SJS 5 - The Kims' Three Bodies: Communism and Dynastic Succession in North Korea

Citation: Cumings, Bruce. "The Kims’ Three Bodies: Communism and Dynastic Succession in    North Korea." Current History 111.746 (2012): 216-22. Print
Link: http://www.currenthistory.com/pdf_org_files/111_746_216.pdf

Authors Credentials/Bias - Bruce Cumings is a renowned historian and professor of history at the University of Chicago.  His specializes in the study of recent Korean history, especially concerning the north. He has written and published countless books relating to North Korea, and he is a self-proclaimed expert on anything to do with North Korea. In addition, he has actually visited North Korea on several different occasions. However, biases are present especially because he does specialize in this field of study, therefore, as a historian, he is inclined to provide concise arguments that are within the realm of his specialty. Otherwise, Cumings does a phenomenal job in presenting his own argument.

Summary: Most people in the west have little understanding of North Korea simply because of its extreme complexity and the fact that its the most isolated state in the world. Moreover, North Korea was never on the media so frequently before the 1990s most likely because it was one of the few remaining communist states after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR. The collapse of the USSR itself almost brought North Korea down with it, however, it was able to somewhat stable even after it lost its largest patron/trade partner. One aspect of North Korea that first-worlders typically have trouble understanding is the Kim Dynasty. North Korea could be known as a modern, communist monarchy, as leadership has been passed down through sons for three generations. In addition, ever since the 1990s, the CIA has been counting down North Korea's imminent collapse, yet today it still remains. It was believed that after the USSR fell, North Korea wouldn't even last a single decade. Even after a series of droughts and famine in the 1990s, the Kim Dynasty has been able to remain in power. Even in 2011 when Kim Il-Sung had died, people thought collapse was inevitable as his policies were among the worst seen in the states history. Furthermore, in recent years, North Korea has been heavily dependent on China, as it was was the USSR not many decades ago. Experts believe that if China ever decides to slow down relations between the two countries, the fate of North Korea is foredoomed. However, with Kim Jong-Un's recent rise, he proved to the world that he was not reluctant of implementing policies as notorious as his father before him.

Analysis: Bruce Cumings does an exemplary job explaining the complex and difficult situation in North Korea. He provides ample detail concerning the history of the Kim regime, which allows him to dispel any myths regarding the regime as well. However, it would be much more beneficial if he included more of the history of South Korea, as little to no information regarding it was present within the article. With South Korean history present, comparisons could have been made and readers could have realized how different these two states are and how much the south has changed over the past several decades as compared with its north counterpart. Nevertheless, Cumings did an exemplary job in simplifying such as complicated topic, as readers are able to easily follow along. Furthermore, the articles conciseness was evident as Cumings would always get right to the point. Overall, his article is well-structured and organized.