{"product_id":"the-invitation-only-zone-the-true-story-of-north-koreas-abduction-project","title":"The Invitation-Only Zone: The True Story of North Korea's Abduction Project","description":"\u003cp\u003eDuring the 1970s and early 80s, dozens - \u003cbr\u003e\nperhaps hundreds - of Japanese civilians were kidnapped by North Korean \u003cbr\u003e\ncommandos and forced to live in 'Invitation Only Zones', high-security \u003cbr\u003e\ndetention-centres masked as exclusive areas, on the outskirts of \u003cbr\u003e\nPyongyang.The objective? To brainwash the abductees with the \u003cbr\u003e\nregime's ideology, and train them to spy on the state's behalf. But the \u003cbr\u003e\nproject faltered; when indoctrination failed, the captives were forced \u003cbr\u003e\nto teach North Korean operatives how to pass as Japanese, to help them \u003cbr\u003e\ninfiltrate hostile neighbouring nations.For years, the Japanese \u003cbr\u003e\nand North Korean authorities brushed off these disappearances, but in \u003cbr\u003e\n2002 Kim Jong Il admitted to kidnapping thirteen citizens, returning \u003cbr\u003e\nfive of them - the remaining eight were declared dead.In The Invitation Only Zone,\u003cbr\u003e\n Boynton, an investigative journalist, speaks with the abductees, \u003cbr\u003e\nnationalists and diplomats, and crab fishermen, to try and untangle both\u003cbr\u003e\n the kidnappings and the intensely complicated relations between North \u003cbr\u003e\nKorea and Japan. The result is a fierce and fascinating exploration of \u003cbr\u003e\nNorth Korea's mysterious machinations, and the vexed politics of \u003cbr\u003e\nNortheast Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Robert S. Boynton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44241160339516,"sku":"9781782398523","price":777.0,"currency_code":"PKR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0714\/7706\/7836\/files\/the-invitation-only-zone-the-true-story-of-north-korea-s-abduction-project-9781782398523.jpg?v=1776795123","url":"https:\/\/libertybooksstore.myshopify.com\/products\/the-invitation-only-zone-the-true-story-of-north-koreas-abduction-project","provider":"LibertyBooksStore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}