North Korea
A History
2nd Edition
Will be published approx. on 19. February 2026
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-1-350-47544-1 (ISBN)
Description
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 state?
This new edition seeks to provide some answers to these questions. Starting with its origins in the colonial period, Michael J Seth masterfully traces how North Korea transformed itself from a Soviet-style socialist state to the ultra-nationalist, dynastic dictatorship of the 21st century. Born from 20th century Korea's struggles to regain autonomy and achieve modernization, this book follows the story of how a single Korea with a shared ethnic and cultural heritage, evolved into radically different societies. From the birth of the DPRK, through economic collapse, famine and failed revolution, it illuminates North Korea's journey with an engaging understanding of the political, ideological, economic and social forces at play.
This edition has been updated to examine recent developments in Korean history, up until 2025, and has analysed over sixty new publications from leading academics. It also incorporates the experiences of prominent North Korean women and analyses the everyday life of ordinary North Koreans, as well as the country's leaders. Seth also uses his expertise to analyse and put more emphasis on Inter-Korean relations
Following the evolution of this uncommon nation, North Korea: A History uses the past to answer questions about the present, and above all shows North Korea as a society with a hard-working, long-suffering population who have made great sacrifices in the hopes for a better future.
North Korea: A History is also available in audiobook format from audiobook retailers.
This new edition seeks to provide some answers to these questions. Starting with its origins in the colonial period, Michael J Seth masterfully traces how North Korea transformed itself from a Soviet-style socialist state to the ultra-nationalist, dynastic dictatorship of the 21st century. Born from 20th century Korea's struggles to regain autonomy and achieve modernization, this book follows the story of how a single Korea with a shared ethnic and cultural heritage, evolved into radically different societies. From the birth of the DPRK, through economic collapse, famine and failed revolution, it illuminates North Korea's journey with an engaging understanding of the political, ideological, economic and social forces at play.
This edition has been updated to examine recent developments in Korean history, up until 2025, and has analysed over sixty new publications from leading academics. It also incorporates the experiences of prominent North Korean women and analyses the everyday life of ordinary North Koreans, as well as the country's leaders. Seth also uses his expertise to analyse and put more emphasis on Inter-Korean relations
Following the evolution of this uncommon nation, North Korea: A History uses the past to answer questions about the present, and above all shows North Korea as a society with a hard-working, long-suffering population who have made great sacrifices in the hopes for a better future.
North Korea: A History is also available in audiobook format from audiobook retailers.
Reviews / Votes
In this book, Seth gives us a broad, synthetic overview of North Korea's transformation from a Soviet-style state to a dynastic regime. It examines the country's ideological, political, and social developments, as well as its global connections. The result is a solid entry-level text that sets out in clear terms the defining features of North Korea past and present. * Christopher Green, Assistant Professor of Korean Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands * North Korea: A History is a well-researched study containing relevant data on Korea both prior to the 1945 division and up-to-date. No study I am aware of gives an equally substantial and current account of developments in a country considered to be the most difficult in the world to study. * Gabriel Jonsson, Associate Professor Korean Studies, Stockholm University, Sweden * North Korea: A History is an exceptionally well-written book that makes balanced and effective use of both primary and secondary sources. It covers all the major topics concerning North Korea and thoughtfully presents the key contending interpretations. The author's balanced approach makes this book an essential reading for undergraduates and beginning graduate students interested in North Korean studies. * Yong-Chool Ha, Korea Foundation Professor of Social Science, the Henry Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, USA * North Korea: A History is a wonderful achievement. Seth offers a thorough, critical, and very engaging overview of the history of the totalitarian state. While he never excuses the regime's decisions, he examines them from multiple perspectives and offers ample context, enabling readers to grasp the underlying rationale. * Roald Maliangkay, Deputy Director of the Korea Institute, The Australian National University, Australia * Praise for previous edition:Seth's succinct narrative provides the necessary background to cut through the shallow journalism that stereotypes the North Korean state, society and leadership as aberrant. Revealing the complex historical roots of the North Korean revolution, this history takes the story into the current geo-political fervor that characterizes Northeast Asia in the 2010s. Anyone who wants to really understand the how's and whys of North Korean state behaviour in the current moment must read this account * Michael Robinson, Indiana University Bloomington, USA *
More details
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
9 bw illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
574 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-47544-1 (9781350475441)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Michael J. Seth is Professor of History at James Madison University, USA.
Content
Timeline
Introduction
1. Historical Roots of the North Korean State
2. Birth of the DPRK and Failed Reunification, 1945-1953
3. Industrialization and Political Consolidation, 1953-1967
4. Creating a Monolithic System and a Dynastic State, 1967-1980
5. From Stagnation to Crisis, 1980-1994
6. Famine and Survival, 1994-2005
7. Failed Revolution, Enduring State, 2005-2016
8. An Uncertain Future, 2016-2025
Conclusion
Glossary of Korean Terms
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
1. Historical Roots of the North Korean State
2. Birth of the DPRK and Failed Reunification, 1945-1953
3. Industrialization and Political Consolidation, 1953-1967
4. Creating a Monolithic System and a Dynastic State, 1967-1980
5. From Stagnation to Crisis, 1980-1994
6. Famine and Survival, 1994-2005
7. Failed Revolution, Enduring State, 2005-2016
8. An Uncertain Future, 2016-2025
Conclusion
Glossary of Korean Terms
Bibliography
Index