Becoming Kim Jong Un

Not worth the money. Superficial at best. If you are into Trump-bashing, you might like this book. Obviously worked under the Obama administration. Praises all his limited actions and finds fault with Trump actions.

Dr Pak has written an important addition to the literature about Kims rise to, and maintenance of power. Her research is thorough and compelling. She correctly sees Kim as an aspirational leader, albeit as one who is unlikely to give up nuclear weapons, even as he desires economic improvement. Like many experts, Dr
Pak struggles to understand the paradox of Kims byungjin policy. Traditional diplomatic approaches have failed to make significant progress towards denuclearization, and Dr Pak notes that the DPRK has been a nuclear power since 2006. She uses the analogy of Rubiks cube. But today young children can solve the cube in a few seconds! This is why non-traditional, paradoxical approaches such as those of Trump and Moon may yet offer a modicum of hope. This requires suspending biases (such as noted by the late Richard Heuer) to untangle the Gordita next knot, and to understand Kim as he is, not as we wish him to be. Overall, this is a fine and important work. Congratulations to Dr Pak for her effort.

I admit that prior to reading the book I too had fallen for the caricature that is Kim Jong Un. Jung Paks book reads like a novel, but still paints an insightful picture of a complicated and important man at the tale end of a ruthless family legacy. An impeccably timed book release as speculation peaks that he is in poor health, but I still hope he is dead.

Incredible story of a dynasty writ with corruption, secrets, and a never before heard in depth analysis of North Korea. A CIA officers detail is as close as you can get to the man dressed in black in charge of the most secret kingdom on earth. A Must for anyone who wants to understand the Kim family .

After reading this book I think the author has hope for a reasonable resolution for the North Korea problem. Her analysis is informed, even handed and objective. One impressive feature of this book is her ocean of references from scholarly, refugee and government sources. Less impressive were her suggestions for moving forward. The North has a track record for sliding a stick within the spokes of the wagon of the best made plans bringing the plans to a screeching halt.

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