IN 2005, when Kim Jong-il ruled North Korea, Paul French published a history of that repulsive but fascinating state. Now, with the third of the dynasty, Kim Jong-un, in charge, he returns to the theme at greater length. Those hoping to learn much about the new supremo may be disappointed; as French says, Pyongyang-watching is more astrology than political science. But this is as authoritative a book as you will find on the so-called Democratic People’s Republic founded by Kim Il-sung in 1948. My only criticism is its lack of a map. North Korea’s guiding philosophy is “Juche”, or self-reliance; yet from the start it has been heavily dependent on foreign aid, first from the Soviet Union and China, then, after the collapse of the former, from South Korea, Japan and t