North Korea ― The Politics Of Regime Survival

Despite economic disasters and diplomatic pressures the Kim regime in North Korea has managed to survive. In this collection of 13 articles contributors examine why by describing the key motives and policy objectives of the regime, including its adaptation to modernity, military-first politics, juggling of nuclear standoff with economic shortfalls, programs of weapons of mass destruction, and economic reforms. Foreign relations issues include relations with the US, Japan, China, Russia and South Korea, and the collection closes with very timely articles on moving beyond the six-party talks as peace strategy and understanding the past of the regime to understand the future. The collection includes a comprehensive bibliography. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)