Between Stalinism and the U.S. empire: A history of North Korea

The history of North Korea is turbulent, heroic and tragic. From a brutal Japanese occupation, Korea emerged from WW2 riven with class struggle and divided between the world's key super-powers. A vicious war saw the US flatten virtually the entire north and millions were killed. Meanwhile, authoritarian regimes emerged in both the North and South. This history is essential for grasping the political situation that North Korea is in today.