The hardships that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has gone through are unfathomable, and the fact that they have endured them is something to respect. Although not mentioned in this book, they also support the Palestinian cause and have had a history of good relations with Latin American countries, including Mexico.

I've had no exposure to Bruce Cumings before this book, but he's...interesting? A man rife with contradictions in his thought and who is not funny at all. How he can at the same time have such an open mind to the reality of the DPRK and then turn around and say things that are very dismissive about Korean people and their culture is a mystery.