As Korea enters a hopeful new chapter in its history, this timely book, with contributions by distinguished experts in the field, addresses the fragility of the political, economic, and military balance within the two Koreas and in Northeast Asia. It provides in-depth analysis of the principal factors that gave rise to the persisting Cold War on the Korean peninsula, and successfully unravels many aspects of the complicated domestic and economic dynamics of the two Koreas, the patterns of relationship between the two rival states, as well as their changing relationships with the United States and other major powers.

As the global political order enters the twenty-first century, the cold war endures on the Korean peninsula, which has been since the early days of the cold war and remains one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world. The fragility of the political, economic, and military balance within the two Koreas and in Northeast Asia stubbornly persists, and it is deeply worrisome to policymakers, diplomats, academics, and all watchers of contemporary East Asian affairs. It is noteworthy that most of the problems studied in this volume show no sign of abating.

The contributors to this book, most with direct, hands-on experience dealing with the issues being studied, provide in-depth and perceptive analysis of the principal factors that gave rise to the persisting cold war on the Korean peninsula. To a significant extent, they have successfully unraveled many aspects of the complicated domestic and economic dynamics of the two Koreas and the pattern of relations between the two rival states of Korea as well as their changing relations with the United States and other major powers.