Summary

North Korea has been a communist dictatorship since shortly after the end of World War II. Ruled by the iron hand of Kim Il Sung, the nation struggled economically compared to South Korea, which engineered an economic miracle. Kim died in 1994, turning over the government to his son, Kim Jong Il. A pampered youth, Kim Jong Il gradually took over a variety of powerful positions in his father’s government. After he became the dictator, the country suffered a series of economic disasters that brought death to many thousands of people. Meanwhile, Kim Jong Il became widely known for turning North Korea into a nuclear power; during the early 21st century, President George W. Bush labeled North Korea part of the Axis of Evil. But some experts on North Korea believe that Kim simply used the nuclear card to gain worldwide respect and economic aid from the United States.

A revealing biography of the man known as the "Dear Leader," Kim Jong Il describes his life and leadership, and features an informative survey of North Korean history.

Specifications

eBook