A major new history of North and South Korea from the late nineteenth century to the present
day “Cha and Pacheco Pardo have years of expertise in Korean international relations. . .
. A crisp and balanced account.”—Christopher Harding The Telegraph Korea has a long
riveting history—it is also a divided nation. South Korea is a vibrant democracy the tenth
largest economy and is home to a world-renowned culture. North Korea is ruled by the most
authoritarian regime in the world a poor country in a rich region and is best known for the
cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family. But both Koreas share a unique common
history. Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the
history of modern Korea from the late nineteenth century Japanese occupation and Cold War
division to the present day. A small country caught amongst the world’s largest
powers—including China Japan Russia and the United States—Korea’s fate has been closely
connected to its geography and the strength of its leadership and society. This comprehensive
history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas explaining the sharp
differences between North and South and prospects for unification.
