east Asia, did not want a second conflict with
North Korea. His reluctance seemed to em-
bolden the aging Kim even further, for in the
1970s his agents were apparently responsible
for bombing several airliners and political
gatherings with heavy loss of life. In the
1980s, the South Korean navy captured sev-
eral miniature North Korean submarines in
their waters, apparently trying to land com-
mandos ashore. But by the 1990s, the specter
of a militant, aggressive North Korea shook
the world scene when Kim flirted with the de-
velopment of nuclear weapons. The country
also began backsliding economically, beset by
intense famines, floods, and a defense budget
that consumed nearly 25 percent of the gross
national product! This most brutal and unpre-
dictable of dictators died at Pyongyang on
July 8, 1994. True to form, Kim broke all polit-
ical conventions associated with Marxist-
Leninism by appointing his son, Kim Jong Il,
to succeed him as the “Dear Leader.” North
Korea thus enjoys the peculiar distinction of
being the first communist country ruled by a
family dynasty.
Bibliography
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North Korea in Transition: From Dictatorship to Dy-
nasty.Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1983.KLUGE, GUNTHERHANSVON
Kluge, Gunther Hans von
(October 30, 1882–August 19, 1944)
German General
“C
lever Hans” was one of Hitler’s
ablest battle captains, one of the
few senior officers he trusted. Even
though a professional soldier, he was torn be-
tween loyalty to his superior and halting the
inevitable destruction of Germany. Unable to
bring himself to formally join the resistance,
he took his own life rather than face the
Führer’s wrath.
Gunther Hans von Kluge was born in
Posen, East Prussia, on October 30, 1882, part
of an old aristocratic family. He joined the im-
perial army in 1901 as an artillery officer and
served through World War I performing staff
functions. In 1918, he was seriously injured at
Verdun but was viewed as promising enough
to be retained in the greatly reduced postwar
Reichswehr. Over the ensuing decade Kluge
fulfilled a variety of staff and line positions,
gaining a reputation as an active and intelli-
gent officer. In this capacity he acquired the
well-deserved moniker die kluge Hans(the
Clever Hans). In 1933, he advanced to major
general and inspector of signal troops and,