Korea at War (9780804854627)

An engaging history covering a century of conflict on the Korean Peninsula

Korea at War recounts how two separate nations emerged on the Korean peninsula as the result of devastating conflicts involving provocative personalities and superpower intrigues. The topics covered in this fascinating book include:

• The brutal years of Japanese colonial rule which began with Japan's annexation of Korea and ended with its defeat in World War II—and which still dominate Japanese-Korean relations today
• The division of the country into a totalitarian North and a prosperous, democratic South
• North Korea's invasion of the South, motivated by Stalin, which led to the bloody Korean War—a conflict that is still not settled to this day
• The irascible General Douglas MacArthur, who was relieved of his command by President Truman when he disobeyed a direct order and attempted to expand the war into China
• The rise of the Kim regime in North Korea and the continuing threat of nuclear war today

Historian Michael J. Seth explores these and other themes including the complete story of North Korea—a nation and a people who for three generations have lived under the world's most repressive regime. He also discusses how South Korea has made the incredible leap from one of the world's poorest nations to one its richest and most dynamic.

Korea at War is the story of two nations with a shared past that could hardly be more different today. With over 50 color photographs and maps, this book is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand contemporary Asian politics and current affairs.


About the Author:
Michael J. Seth is Professor of History at James Madison University. He has authored several books on Korean history including A History of Korea: From Antiquity to the Present, A Concise History of Modern Korea: From the Late Nineteenth Century to the Present, A Concise History of Korea: From the Neolithic to the Nineteenth Century, Education Fever: Politics, Society and the Pursuit of Schooling in South Korea and A Brief History of Korea.