this work as a companion to another work, but would not buy this as my first read on Korean culture. Olsen's scholarly work begins with an overview of Korean history and the development of their perspective since 2333 B.C."Korea: The Divided Nation" ends with the prospects for the future of the peninsula.The work is a quick read and easily understood. However, I find four significant shortcomings in the work. First, there are "Notes" at the end that lead to more in-depth information, but there are neither footnotes nor true endnotes. Since there is more than one version for some of the information in the book, the author should indicate the sources that he used. Second, other than the "Notes" there is no bibliography.Next, I could not find a single reference to one of the most respected works on this topic, that being Don Oberdorfer's "The Two Koreas", which was published 8 years before. Finally, there is not a single map or chart.With the importance of the regional geography on the development of Korean culture, a hand full of charts or maps would have contributed significantly to following his text. ... Read more

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Asia in Focus: The Koreas presents an authoritative and unprecedented look at the contrasts and similarities between the history, geography, politics, economy, culture, and society of North Korea and South Korea. It offers a wealth of new insights into North Korean life, as well as extensive explorations of Korean music, arts, language, cuisine, and popular culture, including the "Korean wave,Ó which began with the export of Korean television dramas to other parts of Asia and has spread South Korean culture around the world. Also included are sections on women's history and roles, class and ethnicity, and a wide range of contemporary issues.

For a deeper understanding of one of the most closely watched regions of the globe, this volume is a must.

Customer Reviews (3)

Comprehensive and substantive
The Koreas succeeds in being both comprehensive and substantive, from ancient history to modern table manners.Topics are broken down into logical chunks so that students can use this book almost like an encyclopedia for reports or research projects.The list of references at the end of each section adds considerable value to this resource.Clear black and white photographs give visual support to the information.This is THE go-to book for high school, college, and interested adult readers who want either a strong understanding of a particular topic or a magisterial course in Korean history and culture.

Comprehensive and Concise Introduction of Korean History
As a Korean American, I confess that I knew next to nothing about Korean History. World History textbooks will include China and Japan, but ignore Korea. The only mention of Korea in American History textbooks is the Korean War. Even then, the role of Koreans are marginalized in favor of the United States and China. As a result, Korean Americans are implicitly taught that Korea is an inconsequential nation with no history of value.

"The Koreas" is a comprehensive introduction to the rich and dynamic history of Korea and its people. Instead of sharing a sequential history of Korea, the book is wonderfully organized in content specific areas: Geography, History, Government and Politics, Economy, Society, Culture, and Contemporary Issues. Each section is written in a manner that makes it easy for the reader to compare ancient and recent Korean history. Furthermore, each individual entry is 2-3 pages in length, making the wealth of information much easier to digest.

I believe "The Koreas" is an essential resource for educators, whether they be K-12 teachers or university professors who teach introductory level courses in Asian American History.

I also recommend this book to Korean Americans who want to learn about Korean History. They will walk away with a greater appreciation for their rich & unique heritage.

A top pick for high school to college-level libraries strong in Asian studies
Joining others in the 'Asia in Focus' series, THE KOREAS is a history and social survey of the contrasts and similarities between two nations. History, geography, politics and cultures are considered in chapters exploring the countries and their connections, making this a top pick for high school to college-level libraries strong in Asian studies. ... Read more

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In his "immensely illuminating and accessible history" (Kirkus Reviews), Bruce Cumings delivers a memorable narrative of Korea's fractured modern history. Beginning with an overview of the cultural and political traditions of this accomplished civilization, Cumings dwells on Korea's long twentieth century, a period of colonial exploitation by Japan, war, and national division. His chapters on the Korean War show clearly just how close the world came to a nuclear holocaust. He then explores the economic resurgence and political turmoil that keep Korea in the headlines. Finally, he traces the significance of the Korean migration to the United States.Amazon.com Review
Bruce Cumings traces the growth of Korea from a string of competing walled city-states to its present dual nationhood. He examines the ways in which Korean culture has been influenced by Japan and China, and the ways in which it has subtly influenced its more powerful neighbors. Cumings also considers the recent changes in the South, where authoritarianism is giving way to democracy, and in the North, which Cumings depicts as a "socialist corporatist" state more like a neo-Confucian kingdom than a Stalinist regime. Korea's Place in the Sun does much to help Western readers understand the complexities of Korea's past and present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Great book
I had the privilege of visiting South Korea in 2001 as a tourist.Over the course of my life, I have met several Koreans thru work and school, and have read the occasional news article about the North - South division and nuclear politics.I joined Samsung this year, and one of my orientation sessions was in a reading room that contained numerous texts on Korea.This book was part of this collection.Wanting to know more about my new employer, I read this book in its entirety and came away quite satisfied.Coming in at over 500 pages long, this book provides a chronological history of the Korean peninsula with an emphasis on the 20th century.The book touches on a whole multitude of topics ranging from the written language to kimchi to art, but the emphasis is on politics and economics, and how bigger more powerful neighbors have often played decisive roles in Korea.These neighbors include the USSR/Russia, Japan, China, and the US.With regards to the post-WW2 era, the author takes a balanced look at Korea, with equal emphasis on how the North developed and views the South, and how the South developed and views the North.Both are quite enlightening.The author also does a wonderful job of citing the available literature on this topic, ranging from previous books by expatriates, to CIA documents from various Cold War events.Overall, a great book and a very enjoyable read.

Review of KOREA'S PLACE IN THE SUN
This history of modern Korea remedies to a large extent the paucity of Wnglish texts on the subject. The author is Professor of History at the University of Chicago. It provides a good understanding of the place of Korea in the modern world.

Excellent Perspective on Korean History
This scholarly work is extremely well documented and annotated and, at the same time, relates current aspects of Korean life to its origins as far back as 2,000+ years ago.

So much confidence in Korea
Bruce Cumings interpretation of Korean history shows off a confidence in which he accords the current Western acceptance of a Japanese-centric view of Korea's historical importance to be temporary and transitory when only viewed in light of not just contemporary Korean history, but in the context of Korean history in its entirety. The title of his book, Korea's Place in the Sun, shines this confidence in all aspects of his analysis, in his prose as well, of Korea.

Too bad for the cover, right? Great book!
Super detailed - almost to a fault. For me, it was an incredible read that I was hungry for - I didn't any more beginner's guides and overviews - I wanted detail and detail is what this book has. I strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with ancient and modern Korean history prior to reading this book because Cumings doesn't slow down for anyone - and for that I applaud him. Nicely done and recommended for anyone interested in more than a intro course on Korean history.

However I want to chime in and say this book is exactly what it claims to be - a one volume course on Korean history. Get ready for a level of detail that might scare you. Take notes because Mr. Cumings has and he is not afraid to site his sources.

Finally, he makes especially moving descriptions of the Korean war and demystifies the Miracle on the Han ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Reaching the incomprehensible and calumny
There is a point when theory becomes an almost purely aesthetic endeavor, where metaphors and the desire for intellectual proximity and intimacy with the absolute truth overrides comprehensibility as a central task of writing and communicating with the reader. The seductiveness of this endeavor not only enraptures the author, but many a sublime-seeking reader as well. This is not to say that theory has no place in historical writing, quite the contrary, without it, historical writing is no better than the drivel of trivia, but one has to wonder about the analytical worth of theory, when such dubious documents as the Tanaka Memorial form the "factual" foundation for Park's intellectual flying buttresses. ... Read more

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What happens when a dictator wins absolute power and isolates a nation from the outside world? In a nightmare of political theory stretched to madness, North Korea's Kim Jong Il made himself into a living god, surrounded by lies and flattery and beyond criticism.As over two million of his subjects starved to death, Kim Jong Il roamed between palaces staffed by the most beautiful girls in the country and stocked with the most expensive delicacies from around the world. Outside, the steel mills shut down, the trains stopped running, the power went out, and the hospitals ran out of medicine. When the population threatened to revolt, Kim imposed a reign of terror across the country, deceived the United Nations, and plundered the country's dwindling resources to become a nuclear power. Now tiny bankrupt North Korea is using her nuclear capability to blackmail the United States.Veteran correspondent Jasper Becker takes us inside one of the most secretive countries in the world, exposing the internal chaos, blind faith, rampant corruption, and terrifying cruelty of its rulers. Becker details the vain efforts to change North Korea by actors inside and outside the country and the dangers this highly volatile country continues to pose. Small, podgy and easily overlooked, Kim Jong Il has emerged from the shadow of his father to lead the most successful and dangerous rogue state of our times.This unique land, ruled by one family's megalomania and paranoia, seems destined to survive and linger on for some time, a menace to its own people and to the rest of the world. But should the nations of the world allow this regime to survive? That's the question with which this book concludes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Informative and Readable
I think this book offers many valuable insights into North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Il.First of all it demonstrates how difficult it is to truly understand what takes place inside the country.The North has a successful and prolonged history of manipulating the outside world in an attempt to perpetuate its power and gain an edge in all negotiations.And yet at times it seems that the Kims --Kim Jong Il and, before him,his father Kim Il Sung--have been ready to make a deal and that opportunities have been missed.Should the world make a deal with a ruthless dictator who seems to have purposely starved many of his own people, perhaps even millions of them, to retain power?If so, what kind of deal would it be and who would it benefit?And most importantly, can a deal really be done?If North Korea did open up to the world,disarm and allow inspectors to freely roam through the country would Kim Jong Il's regime survive?Wouldn't the spell be broken and the North Korean people at their first taste of freedom dispose of him?And doesn't he believe this? Shouldn't he? And if he does, isn't it obvious that no deal will be made, ever?And if no deal will ever be made, how long does the world allow someone like Kim Jong Il to remain in power?There are no easy answers to these questions.Each potential solution to the problem of North Korea is filled with unsettling ramifications and dangerous consequences.But perhaps the most unsettling thing about reading this book is the understanding that sooner or later the status quo will come to an end, however long it takes, and that when this occurs it may precipate the loss of millions of lives.

I give this book three and half stars because it contains quite a number of typos and at times the author is confusing in his use of dates.While trying to make a point about something that occured in the 1990s for example, he might immediately bring up something in the 1960s as supportive evidence.I periocially became confused as to what time he was referring to he did this so often.There are also some interesting things he mentions but doe not provide any footnotes for.He mentioned at one point that Kim Jong Il sent four North Koreans to study to become Russian Orthodx priests after he visited a Russian catherdral and was impressed with its architecture.If true, it suggests that Kim Jong Il is impulsive and eccentric; however, Becker doesn't explain where he got this information from.As others have commented, the book would have benefited frombetter editing.

Nightmare fodder
Very good book, though the topic is intensely disturbing.The author does an admirable job of presenting the subject matter in an unbiased manner, aware that there is a potential for inaccuracy when forced to rely on personal accounts and anecdotes.The book also shows the blundering and dunder-headedness that paved the DPRK's way to becoming a nuclear power intent on spreading chaos and death where ever it can.Thanks, Jimmy Carter!

Without advocating against appeasement outright, the author demonstrates how the Kims have always played South Korean and Western hopes against us to their great advantage.It is hard to imagine why anyone would want to promote conciliatory methods to reunification like the Sunshine Policy.After all, sunshine itself is the result of a nuclear explosion.

The Worst and the Best of the Nation-State System
This is the worst book ever written on North Korea: ...that is, except, for all the rest. Had Becker not proceeded with his ideological blinkers in the "on" position, organized the book better, and had it edited more carefully, this could have been not just a good book, but perhaps a great one.

The history of the Kim regime given here is first rate, but the bizarre introduction with the barely credible scenario spinning of a nuclear attack from the north, stretches credulity and begs the question of what the kind of scholarship this book really was intended to be: Was it intended as be just another anti-North Korea polemic and screed, or was it intended as a piece of sound political science and history? For this reader at least, even at the end of the book that question remained an open one.

Since the Kim regime is such an exceedingly easy target to "pick on," painting a grotesque and depressing picture of that reality, is insufficient in itself to raise the book to the level of serious history or serious political science. However, carefully tracing the history of the development of the country of North Korea - as an afterthought of Stalinism - to Kim's"cult of personality" could not have been more informative, more revealing, or even better done.

Among other things, and certainly in deep relief, it demonstrates the utter artificiality of the concept of a nation state itself: The Kim Il Sungs, Stalins, Pol Pots, Saddam Husseins and Hitlers simply represent one end of a spectrum that begins with cults of personality and weakly justifiable racial ideologies and ends with less obvious and less transparent nations organized around equally tribal, economic and religious myths.Certainly the best of nations are different only in degree and not in kind from the monstrosity that is North Korea.

Once the book stops its implicit backhanded self-congratulatory stance of how great our Western democracies are in comparison to North Korea, and come to the full realization of how small the overall objective distance really is between these monstrosities and the best the nation-state has to offer, only then can we take a healthy and sober pause and say there is still work to be done, not just in the North Koreas of the world but in all of the "so called" free nations as well.

Three Stars

Poorly organized, hard to follow
Becker provides a relatively detailed exposition on the history of Korea and how the reign of Kim Jong Il came to be.Unfortunately, the book lacks a coherent organization and is, at times, difficult to follow.It's almost as if he had a set of anecdotes he wanted to include in the book and hastily organized them into chapters.One page he's talking about Italian chefs being flown in with pizza ovens to teach Italian cooking, then suddenly there is discussion of Stalin and Mao.

It's unfortunate because there is good information in this book (I think) and it's an interesting read, but it could really benefit from being written chronologically and just having a better organization overall.

Personally I wouldn't recommend it.

An excellent examination of the politics and life in The Hermit Nation
Jasper Becker does an excellent job detailing the rise to power of Kim il Sung and his struggles with the totally psychotic Kim Jong Il.

The book is well written and explores the horrific conditions North Koreans endure as well as the Machiavellian manner that Jong Il treats those close to him.

Becker derives most of his information from interviews with North Koreans who have escaped, but also uses military intel and his own travels there to craft a startling picture.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in NK (I'd also be remiss if I didn't ferverently recommend "Aquariums of Pyongyang, one of the finest books ever written on this subject.)

One caveat comes to mind however:The opening chapter examining what might occur in case of a military strike against NK is just down right hokey, and I'd implore the reader to carry on as it gets much better.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Hobo Philosopher
If we accept the premise that the U.S. government had theoretically declared war against Russia in 1917 when the Russian army decided to walk off the battlefields of Europe and establish a "worker" state. And then add the point of view that it was the Free World Capitalists from the U.S. and elsewhere who financed Adolf Hitler with the intent of using Hitler and his Nazi State to attack and destroy Russia. And then we view the post war Marshall Plan and the establishment of NATO as further steps in isolating Russia as an enemy. And follow all this logic with the "Cold War" strategy to box Russia in militarily and economically, we have the foundations for this journalistic indictment.

This entire attitude stems from the American Capitalist government's strong aversion to the rights or advancement of labor organizations at home and abroad. It has become clear to me from my research of the American and world labor movement that from this country's beginnings it has been at war with "workers" and the working man mentality. When and if one takes all of this into consideration the goals and intent of both MacArthur and Truman as pointed out elaborately and in detail in this book become more than understandable.

I feel that this book is accurate in all of its details with only one small flaw. As Mr. Ambrose also points out, North Korea did not really need to be "tricked" or lured into a belligerent attitude. Current day events point out clearly that North Korea has always had its problems when it comes to aggression.
But that one point made, I don't think that fact diminishes the exceptional fact finding report conducted in this book by Mr. Stone.

General MacArthur comes off very, very bad in my estimation. He was not frightened of nuclear power, since the U.S. had the command of it at that moment. The idea that MacArthur was inciting the easily excitable North Koreans so that he could then suck in the Chinese followed by the Russians for a lopsided nuclear World War III seems truly frightening. Mr. Stone makes it very clear that it was MacArthur intention to eventually nuke China and Russia.

Truman did not want to nuke anybody but he did encourage MacArthur and a crisis. Truman used the Korean conflict in order to promote his domestic and foreign policy political objectives according to Stone.
Truman wanted the Marshall Plan and NATO defenses for Europe and continued wartime military investment at home to keep America out of a post war recession that could possibly give the Russians the upper hand economically and in the ideological battle for the hearts and minds of capitalists and communist everywhere, according to Stone.

I have just ordered two more of Mr. Stone's works. I. F. Stone was a journalist recording, with super insights and amazing perspective, the news of his day. Today these works can be considered history - and great history at that. Mr. Stone was a radical. He calls himself a non-conformist. If I. F. Stone is a radical, we need more radicals and non-conformists of his caliber today.

Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel - Lawrence, Ma.
"The Eastpointer" Selections from award winning column.
"Noble Notes on Famous Folks" Humor - satire - and facts.
"America on Strike" Labor History

Exposing US lies
A must read. Published during the war, I.F. Stone exposes US military communiques on the criminal bombing of North Korea which killed 2 million civilians, one-quarter of the population, as well as the use of millions of gallons of napalm on the civilian population.

This is one of the best books about the korean war.
I.f Stone presents a very well documented case much of what most peopleknow about the Korean War is false. A must read. ... Read more

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In this ambitious and innovative study Gregg Brazinsky examines American nation building in South Korea during the Cold War. Marshalling a vast array of new American and Korean sources, he explains why South Korea was one of the few postcolonial nations that achieved rapid economic development and democratization by the end of the twentieth century. Brazinsky contends that a distinctive combination of American initiatives and Korean agency enabled South Korea's stunning transformation. On one hand, Americans supported the emergence of a developmental autocracy that spurred economic growth in a highly authoritarian manner. On the other hand, Americans sought to encourage democratization from the bottom up by fashioning new institutions and promoting a dialogue about modernization and development.

Expanding the framework of traditional diplomatic history, Brazinsky examines not only state-to-state relations, but also the social and cultural interactions between Americans and South Koreans. He shows how Koreans adapted, resisted, and transformed American influence and promoted socioeconomic change that suited their own aspirations. Ultimately, Brazinsky argues, Koreans' capacity to tailor American institutions and ideas to their own purposes was the most important factor in the making of a democratic South Korea. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Review of a review
I actually fact-checked for a scholarly book review on this book, and in doing so read the book as well.As someone with only vague knowledge of the history of the two Koreas, it was an informative book on the history of the divide and the various policies the countries have faced, including the somewhat intrusive role of the U.S.I read this book just as North Korea tested its first nuclear weapons in October of 2006.I highly recommend this book not only to those interested in North Korea or East Asian politics, but to everyone.According to the book, the situation is not one that will easily be resolved. ... Read more

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This fully updated second edition of The Making of Modern Korea provides a thorough, balanced and engaging history of Korea from 1910 to the present day. The text is unique in placing emphasis on Korea’s regional and geographical context, through which Buzo analyzes the influence of bigger and more powerful states on the peninsula of Korea.

Key features of the book include:

• comprehensive coverage of Korean history
• up-to-date analysis of important contemporary developments, including North Korea’s controversial missile and nuclear tests
• comparative focus on North and South Korea
• an examination of Korea within its regional context
• a detailed chronology and suggestions for further reading.

The Making of Modern Korea is a valuable one-volume resource for students of modern Korean history, international politics and Asian Studies.

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"A MUST READ . . . This book [is] one of the best on that war in Korea. . . . A wonderful account of common, decent men in desperate action."
--Leatherneck

During the early, uncertain days of the Korean War, World War II veteran and company lieutenant Joe Owen saw firsthand how the hastily assembled mix of some two hundred regulars and raw reservists hardened into a superb Marine rifle company known as Baker-One-Seven.

As comrades fell wounded and dead around them on the frozen slopes above Korea's infamous Chosin Reservoir, Baker-One-Seven's Marines triumphed against the relentless human-wave assaults of Chinese regulars and took partin the breakout that destroyed six to eight divisions of Chinese regulars. COLDER THAN HELL paints a vivid, frightening portrait of one of the most horrific infantry battles ever waged.

"Thoroughly gripping . . . The Chosin action is justly called epical; Lieutenant Owen tells the tale of the men who made it so."
--Booklist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Fast speech
Whoever is the reader has a very fast speech pattern that makes it near impossible for me to understand. This is the worst audio book I ever had! I can't even comment on the story and I was there!

Comment on S.Annand Review
Regarding Mr. Annand's perceptive review, allow me to comment briefly
on his reference to me (Lt. Chew Een Lee in Owen's book) that I now
go by "Karl" is not correct.My name has been legally changed to Kurt
Chew-Een Lee on Marine Corps records in 1955, so I am generally referred
to as Major Kurt Lee.Readers may be interested to know that the epic Chosin
battle will be immortalized as "Uncommon Courage -- Breakout at Chosin"
in a documentary film to be put out in 2010 by the Smithsonian Institution.

Accordingly, the word "Karl" in Mr. Annand's review should be changed to
"Kurt" and he be so notified.Thank you.

Great History
What a great read and a great story of one of the EPIC times of the Marine Corps.The Corps has an incredibly "star studded" history, from 1775 to the present.But the time at Chosin stands out as a unique victory over seemingly insurmountable odds and impossible weather.Words are just too weak to memorialize the "impossible" stand and survival of these Marines.

Awesome
This book is awesome, I read it originally because my grandfather was one of the replacments in Baker 1-7 following the battle for chosin reservoir and fought at the punch bowl in 1951.

War is hell - in this case, Frozen Hell
Colder Than Hell helped me appreciate what our servicemen went through at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. My father served with the 1st Division Marines in the battle, and was a Purple Heart recipient. He died years later when I was very young and now I have an idea of what it was like.

The author starts off by talking about the 'guys' and their wives prior to being called up, and takes you through the entire battle. Regardless of where you stand on this war, there's no denying how brave these men were and the hell they went through. Semper Fi
... Read more

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Written by a combat historian who served 5th Historical Detachment, this account of the Korean War has been updated with two additional chapters. Photographs from the first edition have also been restored. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

We Didn't Lose The War
This is a good book, one that provides much insight into the Pol-Mil factors that dominated the Korean War. Yet I take exception to the author's title. The UN Forces did not lose the Korean War. Perhaps the author wanted a snazzy title.I can assure you that he succeeded in alienating the brave veterans who stopped the Communists cold in Korea. The Communists lost the war.The nKs didn't unify Korea under the domination of the Red Star. nK was devastated and has never fully recovered from launching an aggressiveve war aagainst the RoK. Red China lost the war, losing at least 600,000 men including Mao's favorite son. More importantly, the Red Chinese delayed a national modernization plan when they jumped into a war at Stalin's bidding, setting China's receovery back thirty-years.Furthermore, the Chinese intervention in Korea made it politically possible for the US to intervene in the Taiwan Straits, preventing the Unification of China, one of Mao's stated and most important goals. Finally, the Soviet Union lost the war it encouraged Kim Il Sung to start. NATO was a hallow reed before the KW; it became a force capable of deterring Soviet intervention in Western Europe afterwards, all thanks to Uncle Joe's meddling in the Far East. In short, I take exception to the book's title. Semper Fi

Korea: The first war our politicians lost for us!!!
This is truly a good read - a bit much detail wise - but,nonetheless a good read. I am sad to note that it was my generation that rushed from our high school graduation down to the recruiting offices to do our patriotic duty only to be denied any chance to win by Truman and his ilk. Of only 25 boys in my class, 17 of us volunteered and 3 of these young men are buried in Korea. What a sad, sad waste. Back to the book - it is well worthwhile. Certainly you will learn a great deal about this"Police Action"

Too broad in scope, too little detail
Korea:The First war we lost

Bevin Alexander's book suffers from too much of a good thing-organization.492 pages are divided into 63 chapters.Each chapter identifies a good point, but in trying to cover all of them, the book develops few of them sufficiently.Instead, Alexander skips from idea to idea, devoting fewer than ten pages, and then flits off to the next idea.

The scope of his topic, from the bowels of the White House and Pentagon to the nameless ridges and valleys of Korea, is immense.In trying to cover it all, he has instead touched only the "wavetops."At the end of the book, after following the trail of policy decisions, Alexander fails to present a cogent, convincing argument that the US and her UN coalition partners indeed lost this war.The (final) stated war aim was to restore South Korea's sovereignty, and that was accomplished.I think that Alexander implicitly accepts MacArthur's statement that there is no substitute for victory, and no such thing as a war for limited objectives.While the first part is true, victory is defined by the use of military means to accomplish political objectives, and in Korea, the US and UN coalition succeeded.

The strongest theme in the book is the identification of the policy struggles between the new National Command Authorities, National Security Advisor, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Commander in Chief, Far East.Alexander does a solid job of defining the problem in terms of positions and policy, rather than the normal MacArthur versus Truman debate.He also explores the impact of MacArthur's seniority relative to the Joint Chiefs (MacArthur was the only active five star general).

Another strength of the book is its maps.Since (usually) authors have to pay for whatever maps they want included in a book, most include as few as possible.Alexander includes fourteen, most of them tactical level maps.Building off of the maps, the chapters that deal with separate battles are solid.The weakness is that Alexander fails top explain the operational integration of a series of battles into a campaign designed to accomplish strategic objectives.

If you are already familiar with the Korean War, this book can serve as an interesting read for a new look at the integration of the strategic aims with the daily battle plan, and a revealing look at the difficulty of making defense and foreign policy since 1947.If, however, you are looking for a one volume single read introit to the subject, this is not the book to read.

A seminal contribution to American military studies
In a newly revised edition, Bevin Alexander's Korea: The First War We Lost continues to be an exhaustive, scholarly exploration of the causes and effects of American involvement in the Korean War. Alexander, a combat historian during the Korean War and commander of the 5th Historical Detachment, points out the U.S. succeeded in stopping North Korean aggression, but failed in its attempt to destroy the North Korean state and eliminate this strategic shield protecting China's heartland. Alexander's informative and comprehensive text is enhanced with thirteen maps and is a seminal contribution to American military studies in general, and the Korean conflict in particular.

Excellent Meld of Military and Political Aspects of the War
MY GOODNESS, I HAVE JUST read three Korean War books in a row. Completing the hat trick is Alexander's book. Don't judge the book by its title: thereis a fair compendium of the facts (and fantasies) of all the Korean Warparticipants: China, Russia, NKPA and ROK forces, the UN, the US andaffiliated armies all swung from victory to defeat; wild bouts of optimismand valleys of despair. Perhaps it is fitting that this country of MorningCalm and intense moods; of vertical ridges and sprawling mud flats, should so condemn those who set foot on its rich and fragrant soils. Do not makeAlexander's book the first book you read about the Korean War. ReadAppleman, Knox and perhaps Acheson first. Then Alexander's mastery of thewar and its complex web ofintrigue (NY to Seoul; Beijing to Moscow;London to Delhi) in the high courts of the nascent cold war will hit youhardest where it should: right in the heart. When you count the staggeringloss of life-especially in the two years the negotiations dragged on, adelay Alexander rightly blames largely on the USA-and realize they werespent to capture worthless ridges, I doubt tears won't come to your eyes.What a pathetic account Truman and Acheson make of themselves, even if manydecisions they reached had merit.
Alexander's grasp of history here isvery insightful. He claims that it is our obsession with 'total victory'over Japan in WWII that allowed the Russians to enter the Asian war and ledto the division of the Korean peninsula in the first place.
So too isthe author's discussion of NKPA actions off the main Seoul/Taejon/Taegubattle axis. If NKPA forces had not dilly dallied in the west (defendingports the UN never attempted to regain) and on the east coast (deploying inthe mountains to prevent ambushes, which also never came), they would havecrushed the still weak Pusan defenses weeks before a perimeter could beestablished.
Few books mix politics with military analysis. Even fewerdo it well, and Alexander's is one of them. He breaks thediplomatic/political initiatives into tangible issues.While intelligentand analytic, he remains youthful in his comments: "One can onlyimagine the dispatches that transpired between Moscow and Ambassador JacobMalik!" The photo of the Russian diplomat's vacant chair at theSecurity Council meeting is a Korean War icon. To right wingers, anappropriate metaphor for what communist state-ism would always be: empty.

While other analyses (In'chon, Chosin, the decision to cross theparallel) and conclusions (that the US was an aggressor! for going intoNorth Korea) are more suspect, they do not detract from the book. ... Read more

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This text provides an accurate, balanced and readable history of Korea from 1909 to the present day, providing an invaluable one-volume resource for all students of modern Korean history. ... Read more

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More than 230 full-color images by someof theworld's most-renowned photographers.South Korea, with its craggy hillsides, gnarledtrees, and ancient temples, is steeped intradition yet, at the same time, is thoroughlymodern—the tenth-ranking industrial power in the world. Its capital city, Seoul, is one of themost populous cities in the world and home tosuch cutting-edge buildings as the Samsung Tower Palace.

The beautiful landscape andday-to-day details of life in South Korea aredepicted here in images taken by thephotographers of Magnum—the famed cooperativewhose members are among the greatestphotographers of our time. Here we see a richculture that both respects a dynamic culturalhistory and celebrates the latest trends infashion, technology, and architecture. Theseextraordinary photographs are set in theirhistorical context by an insightful text byhistorian Bruce Cumings. 247 color photographs ... Read more

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Korea
Beautiful book-perhaps a bit heavy on "people" and less on the physical beauty of the country.

Korea at its finest.
Of the dozens of photo books of countries that I have this is the finest ever.I have travelled extensively in Korea and have lived there.This book is true to the country and the people.It truely is agreat work of art and terrific value.

A Lovely Book
A lovely book, high quality pictures and, for someome who lived there for 2 years, a nice trip down memory lane. ... Read more

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Finally, an up-close look at our battlefield oponents of the Korean War, formidable enemies indeed. ... Read more

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An Authoritative and Handy Reference on the NKPA and CPV in the Korean War!
This book is an authoritative and handy reference on the soldiers of the North Korean People's Army and the Chinese People's Volunteers in the Korean War.

On June 25, 1950 135,000 men of the the North Korean People's Army and Border Constabulary invaded South Korea. Consisting of seven assault infantry divisions, an armor brigade of Soviet T-34 tanks, an independent infantry regiment, a motorcycle regiment, three reserve divisions, and five border constabulary brigades, the North Koreans quickly overran most of South Korea.

The North Korean invasion triggered American military support to the government of South Korea and by the end of September 1950, following the American landing at Inchon and the breakout of the Eighth Army at Pusan, what remained of the North Korean Army was in full retreat.

The American invasion of North Korea in turn triggered a Chinese military intervention on a huge scale. But just as they had underestimated the North Korean Army earlier in the war, the Americans also underestimated the soldiers of the Chinese Communist Forces. Surprised and badly beaten, it was the turn of the American and United Nations' forces in October to retreat. And so began the ebb and flow between U.S. and U.N forces on the one side and North Korean and Chinese forces on the other that lasted for another three years.

By the end of the war in July 1953 the North Korean Army had been totally rebuilt into a formidable fighting machine, numbering 260,000 men and women, by the Soviets and Chinese. And the Chinese had committed some 3 million soldiers to the war in North Korea, including twenty-five infantry armies, sixteen artillery divisions, ten armored divisions, twelve air force divisions (consisting of 672 pilots and more than 59,000 ground service personnel) and six security guard divisions.

Based on intelligence and after-action reports, Kevin Mahoney has compiled an insightful and much needed reference on the North Korean and Chinese soldier. By the end of the war, both had won the respect of their American Army and Marine counterparts.

A general view of North Koreans and Chinese
The book is short and easy to read but lacks depth and numerical data. Mr Mahoney has tried to keep a balance between the North Koreans and the Chinese troops and has succeeded well but although he recounts many small actions and their tactical aspects he has no grasp of the statistics and the data of the Korean War and his story is weak regarding the strategic and operational level of the war. He has managed to prove that the communist soldiers were indeed formidable enemies (although most of them were illiterate) and fought with tenacity and cleverness, unlike the chaotic banzai charges of the Japanese troops in World War II. They accepted grevious losses to achieve their aims and finally forestalled the UN forces along a static front. And all of these while lacking armor, air power and modern weaponry. Two maps are included, one of the whole Korean theater of war and the other of the final frontline of 1953. At the end of the book there is a useful appendix with short battle histories of all the North Korean divisions and the Chinese armies that saw action in Korea. There is also a middle section of 36 black and white photographs.

Keep the day job, Mahoney.
Don't let the thickness of the binding fool you; the excruiciatingly brief manuscript measures at an inexplicably thin 143 pages of large print, with the balance encumbered by a comparable length of footnotes and bibliographical references.
Granted, one cannot but appreciate the inherent difficulty presented with documentating of the topic in question. However, any reonsible author is compelled to weigh the absence of available information against the decision to author the manuscript on the basis thereof, in the first place. In fact, virtually all of the documentation cosulted for this title is confined to a host of U.S. interrogation and intellgence reports obtained fromthe U.S. National Archives , although, suspiciously, recently declassified reports from the former-Soviet Union were never consulted. So at best, such limitations restrict the potential of this evaluation to simply a more-sizable-than-normal Western impression of the North Korean and Chinese soldier.But, beyond the sparcity of data is the thorough ineptitude of its presentation.
Indeed, one need not delve too far into the manuscript inorder to assess the readily apparent inability of the author to successfully evaluate his way out of a paper bag, to say nothing about the subject matter that he purports to discuss. No doubt, any military historian is bound to be thrown off by the almost uniform absence of specifics with relation to numbers, names and locations, in addition to a prevalence of completely subjective terminology, as the so-caled assessment is relayed via a myriad of ,"some 'this'", "many "that'", "a few "this"", and so forth.
Nothing is mentioned of the untimely capture of Kim Sam Yong and Yi Chu Ha, the apprehension of whom severely inhibited the ability of South Korean-based Communist guerillas to coordinate their activities in conjunction with the North Korean invasion. In fact, the only proper name on the North Korean side to be subject to any mention at all is that of Kim Il Sung.
Furthermore, the author's selective analysis of the background circumstances reflects a blatant ignorance of the political and social context within which the subject is relayed.The only mention of the Japanese occupation is confined to the infuriating insinuation that the annexation itself implemented positive social change within the Korean family and social structure. No references whatsover are devoted to the oppressive and frequently brutal subjucation that drove many a Korean, regardless of political affiliation, to pledge their devotion to the People's Liberartion movement in particular, and the Communist ideology in general, to say nothing about the fact that post-war mismanagement by American General Hodge had driven many Koreans to associate pro-Western ideology with pro-Japanese sentiments, which proved further conduvcive in building the numbers of impressionable comrades with which to swear allegience to Kim Il Sung.
On a lighter note,the blatantly pretentious manner in which the author attempts to concoct a fanciful dressing for the most typical forms of military statistics suffices as a invaluable source of inadvertent humor, from time to time.Most notably, Mahoney's lauaghably idiotic manner of phrasing his projected estimates for North Korean military casualties as, "A range of 100,000 to 200,000 North Korean dead seems most likely to be eventually proven accurate," left me rolling on the floor.
To add insult to injury,the writing style itself is quick to betraythe authior's blatantly obvious unfamiliarity not, only with the subject matter at hand, but the entire spectrum of military history and tactics, a incompatence further reflected by the thorough permetation of the manuscript with gross understatements. Case in point,the opening of Chapter 4 reflects the author's laughably idiotic sense of urgency to inform the reader that, "Information about the enemy is vital in combat, and both the North Korean and Communist Chinese armies used so-called reconnaissance troops to gather the intelligence required." No kidding!!
Predictably, Mahoney's brief and generic assessment of the North Korean offensive reflects the conventional wisdom that the invasion had been launched without provocation, despite recent revisions in scholarly research that reveal that the South Korean's may have fired the first shot.
Foreseeably, Mahoney proceeds to acknowledge with some level of "shock" that, yes, even the the Korean War bore its share of atrocities. Curiously enough, the most notorious incidents are completely ommitted, to say nothing about the long-since well-documented fact that the ROK and U.S. forces were themselves guilty of comparable excesses.
Delving intothe Glossary, the fact the author somehow feels compelled to extend an explanation for such trivial terminology as "conscription", "ïnfantry", and "offensive" raises serious speculation not only as to the supposedage-group of Mahoney's anticipated target audience,but of the projected IQ-rating thereof.
With less than 45 minutes-worth of reading time to behold, the only significant information to be derived from this book is the fact that its overly prententious, military historian-wannabe of an author will never be ready to play with the big boys.
Under the circumstances, I feel urgently compelled to advise, not just military historians, but any homosapien capable of registering positive integers ion an IQ scale to avoid this book at all costs.And don't say I didn't warn you!

Good examination of tactics, organization, and more
This is a fascinating, well-written, well-organized, and apparently objective look at the two armies, covering offensive and defensive tactics, as well as matters of recruitment,psychology, training, medicine, etc. As the preface says, the book reveals how North Korean and Chinese soldiers lived and fought. Kevin Mahoney clearly has a great deal of respect for both armies and for their ways of coping with the war's exigencies. Presidio Press does not publish uninteresting books. ... Read more

Product Description
The eventual reunification of the Korean Peninsula will send political and economic reverberations throughout Northeast Asia and will catalyze the struggle over a new regional order among the four great powers of the Pacific--Russia, China, Japan, and the United States. Korea's Future and the Great Powers addresses the vital issues of how to achieve a stable political order in a unified Korea, how to finance Korean economic reconstruction, and how to link Korea into a cooperative framework of international diplomatic relations. ... Read more

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The great powers position -key to twoKorea,s Reunification
In last page of Cover the book Editors write : "The eventual reunification of the Korean Peninsula will send political and economic reverberations throughout Northeast Asia and will catalyze the struggle over new regional order amnong the four reat powers of Pacific-Russia, China, Japan, and the United States." Book is edited by leading american reaserchers korean issue. Book is very current now at time start Bejings 6-sides talks. The contibutors of book was outstanding scholars and former politicians , like prof. Robert Scalapino from University California, Marcus Nolland, Robert Galluci,Chuck Downes, Michael Armacost. Book is divided to three parts: first - Historical and political context, second economic context and third strategic implications. Analysis of international enviroment Korean Peninsulais deep and serious. I agre with genaral conclusions book: America must prepared to solve very serious challenges from North Korea and must cooperate with China, Japan , Pacific-Russia
and specially Republic Of Korea. I recomend this book readers want understand korean issue. ... Read more

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Featuring a wide geographical scope, this collection of essays surveys enterprise and welfare reforms in all the remaining four Asian communist states: China, Vietnam, Laos and North Korea. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union they can no longer place major reliance upon assistance from other 'fraternal' states and have to devise their own strategies for survival. All have shown a trend towards greater reliance on market forces, though in different ways and to varying degrees. Enterprise management has to adapt to this. In some of them entrepreneurs have become politically and socially acceptable. They may even begin to set trends for social evolution. Yet since state entreprises used to be responsible for all welfare payments to employees and their families, management reforms cannot be separated from those of welfare arrangements. Reducing an enterprise's non-commerical obligations for the sake of greater market efficiency is bound to affect welfare provision. It also reopens the role of official trade unions. How these regimes cope with these conflicting pressures are vital factors in their long-term viability. ... Read more