Customer Reviews

Over the Line: North Korea's Negotiating Strategy

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I deal with North Koreans on a regular basis, and Chuck Downs's book should be required for all who deal with North Korea, or for that matter South Korea. Whether in the public or private sphere, this is an important book and should be read by anyone who negotiates on behalf of the United States.

Mr. Downs has written a practical book with historical anecdotes and penetrating insights.

Bravo!

I would like to have either more on the actual negotiating or more on the history but the book seems to jump back and forwards between the two leaving me the reader a bit confused. So someone like myself who knows little about US and North Korea relations got little from this book.

Disappointingly it does not include that much about how other goverments (in particular South Korea) reacted and played in these talks.

However if you want to know about how the North Korean goverment have behaved with the US this is a very good book. I was stunned to read the sort of documents the US has had to sign in dealing with the North Koreans.

It shows the limitation that the US faces even in a region that it is the major power.

Chuck Downes has written exellent book. The history diplomatic contacts United States with North Korea was begin in 1951. Military Armistice Comissionn in Panmunjom was to 1993 only one channel diplomatic contacts. Chuck Downs described north korean diplomatic behaviour. Tis diplomacy on the brinkmanship. This continue now by Kim Chong-il. Spreading nuclear programme after withdrawal from nonproliferation regime. Book is detailed description events in history this contact. Murders axes from Panmujom accident , Pueblo warship case, Submarine commando strikers are only leading examles this activity. This book is needed for all diplomats, scholars , journalists try understand korean issue.

I read this book when it first came out. Anyone who did is unsurprised about the past several months' developments -- except by the fact that some in the free world still want to reward North Korea for doing what it is already obligated to do.

One the most forthright, foremost and fabulous books on the history of failed policies with North Korea. Apparently, few understand just how and why the North Koreans seem to procure what they want, when they want, at our expense of goodwill and open heartiness. The author Chuck Down points out how direct aid to North Korea results in this rogue nation's building up its military and exporting it to places that are dangerous. This was not taken seriously but now all of that is changing. North Korea is now the leading proliferator of missile technology to Middle East other Rogue states such as Iran, Iraq and Libya. This threatens our vital interest and in turn the world's vital interest including Israel, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan. We cannot ignore such abuses any longer. The authors point out just were each administration has gone wrong. In particular, the Clinton Administration seems satisfied with giving aid and talking while North Korea continues to work on its nuclear program and just three months ago shipped 12 missile engines to Iran. Information that was kept from the public. The author also outline exactly how to deal with North Korea. The author show with history and pinpoint accuracy why North Korea acts as it does to get what its wants, In time, this appeasement can end up creating a war instead of stopping one. North Korea like all Communist Totalitarian Regimes has its own limits, and when confronted with disciplined advocates of change will come to understand that its policies are quickening its demise and chance of survival. This stubborn unthinkable as well as unworkable nation of good but misled people is dangerous for an ever increasing pacific global era. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in forming a solid policy on handling North Korea. Especially those advising Presidents, the National Security Counsel, candidates and the United Nations. If they don't we are doomed to continue to such failed policies.

When you consider that Mr. Downs does not speak Korean, and has never spoken directly with North Koreans, either on a friendly basis nor in an adversarial sense across the bargaining table, all you are getting here is a second-hand rehash reflecting of the stand-off at Panmunjom. A serious mirror study of U.S. negotiating tactics there would not be too complimentary. This book is more about conservative U.S. opinion of the Clinton administration than anything else. Read Scot Snyder instead.

This book is suspiciously loaded with one-sided story. This book emphasizes
north Korea as unpredictble and crazy while there is no mention
about US negotiating strategy, which I suspect is part of the problem.
I give a low mark just because there is not much opposing views or alternate
objective presentation. Judging from the authors, I can't but suspect
that book is not well balanced.