Tertitskiy, who has spent the past decade living in South Korea, has published extensively on North Korea’s political, social and military history. Reflecting post-war political realities, Tertitskiy anchors his account firmly in the triangular relationship between North Korea, China and the Soviet Union. For his first decade in power, Kim remained firmly under Moscow’s control: ‘the top man in North Korea, second only to the Soviet ambassador’. Emulating Stalin, Kim even designated himself Marshal of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and wore a similar uniform. What is the formula that allows North Korea’s repressive political system to perpetuate itself?