List of Maps, Figures and Tables = vi Timelines = vii Acknowledgement = viii Introduction = 1 Part I: Fulcrum of geography, anvil of history: DPRK in historical perspective Introduction to Part I: time and place, from past to present = 17 1 The roots of modern Korea: from Tangun to liberation = 21 2 Years of struggle, years of hope: Korean War to first nuclear crisis = 46 3 Creation of the Agreed Framework and the flowering of d´etente = 80 4 Crisis reignited: economic reform, regional accord, Washington discord = 97 Part II: The pillars of confrontation Introduction to Part II = 127 5 The human rights record: complexities, causes, solutions = 129 6 Drugs and generals: some surprising facts on narcotics, missiles, terrorism and military confrontation = 167 7 The nuclear confrontation = 202 8 On the precipice: options, positions and dangers at the start of the second Bush administration = 219 Appendix I Economic statistics = 247 II Armed forces, military expenditure and exports = 248 III Documentary sources = 251 IV A timeline of Nuclear and missile issues and activities = 253 Notes= 273 Bibliography = 304 Index = 326.