The Rebel and the Kingdom: The True Story of the Secret Mission to Overthrow the North Korean Regime

Adrian Hong was a Yale undergraduate who became a global fugitive after reading a harrowing account of life inside North Korea. He journeyed to China, outwitting Chinese security services, and helped ferry asylum-seeking North Korean escapees to safety. He also initiated an armed raid at the North Korean embassy in Madrid, which put US Marine veteran Christopher Ahn behind bars and turned Hong into one of the world's most unlikely global fugitives.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: John Murray Press

In the early 2000s, Adrian Hong, a soft-spoken Yale undergraduate, embarked on a remarkable journey that would ultimately lead him to become a global fugitive. After reading a harrowing account of life inside North Korea, Hong was deeply inspired and decided to dedicate his life to helping those seeking asylum from the oppressive regime.

Determined to outwit Chinese security services, Hong embarked on a perilous mission to ferry North Korean escapees to safety in China. He formed a secret organization called Cheollima Civil Defense, later renamed Free Joseon, which aimed to track the activities of the North Korean government and its volatile ruler, Kim Jong-un.

Free Joseon's primary objective was to target North Korean diplomats who were willing to defect, and they developed intricate plans for a government-in-exile. Their efforts paid off when they were able to assist Jong-nam's family, the older brother of Kim Jong-un, in fleeing to safety after the shocking assassination of Kim Jong-nam in 2017.

However, Hong's journey took a dramatic turn when he initiated a series of high-stakes direct actions, culminating in an armed raid at the North Korean embassy in Madrid. This bold move resulted in Christopher Ahn, a US Marine veteran who had been working with Hong, being arrested, and Hong himself becoming one of the world's most unlikely global fugitives.

The Rebel and the Kingdom is an exhilarating account of how a trip down the safe and well-worn path of activism soon morphed into something extremely dangerous. Acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Bradley Hope, who broke numerous details of Hong's operations in the Wall Street Journal, reveals his remarkable story of courage, determination, and sacrifice in this captivating book.

Through his experiences, Hong demonstrates the power of activism to bring about change, but he also highlights the risks and consequences of taking on powerful adversaries. His story serves as a cautionary tale for those who dare to challenge the status quo and fight for a better world.

Weight: 208g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399806190