Kim Il-song's North Korea: [Hardcover]

Helen-Louise Hunter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275962962 | ISBN-13: 978-0275962968 | Publication Date: April 30, 1999 | Edition: First edition.

Hunter provides a glimpse inside North Korean society, detailing the everyday life of people living in perhaps the most isolated, secretive society of the 20th century. In this declassified CIA study, she describes the world's most extreme cult society under the charismatic totalitarian leader, Kim Il-song, who ruled his people for 45 years--longer than any other leader of the 20th century. Kim Il-song's totalitarian cult society comes closest to George Orwell's 1984 than any society yet contrived. Hunter brings to life what it is like to live in a thoroughly thought-controlled society--which also is the world's most class-conscious society. Based on all the sources available to the CIA at the time, this book is the most comprehensive look at North Korean life ever published. It is essential reading for foreign policy officials, Asian Studies scholars, and the general public interested in world affairs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Thanks to efforts by former Sen. Stephen J. Solarz and others, Hunter's exhaustive study was finally declassified and published in the present form....Hunter deals with virtually every aspect of this regimented "Hermit Kingdom" of a nation.”–The Register-Herald

“This book gives insight into how a powerful and charismatic ruler can influence a strictly layered society and is valuable to any military professional studying Korea.”–Military Review

“One of the strengths of the book is its first chapter....She also does a good job of exaplaining the role of work and membership in a work unit membership impact family life and personal leisure....interesting read.”–Korean Studies Book Reviews

“North Korea remains the world's most closed Stalinist society. We know very little about life in North Korea. It has only been possible to gain in-depth, detailed study of life in North Korea by working with defectors, and few people have had access to such defectors. Helen-Louise Hunter, then working for U.S. intelligence, conducted a very detailed, nuanced analysis of life in North Korea through defector interviewing. Happily her manuscript has now been declassified and is available to the public.”–Ezra F. Vogel Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences Harvard University

“Let no one ever again say that we don't really know anything about North Korea. The key to the mystery of the 'Hermit Kingdom' is now in print.”–From the foreword by Stephen J. Solarz Former U.S. Congressman

“For many years I have referred to North Korea as America's longest-running intelligence failure. This was because I did not know about Helen-Louise Hunter's seminal study, Kim Il- song's North Korea. With its declassification and publication, a quantum leap forward has been made in raising our national knowledgeability of the Pyongyang regime. This book will be of great assistance to all those who will be working carefully to bring North Korea out of its dangerous isolation and into more normal relationships with the outside world. This is a work that CIA can truly be proud of.”–Donald P. Gregg Ambassador to South Korea 1989-1993

“Helen Louise Hunter's perceptive analysis of her in-depth discussions with defectors from North Korea contains valuable sociological information and insights not available elsewhere concerning life there during the Kim Il-song period. This book is a significant historical record that will be of continuing interest to scholars during the present period of change opening up in North Korea.”–Selig S. Harrison Fellow The Century Foundation

About the Author

HELEN-LOUISE HUNTER is an attorney who has engaged in private practice with an large international law firm in Washington, D.C. and has served as Permanent Law Clerk in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers; First edition. edition (April 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275962962
• ISBN-13: 978-0275962968
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,481,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Glimpse Inside a Closed Society, January 19, 2000

By 

rdt (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kim Il-song's North Korea: (Hardcover)

My initial interest in North Korea grew due to a hobbyist's interest in adventure tourism. While exploring travelogues on the internet, I came across the reports of travellers who had braved the "road less travelled" to countries such as North Korea. I became curious to know more about this "renegade" country, especially with recent news reports of famine, political instability, and the precarious relationship between N.Korea and the USA. How could this small country of 22 million people cause such international consternation?

"Kim Il-Song's North Korea" answers many questions for the layperson about how North Korea has ended up where it is today. Hunter's book on North Korea is an exhaustive study of one of the most closed and reclusive societies on Earth.

The chapters are clearly organized and make for enjoyable reading. The information Hunter provides is extensive, and awakens the reader to interesting issues that most readers may not be aware of, such as family life, romance, the treatment of children, hooliganism, military life, the fanatical cult of Kim Il-Song, and North Korea's bizarre view of itself in relation to the world, among other subjects.

The book does not, however, address major geopolitical issues such as North Korea's nuclear program or the ongoing food production problems and resulting civil unrest. This is perhaps just as well since those items can be retrieved through various mainstream sources. Hunter's book provides the gift of much harder-to-find info. It is more of an intimiate look at general life, namely how the average person copes with life under an oppressive, invasive, paranoid, fanatical government and belief system.

All in all, Hunter's book is a good read for those interested in Asian politics, general sociology, or those curious about this enigmatic Orwellian state. Highly recommended.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The clear picture of the Hermit Kingdom, July 9, 2000

By 

Marceli Burdelski Ph. D. (Gdansk , Poland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kim Il-song's North Korea: (Hardcover)

I,m researcher North Korean politics from 25 years . I visited north Korea two times in 1986 ,1987 . I wrote book about Noeth Korea in Poland in 1995 y. and 30 articles . The reports of Helen Louise Hunter are perfectional . For me very important is comparison north korean communist system in to Poland and Central Eastern Europe . The picture phillars of north Korean political , ideological and economical life. very significant is analysis of role Leader in n. korean poltical system.I visited lot places in North Korea , had occasion met lot of high top poltician. currently i have occasion met often with DPRofK ambassador to Poland Kim Pyong Il , younger brother of Kim Jong Il . The book is the treasury informations about North Korea. The Language of book is clear. The book is perfectionally written.For me , general thesis book are by research reached . Helen Louise Hunter book must be readen by every student or resarcher north korean affairs. My task is prepared polish issue this book.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a fascinating account, November 17, 2000

By 

Jun Nishikawa (I am from Japan.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kim Il-song's North Korea: (Hardcover)

This book is a fascinating account of North Korea under Kim Il-sung. I learned many things, such as his emphasis on the family. The trouble with this book is that we do not know if it describes North Korea today, or just North Korea in the past. But the description is fascinating.