The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History (Revised and Updated Edition)

Don Oberdorfer has written a gripping narrative history of Korea's travails and triumphs over the past three decades. The Two Koreas places the tensions between North and South within a historical context, with a special emphasis on the involvement of outside powers.

THE TWO KOREAS is mainly a political history of the two Koreas since 1972. He begins with a broad and basic overview of Korea's history, and the absurd way in which the country came to be partitioned at the end of WWII. The main story line begins in 1972, with the origins of communications between the two Koreas, and continues up through 1996.

Although the focus is political developments in the conflict between the two Koreas, economic and social elements are added to contrast their respective development over time. The word that comes to mind when contemplating North Korea is "bizarre".

The most interesting theme is on North Koreas' drift to aquiring nuclear weapons, and the factors that prompted it. Interestingly, South Korea had pursued the development of nuclear weapons in the 1970's, but that effort was stopped by the United States. Later, North Korea began nuclear development which lead to the situation we find ourselves in today (2002), with North Korea admitting it has nuclear weapons.

Readable, relevant, interesting, and insightful, this is an excellent start to understanding how the two Koreas came to be, and while the story ends with 1996, it isn't difficult to understand how North Korea eventually came to have nuclear weapons.

Those looking for scholarly analysis and major footnotes will not find them. However, the book does have fascinating accounts of the major player's actions and thinking, and first person sources that only a journalist will have. Those sources add personal insight and current perspective to the issues discussed.

This book is well worth the money and effort.


Contemporary readable history of modern Korea   December 24, 1997
Kurt Veggeberg (Austin, Texas)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

I had the good fortune to read this book while I was in Korea during the recent presidential election and currency devaluation. The background on Kim Dae Jung, the president elect, made my time in Korea more interesting. The author retells in detail how the peninsula was almost embroiled in war over the tree cutting incident in the DMZ along with many other chilling stories that were difficult to fully understand when they were happening. Well worth reading if you are interested in what is happening in modern Korea.


Must read for Americans living in Korea   July 5, 2005
Scott Lincoln (Pohang, S Korea)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

I've been living in Korea for about 10 years now [on the economy, for you military types :) ] and I can say that this book has helped me immensely in my debates with Koreans on the subject of American intervention into Korean politics.

The average Korean likes Americans well enough but they have a bit of a chip on their shoulder about US involvement in their country (as well they might). However, they hold a lot of mistaken beliefs about US influence as well. For example, one of my Korean friends thought that the US government supported the Chun Doo Hwan military coup d'etat. One of their arguments was that Korean troops weren't allowed to mobilize at the time without US military approval (as if Chun Doo Hwan filled out an application to overthrow the government). Their other argument was more persuasive on the surface. They asked, "If the US didn't support Chun Doo Hwan then why did Reagan invite him as the first foreign dignitary to visit the White House?" Good point. Upon reading this book, I found out that it was a deal to save the life of Kim Dae Jung, the US's real favorite, whom Chun Doo Hwan was about to execute.

There are many facts like this, reported from someone who was there at the time and personally interviewed all the principle people involved, that have made it indispensible for me.


An excellent study   April 27, 2003
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

If you ever wanted to get inside North Korea, then this book provides excellent insight and a revealing study of that totalitarian regime. After reading this informative book you'll know why North Korea is probably the most dangerous threat to world peace. ...


skarv   September 4, 2004
Hallur Mortensen (europe)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

A brilliant and very informative book on the modern hirtory the the two Koreas. Loaded with with interesting details and fun to read. I would recommed this book to anyone interested in the politics and hirtory of North and South Korea. Don is a very compitent writer and makes reading an over 500 pages book fun to read