Stephen Mercado | NK News
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December 21, 2024

About the author

Stephen Mercado

Stephen Mercado

Stephen Mercado is a retired officer of the CIA’s Open Source Enterprise (originally the Foreign Broadcast Information Service). A researcher primarily interested in Japanese intelligence history and Asian open-source intelligence, he earned a master’s degree in international affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and is the author of "The Shadow Warriors of Nakano: A History of the Imperial Japanese Army’s Elite Intelligence School" (Brassey’s, 2002), several articles and a few dozen book reviews.

More articles by 'Stephen Mercado'

Book review: The stories of Koreans who made their mark on modern Japan

Book review: The stories of Koreans who made their mark on modern Japan

New book explores impact of people from what became North Korea and how they navigated between Japan and the peninsula

Book review: The stories of Koreans who made their mark on modern Japan
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado November 21, 2024
Book review: A ‘dimwitted’ Japanese diplomat’s diary of life in North Korea

Book review: A ‘dimwitted’ Japanese diplomat’s diary of life in North Korea

Sugiyama Takeshi offers rare look at project to build light water reactors in DPRK, but few insights into why it failed

Book review: A ‘dimwitted’ Japanese diplomat’s diary of life in North Korea
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado July 22, 2024
Book review: Taking Tokyo to task for poor policy on North Korea’s abductions

Book review: Taking Tokyo to task for poor policy on North Korea’s abductions

Impressive Japanese book tells stories of abductees and accuses leaders of prioritizing publicity stunts over diplomacy

Book review: Taking Tokyo to task for poor policy on North Korea’s abductions
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado July 4, 2024
Book review: A realist appraisal of North Korea’s ‘nuclear obsession’

Book review: A realist appraisal of North Korea’s ‘nuclear obsession’

In ‘North Korea in 100 Questions,’ two French experts push past stereotypes to shine light on all things DPRK

Book review: A realist appraisal of North Korea’s ‘nuclear obsession’
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado March 21, 2024
Book review: Jargon weighs down an impressive study of gender in North Korea

Book review: Jargon weighs down an impressive study of gender in North Korea

‘North Korea’s Mundane Revolution’ draws heavily on DPRK publications but ultimately has limited appeal beyond academia

Book review: Jargon weighs down an impressive study of gender in North Korea
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado February 20, 2024
Book review: A deep dive into the obscure world of North Korean animation

Book review: A deep dive into the obscure world of North Korean animation

In ‘The Complete Encyclopaedia of North Korean Anime,’ a Japanese IT worker explores seven decades of DPRK cartoons

Book review: A deep dive into the obscure world of North Korean animation
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado December 26, 2023
Book review: Exploring Japan’s response to North Korea’s growing nuclear threat

Book review: Exploring Japan’s response to North Korea’s growing nuclear threat

Tomotaro Inoue delves into rapid increase in Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests and Tokyo’s options to deter them

Book review: Exploring Japan’s response to North Korea’s growing nuclear threat
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado September 11, 2023
Book review: A chronicle of Korea, from a mythological god-king to Kim Jong Un

Book review: A chronicle of Korea, from a mythological god-king to Kim Jong Un

‘Korea: A New History of South and North’ packs 4,000 years into an insightful overview but oversimplifies DPRK issues

Book review: A chronicle of Korea, from a mythological god-king to Kim Jong Un
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado July 11, 2023
Book review: An African woman’s memoir of privilege and identity in North Korea

Book review: An African woman’s memoir of privilege and identity in North Korea

‘Black Girl from Pyongyang’ documents the fascinating story of Monica Macias, a dictator’s daughter who grew up in DPRK

Book review: An African woman’s memoir of privilege and identity in North Korea
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado June 19, 2023
Book review: A moving personal account of Japan’s pro-North Korea enclave

Book review: A moving personal account of Japan’s pro-North Korea enclave

In a fascinating book of essays, filmmaker Yang Yonghi shares the drama and heartbreak of her Zainichi Korean family

Book review: A moving personal account of Japan’s pro-North Korea enclave
Stephen Mercado
Stephen Mercado May 18, 2023