Following the death of Kim Jong Il North Korea has entered a period of profound transformation laden with uncertainty This authoritative book brings together the worldrsquos leading North Korea experts to analyze both the challenges and prospects the country is facing Drawing on the contributorsrsquo expertise across a range of disciplines the book examines North Korearsquos political economic social and foreign policy concerns Considering the implications for Pyongyangrsquos transition it focuses especially on the transformation of ideology the Workerrsquos Party of Korea the military effects of the Arab Spring the emerging merchant class cultural infiltration from the South Western aid and global economic integration The contributors also assess the impact of North Korearsquos new policies on China South Korea the United States and the rest of the world Comprehensive and deeply knowledgeable their analysis is especially crucial given the power consolidation efforts of the new leadership underway in Pyongyang and the implications for both domestic and international politics Contributions by Nicholas Anderson Charles Armstrong Bradley Babson Victor Cha Bruce Cumings Nicholas Eberstadt Ken Gause David Kang Andrei Lankov Woo Young Lee Liu Ming Haksoon Paik Kyung-Ae Park Terence Roehrig Jungmin Seo and Scott Snyder.
