Thae Yong-ho was a leading North Korean diplomat to the United Kingdom and Northern Europe—until his dramatic defection to South Korea in 2016. In this gripping tell-all, he reveals the inner workings of the North Korean regime and shares the story of his decision to leave. Thae spent nearly three decades working under three generations of the ruling Kim dynasty after entering the foreign service as an idealistic twenty-seven-year-old “red warrior” eager to strive for the “socialist motherland.” During this time, he witnessed the arbitrary and tyrannical rule of the Kim family and the enigmatic “Third Floor,” a powerful group of high-ranking officials. Thae provides up-close portraits of the excesses of the North Korean elite and the depths of the cult of personality around the Kims, describing experiences such as concocting reports of Europeans celebrating the birthdays of Kim Il-sung or Kim Jong-il and escorting Kim Jong-un’s older brother to Eric Clapton concerts in London. He also details the economic and political consequences of North Korea’s pursuit of the bomb and the immiseration of the vast majority of the population. Today a politician in South Korea who advocates unification, Thae offers a powerful plea for the families torn apart by the conflict—including his own, as his brother and sister likely now languish in prison camps. A best-seller in South Korea, Passcode to the Third Floor is an unparalleled look at North Korean politics and diplomacy, giving readers intimate access to the regime’s innermost secrets.

A major new history of North and South Korea, from the late nineteenth century to the present day “Cha and Pacheco Pardo have years of expertise in Korean international relations. . . . A crisp and balanced account.”—Christopher Harding, The Telegraph Korea has a long, riveting history—it is also a divided nation. South Korea is a vibrant democracy, the tenth largest economy, and is home to a world-renowned culture. North Korea is ruled by the most authoritarian regime in the world, a poor country in a rich region, and is best known for the cult of personality surrounding the ruling Kim family. But both Koreas share a unique common history. Victor Cha and Ramon Pacheco Pardo draw on decades of research to explore the history of modern Korea, from the late nineteenth century, Japanese occupation, and Cold War division to the present day. A small country caught amongst the world’s largest powers—including China, Japan, Russia, and the United States—Korea’s fate has been closely connected to its geography and the strength of its leadership and society. This comprehensive history sheds light on the evolving identities of the two Koreas, explaining the sharp differences between North and South, and prospects for unification.

A Silent Reckoning is the second book in International Bestselling Author Nikita Slater's mafia romance Sinner's Empire Trilogy. One year. Jozef is ready to reclaim the woman who got away from him and start their lives together. He has watched, he has waited and now he will build his empire with his woman at his side. One year. Shaun never thought she'd see him again. The man who ripped her life into little pieces and left her to deal with the shambles. Now he's back and he's determined to pick up where they left off. A Silent Reckoning is Book 2 of 3 in the Sinner’s Empire trilogy. All three books are now available for purchase. Keywords: possessive alpha male, dark romance, jealous possessive, gothic romance, seductive romance, alpha hero, antihero, antihero romance, antihero dark romance, suffering heroine, obsessive hero, abduction to love, first in trilogy, passionate lovers, tortured heroine, sexually romantic books, series, romantic suspense, forbidden romance, capture fantasy, thriller, crime, mafia romance, enforcer, kidnap, love books, love stories, contemporary mafia romance, family saga, enemies to lovers, mobster, dark mafia romance, billionaire romance, possessive alpha romance, bestselling series, bad boy, non-verbal, no cheating, kidnapping, nonverbal, stalker, mercenary, doctor, protective, steamy, abused heroine, dominance submission, caged, marriage, captive romance, mob boss

My name is Eve Hamilton and I live in Compound Eleven. Here, the hierarchy of the floors is everything. And on my floor, we fight—which is better than the bottom floor, where they toil away in misery. Only the top floor has any ease in this harsh world; they rule from their gilded offices. All because four generations ago, Earth was rendered uninhabitable—the sun too hot, the land too barren. Those who remained were forced underground. While not a perfect life down here, I’ve learned to survive as a fighter. Except my latest match is different. Instead of someone from the circuit, my opponent is a mysterious boy from the top floor. And the look in his eyes tells me he’s different, maybe even kind...right before he kicks my ass. He could be my salvation. He could be my undoing. Because I’m no longer content to just survive in Eleven. Today, I'm ready to fight for more than my next meal. I'm fighting for my freedom. And this boy might just give me the edge I've been waiting for. The Eleven trilogy is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Escaping Eleven Book #2 Unraveling Eleven Book #3 Ending Eleven

A dark mafia trilogy by USA Today Bestselling Author Nikita Slater. Shaun's life changes in an instant when she's kidnapped from a hospital where she works as a surgeon with Doctors Without Borders. She's faced with two choices; save the mafia informant or die. She finds herself in a dangerous situation where the only man she can trust is the vicious enforcer to a crime family. Jozef Koba. From the operating room to an opulent glittering ballroom and a forced engagement, Shaun is wildly out of her depth. Every step she takes is monitored and the man who kidnapped her watches her like a feral dog preparing to strike. A mob war. A family in crisis. A rise to power. Together, Jozef and Shaun, must show the world a new Koba empire, built from the ashes of destruction and put back together with the strength of their love. NOTE: The Sinner's Empire Trilogy contains sensitive subject matter, with some scenes containing elements of PTSD and panic attacks, please read with caution. Keywords: romance series, romance trilogy, possessive alpha male, dark romance, jealous possessive, gothic romance, seductive romance, alpha hero, antihero, antihero romance, antihero dark romance, suffering heroine, obsessive hero, abduction to love, passionate lovers, tortured heroine, sexually romantic books, series, romantic suspense, forbidden romance, capture fantasy, thriller, crime, mafia romance, enforcer, kidnap, love books, love stories, contemporary mafia romance, family saga, enemies to lovers, mobster, dark mafia romance, billionaire romance, possessive alpha romance, bestselling series, bad boy, non-verbal, no cheating, kidnapping, nonverbal, stalker, mercenary, doctor, protective, steamy, abused heroine, dominance submission, caged, marriage, captive romance, mob boss

An assassination attempt on the royal family finds the US Ambassador in prison charged with the crime. The NIA must expose the true conspirators in a land where guilt is assumed until proven otherwise.

The girl was dressed in a gray hemp skirt, with a beautiful face, and was carrying a bamboo basket in her right hand, which contained the herbs picked this time. The man called Dad by the girl carried a few hares, kept two for meat tomorrow, and took the rest along with herbs to the market to exchange for some silver. Auntie, we are back.