The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History (rev. upd. 3rd ed. 2014)

Don Oberdorfer has written a gripping narrative history of Korea's travails and triumphs over the past three decades. The Two Koreas places the tensions between North and South within a historical context, with a special emphasis on the involvement of outside powers. While the Cold War is over in the rest of the world, a potentially deadly confrontation continues on the bitterly divided peninsula of Korea, where two of the world's largest armies - along with 37,000 U.S. troops - face each other across the misnamed "demilitarized zone," ready to resume fighting on a moment's notice. Here the United States would be instantly involved in any new outbreak of violence. Below the dividing line, which was established by the great powers at the end of World War II, South Korea has developed a fractious democracy and one of the world's most vibrant economies. Above the line lies reclusive North Korea, the most closed society on earth, locked in its unique brand of communist Confucianism, militarily powerful but bereft of its former communist allies and unable to feed its people. The struggle between the two Koreas has repeatedly claimed the headlines of the world in acts of terrorism and heroism, showdowns over nuclear weapons programs on both sides of the lines, the sudden deaths of leaders, and historic turning points in the relationship with the outside powers of the United States, Japan, Russia, and China. Yet the news from and about contemporary Korea has been marked by a remarkable absence of historical context, background, or basis for understanding. The Two Koreas is the definitive and compelling answer to this gap. An acclaimed history of the Korean Peninsula from World War II to the present day North Korea is an impoverished, famine-ridden nation, but it is also a nuclear power whose dictator Kim Jong-un regularly threatens his neighbors and adversaries, the United States in particular, with destruction. Even though Kim and President Donald Trump's responses to him dominate the daily headlines, the idea that North Korea is a menace is not a new one. Indeed, ever since Korea was first divided at the end of World War II, the tension between its northern and southern halves has riveted-and threatened to embroil -- the rest of the world. In this landmark history, veteran journalist Don Oberdorfer and Korea expert Robert Carlin grippingly describe how a historically homogenous people became locked in a perpetual struggle for supremacy -- and how other nations including the United States have tried, and failed, to broker a lasting peace. "Ever since Korea was first divided at the end of World War II, the tension between its northern and southern halves has riveted-and threatened to embroil-the rest of the world. In this landmark history, now thoroughly revised and updated in conjunction with Korea expert Robert Carlin, veteran journalist Don Oberdorfer grippingly describes how a historically homogenous people became locked in a perpetual struggle for supremacy-and how they might yet be reconciled"-- Provided by publisher Ever since Korea was first divided at the end of World War II, the tension between its northern and southern halves has riveted#x97;and threatened to embroil#x97;the rest of the world. In this landmark history, now thoroughly revised and updated in conjunction with Korea expert Robert Carlin, veteran journalist Don Oberdorfer grippingly describes how a historically homogenous people became locked in a perpetual struggle for supremacy#x97;and how they might yet be reconciled A loft on dazzling white wings, the great cranes wheel in the sky and float down for a landing in a richly forested, unspoiled two-and-a-half-mile strip of land that stretches like a ribbon for 150 miles across the waist of the Korean peninsula. "A true public service... a clear and unpretentious journalistic narrative of the...public and behind-the-scenes political and diplomatic efforts to solve the Korea question."-The Boston Globe "A new edition of the definitive overview of contemporary Korean history, updated with new material to account for recent, dramatic events"-- Provided by publisher