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The Invitation-Only Zone: The True Story of North Korea's Abduction Project
For decades, North Korea denied any part in the disappearance of dozens of Japanese citizens from Japan’s coastal towns and cities in the late 1970s. But in 2002, with his country on the brink of collapse, Kim Jong-il admitted to the kidnapping of thirteen people and returned five of them in hopes of receiving Japanese aid. As part of a global espionage project, the regime had attempted to reeducate these abductees and make them spy on its behalf. When the scheme faltered, the captives were forced to teach Japanese to North Korean spies and make lives for themselves, marrying, having children, and posing as North Korean civilians in guarded communities known as “Invitation-Only Zones”—the fiction being that they were exclusive enclaves, not prisons.
From the moment Robert S. Boynton saw a photograph of these men and women, he became obsessed with their story. Torn from their homes as young adults, living for a quarter century in a strange and hostile country, they were returned with little more than an apology from the secretive regime.
In The Invitation-Only Zone, Boynton untangles the bizarre logic behind the abductions. Drawing on extensive interviews with the abductees, Boynton reconstructs the story of their lives inside North Korea and ponders the existential toll the episode has had on them, and on Japan itself. He speaks with nationalists, spies, defectors, diplomats, abductees, and even crab fishermen, exploring the cultural and racial tensions between Korea and Japan that have festered for more than a century.
A deeply reported, thoroughly researched book, The Invitation-Only Zone is a riveting story of East Asian politics and of the tragic human consequences of North Korea’s zealous attempt to remain relevant in the modern world.
From the moment Robert S. Boynton saw a photograph of these men and women, he became obsessed with their story. Torn from their homes as young adults, living for a quarter century in a strange and hostile country, they were returned with little more than an apology from the secretive regime.
In The Invitation-Only Zone, Boynton untangles the bizarre logic behind the abductions. Drawing on extensive interviews with the abductees, Boynton reconstructs the story of their lives inside North Korea and ponders the existential toll the episode has had on them, and on Japan itself. He speaks with nationalists, spies, defectors, diplomats, abductees, and even crab fishermen, exploring the cultural and racial tensions between Korea and Japan that have festered for more than a century.
A deeply reported, thoroughly researched book, The Invitation-Only Zone is a riveting story of East Asian politics and of the tragic human consequences of North Korea’s zealous attempt to remain relevant in the modern world.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
November 20, 2017
I was riveted, but not because this is a great book. It is an OK book. It was the topic that pulled me in. With the exception of A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictator's Rise to Power there is more information on North Korea’s policy of abductions here than I have seen anywhere else. Unfortunately the story of the abductions and abductees is sandwiched in with loosely related issues.
After an enticing Prologue on a specific dual abduction, the author goes on his biggest tangent – the racial theories of Japan’s Meiji period and its desire for colonies. With the space devoted to this, you think the book might be an argument that the abductions were retribution for Japan’s treatment of Korea. You later learn more convincing theories: to gain expertise, to get language teachers and translators, to use abductees for spies and/or mate captive couples to produce children to be used as spies.
Kaoru Hasuike, an 1978 abductee released in 2004,seems to be the author’s best source and his story weaves in and out. Through him you learn how couples were abducted, the indoctrination process, the daily life of an abductee, how couples were re-united and married, supervised, how their children were educated and more. There are the stories of Megumi Yokota, Young Yasushi and Yukie Chimura and a few others. You learn about a softer approach to abduction: attractive young people travel abroad and recruit vulnerable students for dream jobs which end up being in North Korea.
A 1987 airline bombing shows how spies can be used. The author credits this event as breaking open North Korea’s well kept secret (although high profile abductees, Choi Eun Hee and Shin Sang-ok, escaped in 1986).
At the end of the book, the author relates the diplomacy that released 5 “missing persons” and stated (admitted? lied about?) the deaths of 8 others. The author does not comment on the over 5,000 abductees, from countries as disparate as Chile and Italy, he had cited earlier who remain.
The book profiles others who wind up in North Korea on their own. Thousands went through the Japanese Communist’s re-patriation project; the noted chef Kenji Fujimoto answered a job ad; the Red Army Faction of true believing 1960’s Japanese youth went to help the North Koreans with a world-wide revolution; and two American soldiers facing military discipline walked across the border.
The author says the abductions continue today. As is typical of this book, that is all that is said of it.
I prefer a book that stays on topic, but I was glued. While it rambles and injects half completed ideas, there is a lot of important material here and it is written in a very readable way.
After an enticing Prologue on a specific dual abduction, the author goes on his biggest tangent – the racial theories of Japan’s Meiji period and its desire for colonies. With the space devoted to this, you think the book might be an argument that the abductions were retribution for Japan’s treatment of Korea. You later learn more convincing theories: to gain expertise, to get language teachers and translators, to use abductees for spies and/or mate captive couples to produce children to be used as spies.
Kaoru Hasuike, an 1978 abductee released in 2004,seems to be the author’s best source and his story weaves in and out. Through him you learn how couples were abducted, the indoctrination process, the daily life of an abductee, how couples were re-united and married, supervised, how their children were educated and more. There are the stories of Megumi Yokota, Young Yasushi and Yukie Chimura and a few others. You learn about a softer approach to abduction: attractive young people travel abroad and recruit vulnerable students for dream jobs which end up being in North Korea.
A 1987 airline bombing shows how spies can be used. The author credits this event as breaking open North Korea’s well kept secret (although high profile abductees, Choi Eun Hee and Shin Sang-ok, escaped in 1986).
At the end of the book, the author relates the diplomacy that released 5 “missing persons” and stated (admitted? lied about?) the deaths of 8 others. The author does not comment on the over 5,000 abductees, from countries as disparate as Chile and Italy, he had cited earlier who remain.
The book profiles others who wind up in North Korea on their own. Thousands went through the Japanese Communist’s re-patriation project; the noted chef Kenji Fujimoto answered a job ad; the Red Army Faction of true believing 1960’s Japanese youth went to help the North Koreans with a world-wide revolution; and two American soldiers facing military discipline walked across the border.
The author says the abductions continue today. As is typical of this book, that is all that is said of it.
I prefer a book that stays on topic, but I was glued. While it rambles and injects half completed ideas, there is a lot of important material here and it is written in a very readable way.
January 19, 2016
Another book to feed my obsession with North Korea. This is an account of North Korea's official abduction program. Yes, as part of official state policy, North Korea was kidnapping foreign nationals and forcing them to live in North Korea, where they worked as translators and helped train spies. The story that this book tells is fascinating and heartbreaking. I wasn't wild about the presentation, though; Boynton alternates between presenting the point of view of one abducted Japanese man, Kaoru, and a broader perspective on Asian history and Japanese-Korean relations. I found the transitions between the frequent perspective shifts to be jarring and since I was already familiar with a lot of the material in the history chapters, I was usually impatient to get back to Kaoru.
I enjoyed A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictator's Rise to Power more than this one ("enjoyed" isn't really the right word, but you know what I mean). However, if you don't know a lot of the historical background, this book provides a much better overview and might be a better starting place.
I enjoyed A Kim Jong-Il Production: The Extraordinary True Story of a Kidnapped Filmmaker, His Star Actress, and a Young Dictator's Rise to Power more than this one ("enjoyed" isn't really the right word, but you know what I mean). However, if you don't know a lot of the historical background, this book provides a much better overview and might be a better starting place.
February 2, 2023
3,5 ⭐️
as a part of north korea’s official state policy the country’s intelligence abducted multiple japanese people and planted them in housing areas in north korea designated for this purpose. the purpose however seems to end here – what the abductees exactly were meant to be used for remained slightly unclear. apart from teaching japanese and migrating into north korean society while constantly being watched, it’s not quite clear why the abductions took place.
that’s what robert s. boynton tries to tackle in this book that is a huge journalistic effort. he also discusses japan and korea’s history and interconnectedness, tries to find reasons behind the abductions themselves and the phenomenon as a whole.
a very exciting topic but not a very engaging or exciting book. however, an important one to exist and it portrays parts of north korea via the abductees’ interviews we don’t often get to see. north korea is a terrifying yet somehow fascinating country whose fall seems inevitable.
as a part of north korea’s official state policy the country’s intelligence abducted multiple japanese people and planted them in housing areas in north korea designated for this purpose. the purpose however seems to end here – what the abductees exactly were meant to be used for remained slightly unclear. apart from teaching japanese and migrating into north korean society while constantly being watched, it’s not quite clear why the abductions took place.
that’s what robert s. boynton tries to tackle in this book that is a huge journalistic effort. he also discusses japan and korea’s history and interconnectedness, tries to find reasons behind the abductions themselves and the phenomenon as a whole.
a very exciting topic but not a very engaging or exciting book. however, an important one to exist and it portrays parts of north korea via the abductees’ interviews we don’t often get to see. north korea is a terrifying yet somehow fascinating country whose fall seems inevitable.
January 27, 2017
Like many other reviewers, I found the title a bit deceptive, since much more is covered than the DPRK's abduction project. By Chapter 2 I was losing interest except that.....also like other reviewers....I have developed a fascination with North Korean history, etc. In the end, the reader learns about the abduction project, but also how it fits in the larger scheme of North Korean (and Japanese) history. Without understanding that, the project itself would sound even more unbelievable than it already does.
June 26, 2018
Subject matter was interesting but was not written in a particularly engaging manner.
Did appreciate the historical background that Boynton gave about the development of Korean-Japanese relations, but by interspersing this material between the accounts of the abductees, he broke up the narrative in a way that became distracting.
Given that this subject matter doesn't have that much material on it (the abductees are either dead or don't wish to speak on the matter), I wish Boynton hadn't tried to force additional substance.
Did appreciate the historical background that Boynton gave about the development of Korean-Japanese relations, but by interspersing this material between the accounts of the abductees, he broke up the narrative in a way that became distracting.
Given that this subject matter doesn't have that much material on it (the abductees are either dead or don't wish to speak on the matter), I wish Boynton hadn't tried to force additional substance.
February 8, 2016
While this is an interesting topic, North Korea's program to kidnap people to turn them into spies, I felt the jumping around from detailing the overarching program to focusing on a few individual victims didn't really work well. The biggest flaw this book has is that it straddles a lot of angles it can go without choosing one direction and doing it well.
September 15, 2021
This is a great book about a slice of history I didn’t even know existed.
Detailing the abduction of Japanese citizens over decades by North Korea, the book details the history of both countries along the project of kidnapping and the attempted repatriation.
Following several individual’s stories, this really dived deep for such a short book.
Detailing the abduction of Japanese citizens over decades by North Korea, the book details the history of both countries along the project of kidnapping and the attempted repatriation.
Following several individual’s stories, this really dived deep for such a short book.
August 30, 2020
A stunning portrayal of such horrific events. Told through the eyes of those with different parts to play, this book truly gives you a three dimensional view of a somewhat harrowing and taboo topic.
Perfect for those looking to increase their knowledge on North Korean and Japanese relations.
Perfect for those looking to increase their knowledge on North Korean and Japanese relations.
May 11, 2020
Extremely fascinating!! Not only the North Korea part and the lives of the abudctees, but also the history of the Japanese colonialism I knew nothing about and the attempts at racial purity and racims towards Koreans.
May 8, 2016
Interesting but a bit repetitive. For real enthusiasts!
May 25, 2016
MUST READ, one particular chapter will bring to your eyes. Every time I think I've wrapped my head around north Korea's evil, I learn of yet more depravity.
April 27, 2018
典型的美式報導文學，試圖拉開歷史的大帷幕，從日韓十九世紀的恩怨開始講起，依時序多角度論述，除了月黑風高的夜裡被綁走的日本情侶，也兼及在北韓當到的工會幹部的失蹤日本少年、日本赤軍、「返回北韓」的在日韓僑、申相玉與崔銀姬，乃至於投入尋找人質的前左派分子、參與交涉的日本外交官、媒體與學者。不過整體而言還是蓮池薰的故事占的篇幅最多，跟蓮池的回憶錄《誘拐與決斷》搭配著看有互補的效果。
November 2, 2019
An outstanding work of journalism in North Korea!
This book encompasses the missing pieces of history of post-war Japan and North Korea. To understand the background behind the abductions of Japanese citizens by the North Korean government, ones have to look back into Japan shortly after the Meiji Restoration. “Race” is an alien concept in most of Asian culture, including Japan, before the European colonisation happened. This concept of “race” will be central to the explanation in this book for why and how come there are so many abduction cases happened to the Japanese citizens.
One can never be ignorant of history if one wants to understand the present. Boynton did a great job on noticing how the foundation of the discipline of anthropology in pre-war Japan strongly emphasised the need of Imperial Japan to distinguish itself from its Asian neighbours as a superior race. A concept which in turn will bring Japan into hegemony in the early 1900s and led to its annexation of other countries in Asia under the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere as stipulated by the Japanese Empire.
I like the idea of mixing interrelated disciplines to explain some phenomenon, as employed by Robert Boynton to explain the abduction cases. He didn’t begin by boring expired news cited from random media, but by playing with personal stories of the abductees and providing the readers with clear theoretical background. I find the concept of race superiority which is employed by the Japanese during WWII is helpful in explaining the consequences of Japanese wartime actions into the radical bitterness of the North Koreans in the postwar period.
The book also featured several stories of the abductees, based on firsthand interviews, about the subject of their daily life in the so-called Invitation-Only Zone designated for the foreign abductees. North Korea has returned 5 abductees in 2002 in an attempt to normalise relationships with the Japanese and Kim Jong-il admitted the abduction which his regime had been doing since early 1960s. It’s helpful that these interviews supported the clouded news surrounding the abduction cases which have been a taboo subject for the Japanese government and media before the 2002 state visit by the then Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi.
However I can’t help but feel sceptical about the real figures of the Japanese citizens who have been abducted by the North Korean government. There’s simply no real figures which can be proven. Real figures might have to wait until unification happens between the two Koreas or if North Korea decides to open up to the outside world. I figure the shock which will happen might be comparable to the discovery of the Stasi’s secret documents after the fall of East Germany.
This book encompasses the missing pieces of history of post-war Japan and North Korea. To understand the background behind the abductions of Japanese citizens by the North Korean government, ones have to look back into Japan shortly after the Meiji Restoration. “Race” is an alien concept in most of Asian culture, including Japan, before the European colonisation happened. This concept of “race” will be central to the explanation in this book for why and how come there are so many abduction cases happened to the Japanese citizens.
One can never be ignorant of history if one wants to understand the present. Boynton did a great job on noticing how the foundation of the discipline of anthropology in pre-war Japan strongly emphasised the need of Imperial Japan to distinguish itself from its Asian neighbours as a superior race. A concept which in turn will bring Japan into hegemony in the early 1900s and led to its annexation of other countries in Asia under the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere as stipulated by the Japanese Empire.
I like the idea of mixing interrelated disciplines to explain some phenomenon, as employed by Robert Boynton to explain the abduction cases. He didn’t begin by boring expired news cited from random media, but by playing with personal stories of the abductees and providing the readers with clear theoretical background. I find the concept of race superiority which is employed by the Japanese during WWII is helpful in explaining the consequences of Japanese wartime actions into the radical bitterness of the North Koreans in the postwar period.
The book also featured several stories of the abductees, based on firsthand interviews, about the subject of their daily life in the so-called Invitation-Only Zone designated for the foreign abductees. North Korea has returned 5 abductees in 2002 in an attempt to normalise relationships with the Japanese and Kim Jong-il admitted the abduction which his regime had been doing since early 1960s. It’s helpful that these interviews supported the clouded news surrounding the abduction cases which have been a taboo subject for the Japanese government and media before the 2002 state visit by the then Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi.
However I can’t help but feel sceptical about the real figures of the Japanese citizens who have been abducted by the North Korean government. There’s simply no real figures which can be proven. Real figures might have to wait until unification happens between the two Koreas or if North Korea decides to open up to the outside world. I figure the shock which will happen might be comparable to the discovery of the Stasi’s secret documents after the fall of East Germany.
May 13, 2018
Fascinating exploration of North Korea's Abduction project, by interviewing kidnap victims. This is a sad and strange story, and Boynton humanises the individuals caught in the machinations of dictatorial state. As well, Boynton thoughtfully explores the sheer weirdness of the North Korea state and state policy within the greater context of the relationship between Japan and Korea as a whole. It is impossible to understand the reasoning behind the abduction program without looking at the experience of Korea as a colony of Imperial Japan. I particularly liked the chapter on the way pre-war, racialist anthropology was used as a figleaf for Imperial ambition and how some of those attitudes are still transmitted in North Korea today. Having said that, the epilogue, in which Boynton lays out his theories on journalism, could have well and truly been trimmed.
July 6, 2016
This book is what I consider a high level narrative of the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea, and the subsequent experiences of these abducted Japanese citizens. I say 'high level' because Robert Boynton uses multiple chapters to step away from the actual narrative of the abductions themselves to provide side bar discussion on Japanese culture and history in order give the reader some context on the complicated relationship between Japan and its neighbors. During some of these sidebar chapters I felt, that at some points, the author drove the narrative too far off the tracks with irrelevant background information. Ultimately, the subject matter that the book covers is far more broad than the topic advertised by the book's title.
November 26, 2017
A most commendable effort by Robert. Though he is unable to reveal the reason for the abduction, a feat probably no one could especially since the passing of the two Kims, he kept the reader engaged about the lives of complete strangers. The epilogue is a must read, a wonderful conclusion to a history of nations, cultures and people.
June 26, 2021
It’s books like these that make you realize how narrow your global lens can be. The story of how North Korea abducted dozens of mostly Japanese young people and forced them to raise families in North Korea is amazing in itself. But the more intricate back story of how this ties into the complex history and racial relations between the two nations is just as compelling.
March 12, 2016
Interesting and well written. It has more historical background about the relationship between Korea and Japan than I expected. It has less information about the abduction project and abductees than I was hoping for; I imagine that is still tough info to get. Still, it was very interesting.
May 2, 2016
For people who are weirdly obsessed with North Korea, as I am, this is a fascinating account of one of the DPRK's stranger chapters: Its complicated plan to abduct foreigners, many from the shores of Japan.
February 17, 2016
This book was amazing.
February 10, 2016
An extraordinary book of in-depth reporting on the abduction of hundreds of Japanese by the North Koreans. Includes historical background and cultural history of both Japan and Korea. Fascinating.
July 4, 2020
A fascinating follow-up to WITHOUT YOU THERE IS NO US, by Suki Kim.
March 2, 2025
A lot of times while reading this I was struggling to see how certain pieces of information were necessary to the story trying to be told, by the end that worry had ceased as Robert S. Boynton wraps the entire complex web of reporting down to more simple, individual, human stories.
Personally I had never heard of this event apart from fringe cases (Choi Eun-hee and Shin Sang-ok) but each case was a different level of heartbreaking and disbelief.
If this concept strikes your interest I’d definitely recommend it, it’s concise and coherent.
I’ll end this review with a quote from Boynton himself:
“Reporting on a series of events spanning several decades, in three countries, in two languages I do not speak, sometimes struck me as foolish, if not insane”
Personally I had never heard of this event apart from fringe cases (Choi Eun-hee and Shin Sang-ok) but each case was a different level of heartbreaking and disbelief.
If this concept strikes your interest I’d definitely recommend it, it’s concise and coherent.
I’ll end this review with a quote from Boynton himself:
“Reporting on a series of events spanning several decades, in three countries, in two languages I do not speak, sometimes struck me as foolish, if not insane”
May 14, 2019
A very interesting subject matter, but the way it was written and presented wasn’t for me.
There was a lot of additional material presented that didn’t seem to add much to the main subject matter other than it happening around that time, and I didn’t get the connection. Nor the connection of a few historical information that he adds in between.
[Around the world pick for North Korea.]
There was a lot of additional material presented that didn’t seem to add much to the main subject matter other than it happening around that time, and I didn’t get the connection. Nor the connection of a few historical information that he adds in between.
[Around the world pick for North Korea.]
December 30, 2024
WHAT A BOOK! Absolutely fascinating and great to share the read with my love.
A great find in Kinokuniya!
A great find in Kinokuniya!
November 3, 2025
Crazy town
February 3, 2019
讀的有點累，斷斷續續的從市圖電子書借了幾次，總算讀完了！
不是書寫的不好，是因為這一類有點歷史背景的書，本來就不是我的強項，最近又在忙其他事，所以讀很慢。
看了在知道在北韓有這麼一段這麼長的對外國人綁架、間諜、文化洗腦的老大哥故事。
不是書寫的不好，是因為這一類有點歷史背景的書，本來就不是我的強項，最近又在忙其他事，所以讀很慢。
看了在知道在北韓有這麼一段這麼長的對外國人綁架、間諜、文化洗腦的老大哥故事。
February 8, 2019
Sebelum ni aku tak ambik tahu sangat pasal NK. Tapi aku tahu la NK sebuah negara yg isolated, ekonomi dan pembangunan tak seberapa.
Tapi bila baca buku ni, aku dapat new insights tentang NK. Dan aku jadi lagi takut dengan NK. Dan secara jujurnya, aku tak tahu apa yang ada dalam kepala Kim Il Sung waktu dia create NK. Dengan Kim Jong Il pun aku tak faham jugak.
Walaupun content buku ni lari tajuk sikit, tapi bagi aku not bad la untuk bagi exposure. Ada historical facts sikit (walaupun aku rasa macam tak relevan) so terus aku bagi 4 bintang sebab aku memang minat sejarah.
English tak susah sangat, tapi aku rasa susunan content buku ni macam celaru sikit. Dia punya event tak teratur. Disebabkan tu la bagi aku a little bit turn off la.
Apapun, buku ni nice untuk mereka yg nak ambik tahu pasal NK.
Tapi bila baca buku ni, aku dapat new insights tentang NK. Dan aku jadi lagi takut dengan NK. Dan secara jujurnya, aku tak tahu apa yang ada dalam kepala Kim Il Sung waktu dia create NK. Dengan Kim Jong Il pun aku tak faham jugak.
Walaupun content buku ni lari tajuk sikit, tapi bagi aku not bad la untuk bagi exposure. Ada historical facts sikit (walaupun aku rasa macam tak relevan) so terus aku bagi 4 bintang sebab aku memang minat sejarah.
English tak susah sangat, tapi aku rasa susunan content buku ni macam celaru sikit. Dia punya event tak teratur. Disebabkan tu la bagi aku a little bit turn off la.
Apapun, buku ni nice untuk mereka yg nak ambik tahu pasal NK.
January 1, 2019
As a young couple walks on the beachside in dim light, they are captured by people dressed in black. Very confused and worried, they get thrown on to a ship, were lies many unknown people. During the 1970s to 1980s, people living in Japan were captured and sent to North Korea to be used as translators, teachers, and also as spies for Japan. They couldn't refuse and were forced to do these things. They would isolate the couples and people from any type of communication, and be told to learn 'Juche' (Korean Ideology). After brainwashing them by saying: "You can return to Japan once you learned how to speak Korean." There always was someone looking at them, 24 hours. Not letting them have any way of escaping. They would soon suffer hardships from living in North Korea. As for when it is time to leave (Japan has perswaded to North Korea to return the captured citizens), they had to let the goverment save their children due to if they were to defect.
This book has allowed me to understand the importance of being captured, and forced to do a certain process. It also showed me the hardships of living in North Korea. For example, lack of food, having to move around to avoid being found by the Japanese. Food was so scarce, that even the citizens had to start to plant their own foods.
This book has allowed me to understand the importance of being captured, and forced to do a certain process. It also showed me the hardships of living in North Korea. For example, lack of food, having to move around to avoid being found by the Japanese. Food was so scarce, that even the citizens had to start to plant their own foods.
January 21, 2018
I love a random educational opportunity!
I picked this up while shelving at one of the libraries that I work at and realised that North Korea was a bizarre subject that I really wanted to know more about.
Being thoroughly Westernised, I had little idea of Japan's colonisation of its neighbouring countries let alone that it is partially responsible for the Korean divide. However this obviously did not justify the abduction of so many Japanese decades later.
While all of their stories are covered in one way or another, the main focus is on Kaoru Hasuike and Yukiko Okudo, a young couple kidnapped whilst on the beach. While their survival, family and possible brainwashing made for fascinating reading in its own right, the constant return to their storyline amid chapters about other people of interest drew attention to the often unbalanced arrangement of accounts. Also I found that the journalistic style lacked the enthusiasm one would expect to come from such a distressing and, at times, insane story.
Nevertheless I learned a lot about where little Un comes from and will have a more concentrated perspective on where he and his people might be going...
I picked this up while shelving at one of the libraries that I work at and realised that North Korea was a bizarre subject that I really wanted to know more about.
Being thoroughly Westernised, I had little idea of Japan's colonisation of its neighbouring countries let alone that it is partially responsible for the Korean divide. However this obviously did not justify the abduction of so many Japanese decades later.
While all of their stories are covered in one way or another, the main focus is on Kaoru Hasuike and Yukiko Okudo, a young couple kidnapped whilst on the beach. While their survival, family and possible brainwashing made for fascinating reading in its own right, the constant return to their storyline amid chapters about other people of interest drew attention to the often unbalanced arrangement of accounts. Also I found that the journalistic style lacked the enthusiasm one would expect to come from such a distressing and, at times, insane story.
Nevertheless I learned a lot about where little Un comes from and will have a more concentrated perspective on where he and his people might be going...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews