Preface -- 1. Geography and History: A Troubled Land : Physical Geography: A Land of Great Potential -- Cities: Few and Far Between -- Korean History: A Shrimp among Whales -- North Korean State: Communism and Kim Come to Korea -- Korean War: A Disastrous Attempt to Unify the Country -- 2. Leadership: The Kim Dynasty : Kim Il-sung: The Strong Kim -- Kim Jong-il: The Secretive Kim -- Kim Jong-un: The Young and Ruthless Kim -- Guidance: An Exercise in Public Relations -- Mansions: Living Like Kings -- 3. The Government: Of the Party, by the Party, for the Leader : Governance: Riddled with Corruption -- Social Control: Dominating the People -- Crimes: Ordinary and Political -- Prisons: Cruel and Usual -- Corruption: The Currency of the Realm -- Lies: Second Nature to the Regime -- 4. Human Rights: An Alien Concept : Political Class: Loyalty to the Regime -- Defectors: An Exit for People without Voice -- Human Rights Reputation: An International Disgrace -- 5. The Military: "Pillar" of Society : Weapons and Strategy: A Porcupine Defense -- Soldiers: Wartime Cannon Fodder, Peacetime Slave Labor -- Nuclear Weapons: The Pride of the Regime -- Missiles: Power Projection -- Threats as a Weapon: The First Line of Defense -- 6. Foreign Relations: Of a Hermit Kingdom : Foreign Policy Principles: Independence First and Last -- North Korea and South Korea: Deadly Competition -- North Korea and China: Beware of the Dragon -- North Korea and Japan: Age-Old Enmity -- Japan's Chosen Soren: A Fifth Column in Enemy Territory -- North Korea and the United States: The Ultimate Enemy -- Tourism: Cautious and Controlled -- 7. The Economy: From Socialism to Capitalism : The Old Economy: Socialist in Principle -- New Economy: Capitalist in Practice -- Industry: A National Rust Belt -- Farming: Planting Seeds on Rocky Ground -- Local Economy: Taking up the Slack -- International Trade: Not Easy for a Hermit Kingdom -- Foreign Investment Inflow: Risky for Investors -- Working Abroad: Hard Work for the Privileged Few -- International Sanctions: The Price of Nuclear Weapons -- 8. Transportation and Communication: Necessary for the New Economy : Domestic Transportation: Slowed by Years of Neglect -- Old Communication Channels: Government to People -- New Communication Channels: People to People -- 9. Culture and Lifestyle: Trying to Live a Normal Life : Education: Ideological and Academic -- Food: Living on the Edge -- Housing: Substandard and in Short Supply -- Health and Healthcare: Victims of the Bad Economy -- Religion: Totally Banned -- Sports and Amusements: Simple Pleasures for the People -- Life Events: The Same the World Over -- 10. Conclusion.