North Korea History

Bloomsbury presents North Korea: A History by Michael J. Seth, read by John Sackville. North Korea is perhaps the most intriguing, infamous and enigmatic nation of our modern world. Yet how many of us know its full history, and how it came to be? How can we understand such a strange, isolated...

Andrei Lankov has gone where few outsiders have ever been. A native of the former Soviet Union, he lived as an exchange student in North Korea in the 1980s. He has studied it for his entire career, using his fluency in Korean and personal contacts to build a rich, nuanced understanding. In The Real North Korea, Lankov substitutes cold, clear analysis for the overheated rhetoric surrounding this opaque police state.

Korea has a long, riveting history—it is also a divided nation. South Korea is a vibrant democracy, the tenth largest economy, and is home to a world-renowned culture. North Korea is ruled by the most authoritarian regime in the world, a poor country in a rich region, and is best known for the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family. But both Koreas share a unique common history. Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day.

Explore the gripping modern history of a heavily militarized surveillance state forged in the fires of the Cold War. Whether you are commuting or seeking a deep-focus educational escape, this eye-opening geopolitical journey transforms a misunderstood hermit nation into a profoundly human story...

Korea was one of the last countries in Asia to be visited by Westerners, and its borders have remained largely unchanged since it was unified in the seventh century. Though it is one of the world's oldest and most ethnically homogeneous states, Korea was not born in a vacuum. Geographically isolated, the country was heavily influenced by powerful China and was often used as a bridge to the mainland by Japan. Calling themselves as "a shrimp among whales", Koreans borrowed elements of government, culture, and religion, all the while fiercely fighting to maintain independence.

A landmark history of North Korea, told through the rise of the Kim dynasty and its surprising ties to American Christianity—a spectacular, penetrating account of the Hermit Kingdom A Foreign Policy Most Anticipated Book of 2026 For nearly eight decades, North Korea has marched defiantly...

A former senior intelligence officer reveals how espionage is being transformed by a new global intelligence race, driven by AI and competition with China, and how this impacts all of our lives. The new global intelligence competition has brought espionage into our workplaces and our living...

A groundbreaking account of the rise of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un—from his nuclear ambitions to his summits with President Donald J. Trump—by a leading American expert “Shrewdly sheds light on the world’s most recognizable mysterious leader, his life and what’s really going on...

Uncover the dramatic Asian history of a resilient civilization fractured by geopolitical conflict and global wars. Perfect for an immersive commute or focused learning session, this engaging narrative bypasses dry dates to deliver the human experiences behind the headlines. From the early rise...

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of A Kim Jong-Il Production, by Paul Fischer, read by Stephen Park. Before becoming the world's most notorious dictator, Kim Jong-Il ran North Korea's film industry. He directed every film made in the country but knew they were...

Step into the trenches of a defining Cold War conflict that divided a nation and reshaped modern military history. Perfect for an immersive commute, this gripping historical account thrusts you onto the frontlines of the twentieth century's most volatile ideological clash. Experience the tense...

History didn't end. Democracy didn't triumph. America’s leading role in the world is no longer assured. Instead, authoritarian rule is on the rise, and the global order established after 1945 is under attack. This is the phenomenon Katie Stallard tackles in Dancing on Bones as she examines how the leaders of China, Russia, and North Korea manipulate the past to serve the present and secure the future of authoritarian rule. 

How did an Ivy League activist become a global fugitive? The New York Times bestselling co-author of Billion Dollar Whale and Blood and Oil chronicles the heart-pounding tale of a self-taught operative his high-stakes attempt subvert the North Korean regime. “Propulsive . . . Hope’s account...

WINNER OF THE TRILLIUM AWARD An unforgettable saga inspired by true events, The Last Exiles is a searing portrait of a young couple in North Korea and their fight for love and freedom Jin and Suja meet and fall in love while studying at university in Pyongyang. She is a young journalist from a...

Explore the gripping geopolitics and dark urban history of an ancient fortress turned modern surveillance state. Perfect for your daily commute, this atmospheric journey transforms an impenetrable totalitarian capital into a vivid, centuries-long saga. Immerse yourself in a shadowed world where...

For rollercoaster designer Theo, living on the edge is just part of the job. He’s used to wandering the world perfecting thrills, his heart immune to commitment. But then a commission in repressive North Korea exposes him to emotions he’s never dared to feel. Tour guide Min has a soul that wants to soar, but she knows it’s safer to build walls around her heart and mind. Skilled in showcasing the mesmerising beauty of capital city Pyongyang without revealing its darker secrets, she introduces Theo to a country he will never forget....

Dive into the Cold War’s first brutal proxy conflict and understand the geopolitical shockwaves of a divided Asia. Perfect for a gripping morning commute or a focused afternoon of learning, this tense historical narrative brings a misunderstood global crisis vividly back to life. Feel the...

Uncover gripping Cold War history and the military strategy behind a forgotten conflict that shaped modern geopolitics. From sudden liberation in 1945 to a brutally divided peninsula, this intense narrative places you on the frontlines of a global superpower showdown. Perfect for your morning...

A powerful, character-driven narrative of the Korean War from the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer who helped uncover some of its longest-held and darkest secrets. The war that broke out in Korea on a Sunday morning seventy years ago has come to be recognized as a critical turning point in modern...

Journey through Asian history to uncover how a bustling trade hub became the world's most secretive capital. Perfect for your daily commute, this immersive exploration navigates beyond modern propaganda to reveal a nuanced urban narrative. Step past the guarded borders of the Taedong River and...