Becoming Kim Jong Un

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

De: Jung H. Pak

Narrado por: Jung H. Pak

A groundbreaking account of the rise of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un—from his nuclear ambitions to his summits with President Donald J. Trump—by a leading American expert

“Shrewdly sheds light on the world’s most recognizable mysterious leader, his life and what’s really going on behind the curtain.”—Newsweek

When Kim Jong Un became the leader of North Korea following his father's death in 2011, predictions about his imminent fall were rife. North Korea was isolated, poor, unable to feed its people, and clinging to its nuclear program for legitimacy. Surely this twentysomething with a bizarre haircut and no leadership experience would soon be usurped by his elders. Instead, the opposite happened. Now in his midthirties, Kim Jong Un has solidified his grip on his country and brought the United States and the region to the brink of war. Still, we know so little about him—or how he rules.

Enter former CIA analyst Jung Pak, whose brilliant Brookings Institution essay “The Education of Kim Jong Un” cemented her status as the go-to authority on the calculating young leader. From the beginning of Kim’s reign, Pak has been at the forefront of shaping U.S. policy on North Korea and providing strategic assessments for leadership at the highest levels in the government. Now, in this masterly book, she traces and explains Kim’s ascent on the world stage, from his brutal power-consolidating purges to his abrupt pivot toward diplomatic engagement that led to his historic—and still poorly understood—summits with President Trump. She also sheds light on how a top intelligence analyst assesses thorny national security problems: avoiding biases, questioning assumptions, and identifying risks as well as opportunities.

In piecing together Kim’s wholly unique life, Pak argues that his personality, perceptions, and preferences are underestimated by Washington policy wonks, who assume he sees the world as they do. As the North Korean nuclear threat grows, Becoming Kim Jong Un gives readers the first authoritative, behind-the-scenes look at Kim’s character and motivations, creating an insightful biography of the enigmatic man who could rule the hermit kingdom for decades—and has already left an indelible imprint on world history.

Very revealing

An impressive and well done take on the current North Korean leader through the eyes of a former CIA officer. 10/10.

Worthwhile listen.

Informative. Eye opening. Surprisingly enjoyable. And a thought provoking insight into the North Korean mindset.

Insightful

Insightful book of an individual who is unknown to the general public. There is a lot to take away from this.

Fresh perspectives

It was quite interesting that the conjugation of Kim Jong Un and Ri Seol Ju was compared to the North's Byungjin policy of developing both military and economy. It is a briliant analogy! You can gain insights into the North Korean first lady Ri, which is rarely dealt with in other books, and the symbolic and strategic meanings of her publicy appearing side by side with Kim Jong Un.

Needs more Un insights

Too much general North Korea info, which anyone who has read any other North Korean texts will know. Was hoping for deeper analysis of Kim Jong Un himself.