Located on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, the communist country of North Korea has figured prominently in U.S. foreign affairs since the Korean War ended in 1953. With the rise of Kim Jong II as head of state in 1994, however, North Korea's tense relationship with the United States has further deteriorated, especially since it began testing nuclear missiles in July 2006. Freshly updated to reflect these recent developments, ""North Korea, Second Edition's"" full-color photographs, maps, and helpful facts at a glance and history at a glance features make this book an essential and timely exploration of the people, culture, history, geography, environment, economy, and government of this headline-making nation.