This is a book about the power structure in North Korea, or at least, what can be gleaned about an extremely suppressive, repressive murderous regime that does all it can to conceal itself. As just one example of many abuses in the book: in 1996 "five Protestant Christians, their hands and feet bound, were thrown before a large steam roller". Forced to watch, some observers fainted at the 'popping sound' of the skulls being crushed. These public executions and the total suppression of religion, free thought and any perceived threats such as not clapping enthusiastically enough at state events have been continued under present leader Kim Jong Un. His sister Kim Jong Un is a little more behind the scenes but an equally ruthless part of the bloodline that defines North Korean power. Remember that these are the people Mr. Putin is making deals with and against whom Ukraine is fighting for their lives. How so many Americans, including so-called Christians, can ignore the horrific, immoral, murderous behavior of these countries and placate dictators in the guise of 'peace' is incomprehensible to me. If 'patriotism' or 'nationalism' are not guided by inclusive, moral and ethical ideals, what manner of 'freedom' are we pretending to defend? I am not so naive as to advocate violence against nuclear powers without just cause, but if resisting these kinds of people with sanctions and policy and sending weapons to the people who are doing the fighting is controversial-then what kind of people have we become? Are we so distracted by our smart phones and petty political differences that we cannot renounce the true sociopaths among us?
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