Short and accessible, North Korea, South Korea offers a comprehensive outline of the history and political complexities of the Korean peninsula, explaining in detail why the U.S. currently stands on the brink of nuclear war. Putting the current political tensions in context through an exploration of the history of American policy towards Korea as well as the conflict between the communist North and capitalist South, this book offers concrete proposals for U.S. policies that could help reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula and bring an end to the last cold war.