A review by hetauuu
Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer's Insights Into North Korea's Enigmatic Young Dictator by Jung H. Pak

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written and comprehensive account into the life of Kim Jong Un, who is one of the world's most reclusive men, yet known around the entire world. Becoming Kim Jong Un was the perfect introduction to his rise to power, and the book taught me a lot about the history of the two Koreas. This history was well-connected to current events, highlighting how Kim Jong Un's power was not created in a vacuum, but slowly built upon by his predecessors. Pak highlights how Kim Jong Un never had to fight for his power or build the nuclear arsenal North Korea possesses today. He simply inherited it, and the reason he hangs on to it to dear life is because it is what protects him and his position as the untouchable Supreme Leader.

For people who are well versed in North Korea and its issues, Becoming Kim Jong Un might not offer that much new information or be a particularly groundbreaking book. However, to me, as someone with very basic surface-level knowledge on North Korea and Kim Jong Un in particular, this was a very interesting, thoroughly researched and approachable introduction to the topics, with great, poignant writing to boot.