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North Korea's development and testing of nuclear weapons made headlines in the Western media, but is the country really a threat to the rest of the world? This accessible introduction examines the country's history and focuses on whether the threat is realistic or exaggerated by the US in order to gain international support for the controversial missile defense system. It also shows what the EU can do to engage with North Korea and counterbalance the US policy of isolationism.North Korea is struggling to survive in the face of US threats of preemptive action and regime change by developing its own Weapons of Mass Destruction. For the EU, the challenge is to resolve this stand-off, providing North Korea with sufficient security guarantees to enable it to give up its nuclear weapons, and enough assistance to enable the economic and social reforms that the country so desperately needs.
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NORTH KOREA ON THE BRINK
North Korea on the Brink Struggle for Survival
Glyn Ford with Soyoung Kwon
Foreword by Gareth Evans
Pluto Press London • Ann Arbor, MI
First published 2008 by Pluto Press 345 Archway Road, London N6 5AA and 839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 www.plutobooks.com Copyright © Glyn Ford 2008 The right of Glyn Ford to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978 0 7453 2599 6 hardback ISBN 978 0 7453 2598 9 paperback Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data applied for 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Designed and produced for Pluto Press by Curran Publishing Services, Norwich Printed and bound in the European Union by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham and Eastbourne, England
Contents List of figures, tables and maps List of abbreviations Note on Korean names and words Foreword by Gareth Evans Preamble
viii ix xi xii xv
1. North Korea in context Introduction Northern exposure Hypocrisy and democracy Regional perspectives European voice Going North
1 1 1 5 8 9 12
2. Drawing the Iron Curtain Introduction Geography The Yanks arrive Revolts, riots and invasion Annexation and resistance Rising nationalism Kim enters stage left Colonial consequences The Soviets come and go Gerrymandered elections Pre-war war Stalin says yes Mao concurs Who kicked off? Civil war to cold war conflict The process Going for a draw POWs The end Hangover Winners and losers
16 16 16 18 20 20 21 22 23 26 28 29 31 32 33 33 37 39 41 42 44 46
3. Kim’s Korea Introduction Divide and rule Kim under threat Then there was one Leaving Marx
48 48 49 50 52 54 [ v ]
CONTENTS
Economy takes off Heroes of labour Economic turbulence Economic autarky Economy in reverse Welfare state Alone abroad Switching partners Alternative to the Soviet bloc Friends and foes Reunification of the Fatherland Kim’s legacy
56 58 60 60 62 63 66 68 69 70 73 76
4. A life in Wonderland Introduction Building the nation Shaping the nation Controlling the nation Juche culture Manga mania Bread and circuses Games people play National health Equal opportunities Crime and punishment Coming out?
79 79 79 84 88 93 95 96 100 103 105 107 110
5. Food, famine and fugitives Introduction Food and famine Korea’s cry for help Calling on the EU Aid at what cost? EU aid Solving its own problems Reform’s rhetoric In our own style Factions Reading the signs Kim 3 Flood of refugees? Defectors’ world tour North Korean Human Rights Act EU talks about human rights Things can only get better Same country, two pictures
112 112 113 114 115 118 121 121 125 125 129 131 132 132 137 140 141 143 144
[ vi ]
CONTENTS