The Hermit King, Chung Min Lee
The Hermit King, Chung Min Lee
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The Hermit King
The Dangerous Game of Kim Jong Un

Author: Chung Min Lee

Narrator: Chung Min Lee, Greta Jung

Unabridged: 9 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/05/2019


Synopsis

This program includes an author's note read by the author.

North Korea is poised at the crossroads of history. Which direction will its leader take?

Throughout the world, oppressive regimes are being uprooted and replaced by budding democracies, but one exception remains: The People's Republic of North Korea. The Kim family has clung to power for three generations by silencing dissidents, ruling with an iron fist, and holding its neighbors hostage with threats of war. Under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, North Korea has come closer than ever to creating a viable nuclear arsenal, but widespread famine and growing resistance are weakening his regime's stability.

In The Hermit King, Asian geopolitical expert Chung Min Lee tells the story of the rise of the Kim Dynasty and its atrocities, motivations, and diplomatic goals. He also discusses the possible outcomes of its aggressive standoff with the world superpowers.

Kim Jong Un is not a crazed "Rocket Man" or a bumbling despot; he has been groomed since birth to take control of his country and stay in power at all costs. He is now at a fateful crossroads. Will he make good on decades of threats, liberalize North Korea and gain international legitimacy, or watch his regime crumble around him? Lee analyzes the likelihood and consequences of each of these possibilities, cautioning that in the end, a humanitarian crisis in the region is all but unavoidable. The Hermit King is a thoughtful and compelling look at the most complicated diplomatic situation on Earth.

About Chung Min Lee

Chung Min Lee is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and chairman of the international advisory council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He is an expert on Korean and East Asian security affairs with more than 30 years of experience in leading think tanks and universities in South Korea, the U.S., Japan, and Singapore. Lee served as Ambassador for National Security Affairs (2013-2016) and is the author of Fault Lines in a Rising Asia.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Grumpus

The grumpus23 (23-word commentary) A bit repetitive. Nice overview of history of North Korea and how this despot came to power and maintains it while being isolated. Note: This was an advanced copy supplied by the publisher for an honest review.......more

Goodreads review by Scott

(3.5 Stars) (Audiobook) This work is one of many attempts to demystify the North Korean regime, this book looks at the life and policies of Kim Jong Un, as well as the history of the Kim Dynasty. A key point is that the author refers to the Kims in dynastic terms, as they are a modern ruling family.......more

Goodreads review by Bindesh

A bit biased but good, nonetheless.......more