Born in London and educated there and in Glasgow, Paul French has lived and worked in Shanghai for many years. As a leading expert on North Korea he is a widely published analyst and commentator on Asia and has written a number of books dealing with China's pre-1949 history, Asian politics and current affairs. His previous books include a history of North Korea, a biography of Shanghai adman and adventurer Carl Crow, and a history of foreign correspondents in China. Paul was awarded the 2013 Edgar for best fact crime for his international best-seller Midnight in Peking. Born in London and educated there and in Glasgow, Paul French has lived and worked in Shanghai for many years. A leading expert on North Korea, he is a widely published analyst and commentator on Asia and has written a number of books dealing with China's pre-1949 history and Asian politics and current affairs. His previous books include a history of North Korea, a biography of Shanghai ad man and adventurer Carl Crow, and a history of foreign correspondents in China. Paul was awarded the 2013 Edgar for best fact crime for his international best-seller Midnight in Peking.

Texte du rabat

North Korea continues to make headlines, arousing curiosity and fear in equal measure. The world's most secretive nuclear power, it still has Gulag-style prison camps, allows no access to the Internet and bans its people from talking to foreigners without official approval. In this remarkable and eye-opening book, internationally best-selling author Paul French examines in forensic detail the history and politics of North Korea, Pyongyang's complex relations with South Korea, Japan, China and America, and the implications of Kim Jong-un's increasingly belligerent leadership following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. As an already unstable North Korea grows ever more unpredictable, antagonizing enemies and allies alike, North Korea: State of Paranoia delivers a provocative and frightening account of a potentially explosive nuclear tripwire.

Résumé
A gripping and provocative account of one of the worldâ™s most secretive countries.

Contenu
Foreword: The Myth and the Reality of the State of Paranoia Introduction: The Paranoid Peninsula Part I: The Juche Nation: Beloved Leaders, Brilliant Thoughts, Power Cuts and Empty Shelves 1. A Normal Day in Pyongyang 2. The Juche State: Political Theory in North Korea 3. The Revolutionary Dynasty: Leadership in North Korea Part II: The Economics of North Korea: Chollima, Speed Battles, Collapse and Famine 4. Economics Pyongyang Style: Command and Control 5. The Worst of Times: Food, Famine and the Arduous March 6. The Start of a Sort of Reform: Change and Regime Survival 7. The Reality of Reform: A Case Study of Sinuiju Part III: Diplomacy and Military: Foreign Relations, Nuclear Crisis and Self-Defence 8. Don't Poke the Snake: US-DPRK relations 9. Nuclear Ambitions Revealed: Bluster, Brinkmanship or Battle? 10. 'Military First' Emerges Part IV: Change, Collapse and Reunification 11. One Korea: The Dream of Reunification 12. Kim3: The Dynasty Continues 13. How Will the Story End? Conclusion: Still the World's Most Dangerous Tripwire