globalization. Presenting a succinct, historically informed introduction to North and South Korea, Charles K. Armstrong considers the shifting and multiple meanings of "Korea" in contemporary history: a geographical entity, an ethnic nation, two states since 1948, and as an ethno-cultural identity extending beyond the Korean peninsula to substantial minority communities in the United States, China, Japan, and the former Soviet Union. Ultimately, The Koreas offers a crisp, engaging survey of Korea and the Korean people in the contemporary world.

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