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'As the actions and threats of the North Korean military continue to be a cause of global concern, Youngjun Kim gives us an unprecedented and detailed glimpse into the origins and formative years of the Korean People's Army. More than a military history, Origins of the North Korean Garrison State offers a social and cultural context that explains how the North Korean military emerged as the key institution of North Korean society. The "garrison state" created in the late 1940s and early 1950s is in many ways still the North Korea of today. A timely and important book.' -- Charles Armstrong, Columbia University, USA

'Youngjun Kim’s richly detailed examination of the creation and early development of the Korean People’s Army significantly advances our understanding of the formation of the garrison state in North Korea. Drawing on documentary evidence, memoirs, and scholarly literature in multiple languages, Kim presents the KPA as a hybrid of Korean, Soviet, and Chinese elements.' -- Kathryn Weathersby, Korea University, Republic of Korea

'This book is the most comprehensive, authoritative, single-volume work currently available on the making of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) and the regime of Kim IL Sung. It is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the foundation of the North Korean regime, the outbreak of the Korean War, the incredible performance of the KPA against ROK Army and U.S. Army in the initial phases of the war, and the continued existence of the hereditary rulers of North Korea. Youngjun Kim’s book enhances our understanding of the nature of the problem we face today with a nuclear armed North Korea. I highly recommend this book.' -- Adrian R. Lewis, University of Kansas, USA

'The military has long been the most important institution in North Korea. It has been the basis of the Kim family’s rule since 1945, it is the 4th largest army in the world (at 1.3 million it is just behind the American military, which is 3rd), and it is the core of the world’s most amazing garrison state. Yet we have had very little scholarly work on it until Youngjun Kim’s new book. Deeply researched, cogent and fascinating, this book will be a standard work for years to come.' -- Bruce Cumings, University of Chicago, USA

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