Gr 5-7-Byers provides substantial information on the development of 20th-century missiles. A history of their use during and after World War II leads to a discussion of various methods of actual and proposed defenses against such weapons and the difficulty of creating an effective system. Both the technical and political factors affecting missile deployment are explained. Details of SALT talks and the ABM Treaty are included. Dramatic full-color views of missiles ready for launch, etc., give impact to a complex subject. The photographs, with paragraph-long captions, add even more substance to this work. The bulk of the second title consists of the history of modern Korea and of international efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction. Egan describes the differences among specific chemical and biological weapons while relating what is known about North Korea's development and potential use of them. The chapter concerning nuclear weapons sets forth the basic process required for their creation and lists all the countries known to possess at least one such weapon. The theory that this nation's leaders have simply been bluffing in order to gain attention, respect, and much-needed resources from known nuclear nations is put forth. This title makes the situation much clearer than the few other books on this country do, such as Patricia K. Kummer's Korea (Children's Press, 2004).-Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.