Kwak (PhD, international relations, Claremont Graduate U.) and Joo (political science, U. of Minnesota-Morris) present 13 chapters examining various aspects of North Korean foreign policy, with the key characteristic of the collection being a sustained attempt to examine the issues from the perspective of North Korea itself. Chapters address the role of the Juche (self-reliance) ideology in policymaking, the strategic intentions and motivations of North Korea, the reasons for shifting negotiating positions over North Korea's missile program, Kim Jong Il's worldview and perception of the US, and North Korea's peace regime proposals. Other chapters examine North Korea's policies towards, individually: the US, China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)