I am most grateful to Adam Bellow from All Points Books at St. Martin’s Press for guiding me throughout the writing of The Hermit King. Adam was an outstanding editor and encouraged me from the outset. A great team at St. Martin’s Press supervised the production process, including managing editor Alan Bradshaw, Kevin Reilly, Jennifer Fernandez, and Laury Frieber, as well as Guy Oldfield and Greta Jung from Macmillan Audio. I also worked with an amazing agent, Roger Freet, from Foundry Media, who was indispensable, always gave me sound advice, and worked tirelessly on my behalf.
Many former South Korean officials shared their views and experiences with me in private, for which I am most thankful. It goes without saying, however, that all of the interpretations and shortcomings in this book are entirely my own. I have learned from a long list of North Korea watchers, including Andrei Lankov, Yang Un-chul, B. R. Myers, and the Washington Post’s Anna Fifield. I’d like to thank all my former teachers, but especially Dr. Kim Dalchoong for introducing me to the world of diplomatic history and the Korean academic community, and the late Dr. Lee Ki-taek for inspiring my lifelong fascination with national security and intelligence affairs. My association with the Seoul Forum for International Affairs and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have benefited me greatly.
I have been very fortunate to engage with leading experts and colleagues from the International Institute for Strategic Studies for twenty-five years. Many friends offered critical suggestions, including Hyun In-taek, David Straub, Choi Kang, Lee Geun, Han Seok-hee, and Shin Beom-chul. The idea for writing The Hermit King goes back to the summer of 2017 when members of the Air Power Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C., including Bill Rosenau, Sean McFate, and Chip Rodgers, urged me to write a book on North Korea’s complex political-military configuration. I am also indebted to Michael Raska at the RSIS in Singapore, Katie Botto, and Sujin Kim for their incisive views and research support.
For more than thirty years, Don Brown has been an unstinting friend, and this book wouldn’t have been completed without his encouragement. Don, Choi Jong-moon, and Lee Seok-soo are lifelong brothers. I’m also grateful to Choe Jong-hyun and Ariel Levite for their friendship, and I was deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Charles M. Perry just as I began work on the book.
I am especially cognizant of my late mother’s absence and most thankful to my father for all that he has taught me. My two sisters, Chuly and Hyangly, and my niece and nephew, Tanya and Andreas, have given so much more than I could have ever asked for. As in my previous books, I remain especially thankful to my wife, Minjeong, and my daughter, Jean, for their love and support.
CHUNG MIN LEE
Washington, D.C.
August 2019