Well now, this seems to be an interesting idea for a book.Description:
George W. Bush's infamous remark about the 'Axis of Evil' brought North Korea dramatically back into the international spotlight. During the late 1990s relations between North Korea and the US and its allies were on the mend. However, the election of George W. Bush resulted in renewed crisis. The nuclear accord between the two countries was torn up, dashing North Korean hopes for establishing normal diplomatic and economic relations. Though malnutrition has eased and the economy is growing, the outlook is bleak.
This book cuts through the propaganda to unearth the complex and contradictory realities of this much-demonised country and its geopolitical context. The North is not a ‘workers’ paradise’ but, like Iraq, neither is it a threat to its neighbours and the region in the way usually portrayed.
Tim Beal reveals a country overburdened by military spending that sees itself under constant threat. However, he also shows that North Korea is pragmatic about negotiating with the United States. Attempts at economic reform and export expansion are shackled by US and Japanese hostility. Exploring a broad range of subjects including the historical and political framework of North Korea, the development of the nuclear crisis, human rights issues, drug trading, as well as its shifting relationship with South Korea, this is an ideal book for anyone who wants a thorough introduction to the daunting challenges faced by this country.
4 comments:
While Tim Beal has a very good site on North Korea (http://www.vuw.ac.nz/%7Ecaplabtb/dprk/), which has a wealth of links to other NK sites and information, the point-of-view in his book (and periodic newsletters posted on his site) that, “North Korea is pragmatic about negotiating with the United States” and that the nations is not, “a threat to its neighbours and the region in the way usually portrayed,” is misleading at best.
On these points, North Korea is not negotiating for the best interest of the nation, but for the Kim Jong-il regime only. It is critical to make that distinction, since the regime will do whatever it takes to stay in power, unlike what most would consider ‘normal’ nations. It’s important enough to be more than just a nuance. When I speak of ‘North Korea’ below, read ‘regime,’ differentiated by the, ‘North Korean people.’
What the people want or need is irrelevant to the goals of the regime, which is to maintain complete control and stay in power. What North Korea has to do – or feels it has to do – to maintain that control (its military, nukes, etc.) has resulted in a real threat not only to the peninsula, but to the stability of the entire region. Overlooking or downplaying that reality is dangerous.
The statement that in, “the late 1990s relations between North Korea and the US and its allies were on the mend,” is also very misleading. It would have been a seemingly true statement in the late 90s, but not after October 2002 (http://www.dprkstudies.org/documents/dprk002.html) . North Korea was cheating on the agreements that was the foundation of such relations, undermining the legitimacy of any such progress. It’s sort of like saying X & Y had a great marriage a few years ago, even though you now know that at the time X was stepping out on Y.
The comment that, “Attempts at economic reform and export expansion are shackled by US and Japanese hostility,” is outright absurd and runs counter to the facts and reality. If that meant trying to stop the proliferation of certain military equipment/technologies, drug trade, and counterfeiting it would be correct, but that’s not where the comment was pointed. This has the feel or revisionism, and being an apologist.
I will caveat my comments by saying that they are based solely on the overview and newsletters published by the author, and from related reviews. Perhaps the book does not make such strong positions as those summarized in the official overview, but if that were the case the author should have something to say about it.
Ah, so you are still alive. I haven't seen you on the board for ever and thought I'd do a search for any Juggertha-related activity.
That guy never answered my pm on Cyworld, by the way -_-
I'm alive but I had to take a trip over to the Great White North.
Richardson: Thanks for the link. I'll make sure to check it out as soon as I get over this jet-lag :)
Richardson, after reading your post (finally after quite some time) I want to say, first off I am glad you posted on this blog. I welcome any and all opinions on the peninsula and secondly, I would like to add that I agree with a lot of your observations baout this book. The snipits I have come accross have been... less than impressive. While i beleive that the US can be taken to task on it's handling of a numer of foreign policy issues, I doubt this book does that.
I'd still like to pick it up though but I fear that hard cover and price would probably scare me away.
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