The recent invigoration of Russian-North Korean ties raises interest in the history of Russia’s involvement in Korean affairs. Does the recent upsurge have a solid basis that can be counted on to ensure a long-term Russian involvement in the new era? Why would North Koreans, treating foreigners as suspect, “open up” to Russians? A book, recently published in Russia, entitled The Uneasy Neighborhood: Problems on the Korean Peninsula and Challenges for Russia contains a lot of information to answer these questions and also to understand the basics of Russia’s policy regarding Korea.

The book, authored by a team of Russian Koreanists, both mature and quite young, analyzes both the internal situation and the prospects for economic development in both Koreas, as well as the two Korean states’ relations with the great powers. The most interesting data relates to the USSR/Russia’s relations with North Korea.