Book review: A ‘dimwitted’ Japanese diplomat’s diary of life in North Korea



Evergreen Book review: A ‘dimwitted’ Japanese diplomat’s diary of life in North Korea Sugiyama Takeshi offers rare look at project to build light water reactors in DPRK, but few insights into why it failed Stephen Mercado July 22, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A North Korean man in front of a small island in South Hamgyong Province \| Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2012) A new book by a retired Japanese diplomat presents a rare look into the multilateral effort to build two light water reactors (LWRs) in North Korea, offering insightful details into the reality of working in the country but taking pains not to reveal anything of substance about why the project ultimately failed. Sugiyama Takeshi was the first resident Japanese representative to the project in Kumho, South Hamgyong Province, living and working there from 1998 to 2000, and he details his experiences in “A Dimwitted Diplomat’s North Korean Journal: A Record of What I Saw and Heard in a Two-Year © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Book review: A ‘dimwitted’ Japanese diplomat’s diary of life in North Korea

Sugiyama Takeshi offers rare look at project to build light water reactors in DPRK, but few insights into why it failed

Stephen Mercado July 22, 2024

Book review: A ‘dimwitted’ Japanese diplomat’s diary of life in North Korea

A North Korean man in front of a small island in South Hamgyong Province | Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2012)

A new book by a retired Japanese diplomat presents a rare look into the multilateral effort to build two light water reactors (LWRs) in North Korea, offering insightful details into the reality of working in the country but taking pains not to reveal anything of substance about why the project ultimately failed.

Sugiyama Takeshi was the first resident Japanese representative to the project in Kumho, South Hamgyong Province, living and working there from 1998 to 2000, and he details his experiences in “A Dimwitted Diplomat’s North Korean Journal: A Record of What I Saw and Heard in a Two-Year

About the Author

Stephen Mercado

Stephen Mercado is a retired officer of the CIA’s Open Source Enterprise (originally the Foreign Broadcast Information Service). A researcher primarily interested in Japanese intelligence history and Asian open-source intelligence, he earned a master’s degree in international affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He is the author of "Japanese Spy Gear and Special Weapons: How Noborito's Scientists and Technicians Served in the Second World War and the Cold War" (Pen & Sword Military, 2025), "The Shadow Warriors of Nakano: A History of the Imperial Japanese Army’s Elite Intelligence School" (Brassey’s, 2002), a dozen articles and several dozen book reviews.

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