The Korean Crisis: One People, Two Nations, A World On The Brink

by Jack Van Der Slik

After nearly 70 years of division between North and South Korea, the two nations have not yet achieved a peaceful settlement. Professor Emeritus Jack Van Der Slik’s new book provides a first person account of the incredible differences between the nations.

The Korean Crisis: One People, Two Nations, an Uncertain Future follows the fate of the two Koreas. The first is a story of hard-earned success by the South Korean people. Although democracy did not come easily, it did accompany flourishing through market capitalism. The second, the fall of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, began with early economic success then sank into a socialist dictatorship, stratifying the country’s people into a small privileged elite supported by a poor and cheerless mass of disadvantaged workers. Despite the poverty and food insecurity suffered by the North Korean underclass, the ruling elite has formidably armed itself with nuclear weapons and a massive standing army.

The Korean Crisis draws upon deep studies of democratization in South Korea and Van Der Slik’s own travels throughout the Republic of Korea and Panmunjom—the heavily armed 38th parallel and the site of peace negotiations. Intensely researched, highly informative, and poignantly told, The Korean Crisis will educate the public about Korea and the dangers that exist there while shedding light on a possible catastrophic nuclear conflict between the two rival countries whose combatants are, in fact, one people.

Genres: History

212 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2017

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A balanced and measured exploration of the two Koreas, written by someone with no axe to grind and thus able to avoid prejudice, scare-mongering and the facile assumptions so often made when talking about North Korea. Well-researched and clearly and accessibly written this is essential reading for anyone interested in the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.

[Randal White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and Terrifying! Very informative! And timely! And terrifying! The author presents an interesting, well written book on the current crisis in North Korea. He delves into the history of the Korean peninsula, in a clear and easily understood manner. Into the Korean War. It's causes, and which world leaders were involved. How, after the war, North and South Korea developed, and how they got to the state that they are in today. And the history of the current North Korean leadership, it's quirks and goals. And why China continues to support the Kim regime, and why the US and Japan support South Korea. The author ends with his thoughts on the future of the Korean peninsula. While he does not (no one can) predict the long term future, he does identify several factors that can affect the future. In his opinion, the only way to peace is through intercession by China, and responsive negotiations by South Korea, Japan, and the US. Without which, we risk a nuclear disaster. This is a frightening book. You will not sleep well after reading it. But it is important to know what we are up against. Let's all hope and pray that it ends well.

[Randal White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative! And timely! And terrifying! The author presents an interesting, well written book on the current crisis in North Korea. He delves into the history of the Korean peninsula, in a clear and easily understood manner. Into the Korean War. It's causes, and which world leaders were involved. How, after the war, North and South Korea developed, and how they got to the state that they are in today. And the history of the current North Korean leadership, it's quirks and goals. And why China continues to support the Kim regime, and why the US and Japan support South Korea.
The author ends with his thoughts on the future of the Korean peninsula. While he does not (no one can) predict the long term future, he does identify several factors that can affect the future. In his opinion, the only way to peace is through intercession by China, and responsive negotiations by South Korea, Japan, and the US. Without which, we risk a nuclear disaster.
This is a frightening book. You will not sleep well after reading it. But it is important to know what we are up against. Let's all hope and pray that it ends well.

[Rianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

14/52 books read in 2018.
Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars.

This is a great chronological overview, from WWII till present day, of the history of Korea & the subsequent split up into North and South Korea. Each period is discussed in a chapter, about the whole region, or two, one for each country. The writing has a good flow that feels factual without being stuffy. The beginning feels a little repetitive, but this is only limited to the interplay between the introduction and the first chapters. The focus switches between countries in several chapters, but this never feels forced or repetitive, actually it enhances the distinction between the North and South and hence makes it easier to compare the two.

I would definitely recommend this to everyone. Especially with the current political climate.

[Peter Eichstaedt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing could be more timely and informative than this book. As the U.S. and North Korea edge closer to a military confrontation, each led by impulsive men more inclined to use their mouths than their brains, author Van Der Slik offers a densely packed volume of how we got to where we are. Other than the Korean War veterans still among us, few Americans are aware of the U.S.'s tortured history with Korea. Unlike today, North Korea was more successful then the South at first, due to Japan's pre-WWII industrial build-up of Korea. Still a united Korea then, Japan plundered southern Korea for food and wartime workers, including "comfort girls" for its troops. The Korean War, 1950-53, led initially by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, was to be a quick conflict to unite the Korea under western control. But the war bogged down as Communist China stepped in and U.S. forces were put on the defensive after facing human waves of assaulting soldiers. Neither side able to secure a victory, the 38th parallel became an arbitrary line of demarcation between a divided Korea. Armed with surreptitiously developed nuclear weapon and missile capabilities, North Korea now is under the third ruler of the Kim dynasty, the excitable Kim Jung Un. Should the Korean stalemate burst into flames, the question arises: Will China step in? History tells us yes, most certainly, as might Russia, opening the door to a much wider and deadly conflagration. As this book methodically reveals, history has not been kind to American military involvement in Korea, yet the lessons of history and the voices of restraint are daily drowned out by the rattling of sabres.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting, eye opening, powerful book. I found it terrifying at times not just for our country (US) but for people of Korea, living the way they have to live because of these leaders that act like their movie stars or something. Come on really, punishment for sitting on a newspaper with the president or his sons face. The people trying to flee, starvation and living in horror. I didn't know until I read this book that Korea was also in debt. I think the scariest part I read was when Kim Jong-Un said when he dies, give the missiles, etc to terrorists. I learned a lot on the side of the Koreans, culture, lifestyle and all that fighting. I don't understand why people are always fighting.
This book didn't have many pages to really go into a lot of detail but the Author got his point across in those pages. This book was very informative, well researched and the history was mind blowing and went from the past to this current day.

Thank you Wild Blue Press for the free opportunity to share this book with me. I think I read it in a day. My thanks to the Author as well.

Cherie'

[Denise Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

As America and North Korea dangerously flirt with a military confrontation, The Korean Crisis gets up close and personal!

[Scott Holstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Very well done. I've read a number of books on the subject, but this is definitely one of the best and possibly one of the best contemporary books at that. Highly recommended!