Exploiting the persistent fear of imminent invasion from the DPRK, a fear encouraged by the Americans, and assiduously gathering information on a large number of putative subversives in a wide variety of places in society, the KCIA had in turn exploited the preexisting distrust in the society to the government’s advantage. Indeed, the KCIA’s power may have exceeded that of any comparable agency in any country in the world, even, pace Elster, the KGB.

DEFINE: Explains the KCIA's operational logic and its unique historical position relative to comparable intelligence agencies like the KGB.

Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking…, loc. 1653