Bookstore

The impressive Second Edition of this standard study incorporates important new evidence on the origins of the war from Chinese and Russian archives. It reveals that Stalin encouraged the attack on South Korea, but also confirms that the original initiative came from North Korea. Peter Lowe has also written an extended conclusion with a discussion of the Koreas in the late 1990s, and the challenges involved in securing their reunification. 'Lowe's excellent book should prove a comprehensive and lucid introduction to its subject, and is particularly welcome given the growing interest in the Cold War at undergraduate level.'

English Historical Review

The Origins of the Korean War: Second Edition

Editor' Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgements. Abbreviations. 1. Korea, The Japanese Empire and the Pacific War. 2. The Establishment of Two Koreas. 3. The Approach of Confrontation in Korea. 4. General MacArthur and the Recovery of Japan. 5. The Demise of Kuomintang and the Triumph of Chinese Communism. 6. The Cold War in Europe. 7. The Outbreak of the Korean War. 8. Rollback and Chinese Intervention in Korea. Conclusion. Select Bibliography. Maps. Index.