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Biography & History

Nothing to Envy

Biography & History

Nothing to Envy

Barbara Demick

Kim Jong-un’s leadership of North Korea began in 2012 with apparent efforts to improve the economy and citizens’ welfare, but his priorities quickly shifted to weapons development and extravagant projects like amusement parks and ski resorts. Early construction initiatives to honor his grandfather’s legacy created an illusion of progress, yet the country remained impoverished and isolated, with restricted internet access and staged appearances of prosperity for foreign visitors. By the time Kim Il-sung passed away, North Korea had already suffered severe resource depletion, famine, and economic collapse, forcing citizens to rely on underground markets and desperate survival strategies. Defectors risked treacherous escapes to China, often bribing guards or relying on brokers, while many women were sold as wives. The rigid social hierarchy under Kim Il-sung, based on political loyalty, dictated access to resources and opportunities, ensuring control through surveillance and indoctrinatio

18 min

10 Bite

Aperçu

De quoi s'agit-il ?

This book delves into the complex and often harrowing history of North Korea, tracing its evolution from the post-World War II division of the Korean Peninsula to the present-day struggles under the Kim dynasty. It explores the regime's rigid social structures, the devastating famines, and the relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons, all while examining the resilience and ingenuity of its people in the face of unimaginable hardship. Through vivid accounts of defection and survival, it sheds light on a nation shrouded in secrecy and propaganda, offering a compelling look at the human cost of totalitarian rule.

Résumé du livre

Barbara Demick is an American journalist and current bureau chief in Beijing for the Los Angeles Times. Her work on North Korea has won her the Overseas Press Club award for human rights reporting, the Asia Society’s Osborne Elliott prize and the American Academy of Diplomacy’s Arthur Ross Award.

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Toutes les bouchées

10 Bites

Divided by Superpowers: Korea's Unfinished Struggle

Dictatorship and Division: North Korea's Social Hierarchy

Juche’s Grip: North Korea’s Engineered Obedience

Divine Dictatorship: The Mythology of the Kims

North Korea's Descent into Darkness

Surviving Famine: North Korea's Underground Struggle

North Korea's Descent: Famine, Survival, and Defiance

Escaping Shadows: North Korea's Risky Exodus

Crossing Borders: The Struggle for Freedom

Behind the Facade: North Korea's Stark Reality

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