Throughout its more than 2,000 year history, Korea has been one of the most homogeneous countries among the world's nation states with its people sharing a common language and ethnicity. However, since the end of World War II and primarily through the actions of external powers, the Korean peninsula has been, and remains, divided and is one of the most dangerous places imaginable. North and South Korea are engaged in a competition for the heart and soul of the Korean nation and international legitimacy.Firstly this book compares how the two Koreas have developed their respective political and economic systems over the past 50 years, as well as the competition between them. Secondly, the focus shifts to the North Korean nuclear weapons program to determine some of the reasons North Korea has been willing to expend the economic and political resources to build this program. Finally, since a nuclear armed North Korea represents such a major challenge to peace and stability in Northeast Asia, and to various international regimes such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, many countries have tried to convince North Korea to terminate this program with only marginal success. The methods employed by the United States and others conclude this book along with some predictions of possible outcomes.