Becoming Kim Jong Un audiobook cover - A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator

Becoming Kim Jong Un

A Former CIA Officer's Insights into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator

Jung H. Pak

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Becoming Kim Jong Un
Legacy & Succession+
21st-Century Dictatorship+
Brutal Repression+
Asymmetric Power+
Diplomacy & Strategy+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
Why was Kim Jong Nam, Kim Jong Il's eldest son, disqualified from succeeding his father as leader of North Korea?
  • A. He was deemed too physically weak and lacked interest in military affairs.
  • B. He was suspected of wanting to westernize the economy and undertake policy reform.
  • C. He publicly denounced his grandfather's legacy in a South Korean newspaper.
  • D. He refused to return from his studies in Europe to serve in the military.
Question 2 of 8
According to the text, what was the primary reason North Korea initially began developing its nuclear weapons program under Kim Jong Il?
  • A. To prepare for a preemptive strike against South Korea and Japan.
  • B. To act as a powerful deterrent after losing the Soviet Union as a steadfast ally.
  • C. To force the United States into providing immediate food aid during the 1990s famine.
  • D. To sell nuclear technology to other isolated nations for economic gain.
Question 3 of 8
What is the core concept of Kim Jong Un’s 'byungjin' policy?
  • A. The simultaneous development of nuclear weapons and economic success.
  • B. The complete isolation of North Korea from Western cultural influences.
  • C. The gradual transition from a state-run economy to a capitalist free market.
  • D. The reunification of North and South Korea through diplomatic summits.
Question 4 of 8
How did Kim Jong Un's regime respond to the release of the comedy film 'The Interview'?
  • A. By conducting a sudden underground nuclear test near the South Korean border.
  • B. By launching a missile over Japan to demonstrate military reach.
  • C. By having hackers steal and publicize confidential information from Sony Pictures employees.
  • D. By permanently cutting off all diplomatic channels with the United Nations.
Question 5 of 8
What did the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong Nam at a Malaysian airport highlight about Kim Jong Un's regime?
  • A. Its extensive spy network operating secretly within the United States.
  • B. Its willingness to use chemical and biological weapons, such as the VX nerve agent, on enemies.
  • C. Its vulnerability to internal military coups and high-level defections.
  • D. Its reliance on foreign mercenaries to carry out political assassinations.
Question 6 of 8
What was the primary motivation behind Kim Jong Un's pivot toward highly visible diplomacy and summits with world leaders?
  • A. A genuine desire to reunify with South Korea under a democratic system.
  • B. The realization that his nuclear arsenal was technologically obsolete.
  • C. The need to relieve intense United Nations sanctions that were devastating the country's economy.
  • D. Pressure from China to step down from power and transition to a figurehead role.
Question 7 of 8
According to the author, what was the fundamental mistake President Donald Trump made in his approach to Kim Jong Un?
  • A. He assumed Kim was a businessman who would easily trade his nuclear weapons for economic benefits.
  • B. He refused to meet Kim in person, relying solely on aggressive social media rhetoric.
  • C. He underestimated the size of North Korea's conventional military forces.
  • D. He offered to remove all US troops from South Korea without consulting allies.
Question 8 of 8
How does the author suggest the US and its allies should handle the North Korean threat to move toward meaningful denuclearization?
  • A. By launching targeted cyberattacks against North Korea's financial institutions.
  • B. By treating Kim as an irrational actor and isolating him completely from global media.
  • C. By taking coordinated action to strengthen alliances, making Kim realize his nuclear program is a liability.
  • D. By offering immediate economic packages to North Korean citizens to spark an internal rebellion.

Becoming Kim Jong Un — Full Chapter Overview

Becoming Kim Jong Un Summary & Overview

Becoming Kim Jong Un (2020) tells the story of the North Korean dictator from his childhood as the son and grandson of two infamous Korean leaders through to his momentous summit with American president Donald Trump. Setting aside the insults and jokes about Kim that the media and internet often perpetuate, it takes a serious look at Kim’s enigmatic persona and behavior and diagnoses the grave threat that he and his nation⁠ pose to the world.

Who Should Listen to Becoming Kim Jong Un?

  • People fascinated by international politics and global issues
  • History lovers
  • Anyone with an interest in modern Asia

About the Author: Jung H. Pak

Jung H. Pak, PhD, is a former senior CIA intelligence analyst responsible for Korea-related issues. She’s also a former senior fellow and former SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at the Brookings Institution. Her writing has appeared in the Atlantic, Foreign Policy, USA Today, and the Hill.

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