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More articles by 'Stephen Mercado'
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
November 21, 2024
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
July 22, 2024
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
July 4, 2024
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
March 21, 2024
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
February 20, 2024
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
December 26, 2023
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
September 11, 2023
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
July 11, 2023
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
June 19, 2023
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
May 18, 2023
