query: what government system does north korea have?

title: Government of North Korea

text: conclusion of most cases is foregone; experts outside North Korea and numerous defectors confirm this to be a widespread problem. Freedom House states that, "North Korea does not have an independent judiciary and does not acknowledge individual rights...reports of arbitrary detentions, 'disappearances,' and extrajudicial killings are common; torture is widespread and severe" North Korea's fifth and current constitution was approved and adopted in September 1998, replacing the one previously adopted in 1972. The former constitution had last been amended in 1992. Under the new constitution, North Korea is a socialist state representing the interests of all the Korean people. Criminal

title: Photojournalism in North Korea

text: about the government." Photojournalism in North Korea Photojournalism in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (better known as North Korea) is heavily regulated by the government. Due to the extremely limited flow of information out of the country, there is no consensus over what rules are actually in place to govern photojournalism by members of foreign press services. Individual foreign photographers have been banned from North Korea for displaying photos that portray the country in an unfavorable light. North Korean leaders believe that their rules and censorship system is necessary in order to keep people under control, “to prevent the

title: Photojournalism in North Korea

text: Photojournalism in North Korea Photojournalism in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (better known as North Korea) is heavily regulated by the government. Due to the extremely limited flow of information out of the country, there is no consensus over what rules are actually in place to govern photojournalism by members of foreign press services. Individual foreign photographers have been banned from North Korea for displaying photos that portray the country in an unfavorable light. North Korean leaders believe that their rules and censorship system is necessary in order to keep people under control, “to prevent the rise of criticism

title: Government of North Korea

text: the Supreme Court of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which consists of a Chief Justice and two People's Assessors; three judges may be present in some cases. Their terms of office coincide with those of the members of the Supreme People's Assembly. Every court in North Korea has the same composition as the Central Court. The judicial system is theoretically held accountable to the SPA and the Presidium of the SPA when the legislature is not in session. The judiciary does not practice judicial review. The security forces so often interfere with the actions of the judiciary that the

title: Constitution of North Korea

text: Constitution of North Korea The Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the constitution of North Korea. It states that the country is socialist and lays out the framework of the national government and the functions of the ruling state party, the Workers' Party of Korea in relation to the Cabinet and Supreme People's Assembly (the country's parliament). The constitution is divided into 166 articles, split between three sections. North Korea is also governed by the Ten Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System, which some claim have come to supersede the constitution and in

title: History of North Korea

text: People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was proclaimed on September 9, with Kim as Premier. On December 12, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly accepted the report of UNTCOK and declared the Republic of Korea to be the "only lawful government in Korea". By 1949, North Korea was a full-fledged Communist state. All parties and mass organizations joined the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, ostensibly a popular front but in reality dominated by the Communists. The government moved rapidly to establish a political system that was partly styled on the Soviet system, with political power monopolised by the

title: North Korea

text: or "Joseon" (조선) in North Korea, and "Hanguk" (한국) in South Korea. In 1948, North Korea adopted "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (/ "Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk"; ) as its new legal name. In the wider world, because the government controls the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, it is commonly called North Korea to distinguish it from South Korea, which is officially called the "Republic of Korea" in English. Both governments consider themselves to be the legitimate government of the whole of Korea. For this reason, the people do not consider themselves as 'North Koreans' but as Koreans in

title: Constitution of North Korea

text: which the constitution previously assigned to the Cabinet. Constitution of North Korea The Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the constitution of North Korea. It states that the country is socialist and lays out the framework of the national government and the functions of the ruling state party, the Workers' Party of Korea in relation to the Cabinet and Supreme People's Assembly (the country's parliament). The constitution is divided into 166 articles, split between three sections. North Korea is also governed by the Ten Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System, which some claim

title: Politics of North Korea

text: Politics of North Korea The politics of North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) takes place within the framework of the official state philosophy, "Juche", a concept created by Hwang Jang-yop and later attributed to Kim Il-sung. The "Juche" theory is the belief that through self-reliance and a strong independent state, true socialism can be achieved. North Korea's political system is built upon the principle of centralization. While the North Korean constitution formally guarantees protection of human rights, in practice there are severe limits on freedom of expression, and the government closely supervises the lives of North Korean

title: Foreign relations of North Korea

text: Foreign relations of North Korea The foreign relations of North Korea – officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) – have been shaped by its conflict with capitalist countries like South Korea and its historical ties with world communism. Both the government of the DPRK and the government of South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) claim to be the government of the whole of Korea. The Korean War in the 1950s failed to resolve the issue, leaving the DPRK locked in a military confrontation with South Korea and the United States Forces Korea across the Demilitarized Zone. At

title: Politics of North Korea

text: later internal issues. Politics of North Korea The politics of North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) takes place within the framework of the official state philosophy, "Juche", a concept created by Hwang Jang-yop and later attributed to Kim Il-sung. The "Juche" theory is the belief that through self-reliance and a strong independent state, true socialism can be achieved. North Korea's political system is built upon the principle of centralization. While the North Korean constitution formally guarantees protection of human rights, in practice there are severe limits on freedom of expression, and the government closely supervises the lives

title: Foreign relations of North Korea

text: an agreement, exchanging Zimbabwean uranium for DPRK arms. The DPRK is a member of the following international organizations: Foreign relations of North Korea The foreign relations of North Korea – officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) – have been shaped by its conflict with capitalist countries like South Korea and its historical ties with world communism. Both the government of the DPRK and the government of South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) claim to be the government of the whole of Korea. The Korean War in the 1950s failed to resolve the issue, leaving the DPRK locked

title: Canada–North Korea relations

text: Official Delegate of Canada for the KFA is Comrade Trevor Spencer. Canada–North Korea relations Canada–North Korea relations refer to the relations between Canada and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea). Travel and commerce with North Korea are discouraged by the Canadian government and there is very little trade due to Canada's perspective that North Korea plays a destabilizing role in the Asia Pacific region. Although diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in February 2001, there have been no official embassies built in the two nations. Full diplomatic relations were suspended by Canada in

title: Canada–North Korea relations

text: Canada–North Korea relations Canada–North Korea relations refer to the relations between Canada and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea). Travel and commerce with North Korea are discouraged by the Canadian government and there is very little trade due to Canada's perspective that North Korea plays a destabilizing role in the Asia Pacific region. Although diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in February 2001, there have been no official embassies built in the two nations. Full diplomatic relations were suspended by Canada in 2010 and replaced by a Controlled Engagement Policy limiting official bilateral

title: Politics of North Korea

text: to see itself as part of a worldwide leftist movement. The Workers' Party maintains a relationship with other leftist parties, sending a delegation to the International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties. North Korea has a strong relationship with Cuba; in 2016, the North Korean government declared three days of mourning period for Fidel Castro's death. For much of its history, North Korean politics have been dominated by its adversarial relationship with South Korea. During the Cold War, North Korea aligned with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China. The North Korean government invested heavily in its military,

title: North Korea

text: is headed by Premier Pak Pong-ju. The Premier represents the government and functions independently. His authority extends over two vice-premiers, 30 ministers, two cabinet commission chairmen, the cabinet chief secretary, the president of the Central Bank, the director of the Central Bureau of Statistics and the president of the Academy of Sciences. A 31st ministry, the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, is under the jurisdiction of the State Affairs Commission. Despite its official title as the 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea' (DPRK) some observers have described North Korea's political system as an absolute monarchy or a "hereditary dictatorship". The "Juche"

title: North Korea

text: program that broke North Korea's stratified class system. Landlords and Japanese collaborators fled to the South, where there was no land reform and sporadic unrest. Shtykov nationalized key industries and led the Soviet delegation to talks on the future of Korea in Moscow and Seoul. In September 1946, South Korean citizens rose up against the Allied Military Government. In April 1948, an uprising of the Jeju islanders was violently crushed. The South declared its statehood in May 1948 and two months later the ardent anti-communist Syngman Rhee became its ruler. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established in the

title: North Korea–Romania relations

text: Behr wrote that the possibility for "vast Potemkin villages for the hoodwinking of gullible foreign guests" that Ceaușescu had seen in North Korea was something that never seemed to have crossed his mind before. Upon his return to Romania, Ceausescu began to emulate North Korea's system. He issued the July Theses, a set of proposals that tightened government control over Romanian media, promoted nationalism, and intensified his personality cult. North Korean books on "Juche" were translated into Romanian and widely distributed inside the country. The militaries of both countries began to co-operate on sensitive issues. At the same time, Romania

title: Time in North Korea

text: step in unifying Korea and eliminating differences between the South and North. The time change was applied at 23:30 on 4 May 2018 (). The IANA time zone database contains one zone for North Korea in the file zone.tab, named Asia/Pyongyang. Time in North Korea Time in North Korea, called Pyongyang Time (Chosŏn'gŭl: , Hancha: or PYT) or Standard Time of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Chosŏn'gŭl: , Hancha: ), is since May 2018 equal to Korea Standard Time: 9 hours ahead of UTC (UTC+9). Like South Korea, North Korea does not currently observe daylight saving time. Time keeping

title: North Korea

text: be the legitimate government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands. Both North Korea and South Korea became members of the United Nations in 1991. In 1910, Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan. After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into two zones, with the north occupied by the Soviet Union and the south occupied by the United States. Negotiations on reunification failed, and in 1948, separate governments were formed: the socialist Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, and the capitalist Republic of Korea in the south. An invasion

title: Time in North Korea

text: Time in North Korea Time in North Korea, called Pyongyang Time (Chosŏn'gŭl: , Hancha: or PYT) or Standard Time of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Chosŏn'gŭl: , Hancha: ), is since May 2018 equal to Korea Standard Time: 9 hours ahead of UTC (UTC+9). Like South Korea, North Korea does not currently observe daylight saving time. Time keeping in North Korea is under the State Commission for Science and Technology. Before modern clocks were introduced into Korea, Koreans kept time with the help of a sundial during the daylight time and a water clock at night. In 1434, Jang

title: Freedom of religion in North Korea

text: However, others have testified in interviews that North Korean citizens have full rights to own and use religious texts and worship at church, although there may not be many young believers. Freedom of religion in North Korea In North Korea, the Constitution guarantees "freedom of religious beliefs". However, in reality there is no freedom of religion in the country. According to one report at least 200,000 Christians have gone missing since 1953. Christians in North Korea are said to be the most persecuted in the world. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is officially an atheist state, but government policy

title: North Korea–Vietnam relations

text: dominance in Indochina. Around this time, the Vietnam War came to an end. The government of North Vietnam, unlike that of North Korea, succeeded in reunifying the whole country by 1975. During the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, the Korean leadership condemned the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia, refused to recognize the People's Republic of Kampuchea, and allowed the exiled Norodom Sihanouk to stay in Korea. According to the historian, Balazs Szalontai, Vietnam came to resent what it saw as Korea's self-centred behaviour, and the two governments became rivals rather than friends. In the 1990s and 2000s, Korean-Vietnamese relations declined even more due to

title: Government of North Korea

text: penalties can be stiff; one of the basic functions of the system is to uphold the power of the regime. Because so little information is available concerning what actually occurs inside of the country, the extent to which there is any rule of law is uncertain. In any case, North Korea is known for its poor human rights situation and regularly detains thousands of dissidents without trial or benefit of legal advice. According to a US Department of State report on human rights practices, the government of North Korea often punishes the family of a criminal along with the perpetrator.

title: Government of North Korea

text: Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea: Government of North Korea In the North Korean government, the Cabinet is the administrative and executive body. The North Korean government consists of three branches: administrative, legislative, and judicial. However, they are not independent of each other. Although the country follows totalitarianism, the leader must work through various agents and their institutions, which has the power to delay, modify, or even resist the leader's orders. These institutions may set the overall tone and direction for North Korea's foreign and domestic policy, make suggestions, offer policy options, and lobby Kim himself. The government is

title: Foreign relations of North Korea

text: North Korea Syria Nonproliferation Act in 2000. In 2016, there were reports that DPRK troops were fighting to defend the Syrian government in the Syrian Civil War. The Republic of China (Taiwan) does not recognise North Korea as a state. Taiwanese Premier Lai Ching-te approved a total ban on trade between Taiwan and North Korea in September 2017. Taiwanese businessmen have been accused of selling coal, oil and gas to North Korea, as well as importing North Korean textiles and employing North Koreans in Taiwanese fishing vessels. Tanzania and the DPRK have a long history of military cooperation, going back

title: Government of South Korea

text: territory of South Korea as "the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands," the courts of South Korea have allowed representatives of North Koreans to appear in South Korean courts with respect to inheritance in cases of deceased South Koreans with North Korean heirs. Assets pursuant to these claims are held in trust and dispersed only with government approval. Elections in South Korea are held on national level to select the President and the National Assembly. South Korea has a multi-party system, with two dominant parties and numerous third parties. Elections are overseen by the Electoral Branch, National Election Commission (Republic

title: Peace Village (North Korea)

text: vast cultivated farm-fields which are clearly visible, not only to visitors to the North Korean side of the DMZ, but to visitors to the South Korean side as well. In the 1980s, the South Korean government built a flagpole with a flag of South Korea in Daeseong-dong (). The North Korean government responded by building an even taller one, the Panmunjom flagpole, at with a flag of North Korea in Kijŏng-dong, across the demarcation line from South Korea (), in what some have called the "flagpole war". For over a decade, the flagpole was the tallest in the world. In

title: 2017–18 North Korea crisis

text: Crisis. On August 14, Ukraine's Chairman of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov denied that it had ever supplied defense technology to North Korea, responding to an article in the "New York Times" that said North Korea might have purchased rocket engines from Ukrainian factory Yuzhmash, who have also denied the report. On August 15, the North Korean leader said he was delaying a decision on firing missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam while he waits to see what Trump does next. From August 21–31, the U.S. and South Korea conducted the 2017 Ulchi-Freedom Guardian exercise

title: Administrative divisions of North Korea

text: Administrative divisions of North Korea The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels. These divisions were discovered in 2002. Many of the units have equivalents in the system of South Korea. At the highest level are nine provinces, two directly governed cities, and three special administrative divisions. The second-level divisions are cities, counties, wards, and districts. These are further subdivided into third-level entities: towns, neighborhoods, villages, and "workers' districts". The three-level administrative system used in North Korea was first inaugurated by Kim Il-sung in 1952, as part of a massive restructuring of local government. Previously, the

title: Government of North Korea

text: Government of North Korea In the North Korean government, the Cabinet is the administrative and executive body. The North Korean government consists of three branches: administrative, legislative, and judicial. However, they are not independent of each other. Although the country follows totalitarianism, the leader must work through various agents and their institutions, which has the power to delay, modify, or even resist the leader's orders. These institutions may set the overall tone and direction for North Korea's foreign and domestic policy, make suggestions, offer policy options, and lobby Kim himself. The government is also confirmed by the Supreme People's Assembly

title: Taxation in North Korea

text: Taxation in North Korea Officially, there are no taxes in North Korea. The date of 1 April is the North Korean "Tax Abolition Day". North Korean propaganda claims that North Korea is the world's only tax-free country. The North Korean state, however, still collects revenue from its citizens in the form of hidden taxation through various sales taxes. In particular, the turnover tax from consumption provides for the majority of the state revenue in North Korea. The North Korean state does, therefore, collect revenues, which internationally has been compared to a taxation system, but inside North Korea the word tax

title: North Hamgyeong Province (Republic of Korea)

text: North Hamgyeong Province (Republic of Korea) "North Hamgyeong Province" or "Hamgyeongbuk-do" () is, according to South Korean law, a province of the Republic of Korea, as the South Korean government formally claims to be the legitimate government of whole of Korea. The area constituting the province is under the "de facto" jurisdiction of North Korea. As South Korea does not recognize changes in administrative divisions made by North Korea, official maps of the South Korean government shows North Hamgyeong Province in its pre-1945 borders. The area corresponds to North Korea's North Hamgyong Province, Rason Special City and part of Ryanggang

title: North Pyeongan Province (Republic of Korea)

text: North Pyeongan Province (Republic of Korea) "North Pyeongan Province" or "Pyeonganbuk-do" () is, according to South Korean law, a province of the Republic of Korea, as the South Korean government formally claims to be the legitimate government of the whole of Korea. The area constituting the province is under the "de facto" jurisdiction of North Korea. As South Korea does not recognize changes in administrative divisions made by North Korea, official maps of the South Korean government shows North Pyeongan Province in its pre-1945 borders. The area corresponds to North Korea's North Pyongan Province and part of Chagang Province. To

title: The purpose of a system is what it does

text: be balanced by a more straightforwardly descriptive view. The term is used in many fields including biology and management. The purpose of a system is what it does The purpose of a system is what it does (POSIWID) is a systems thinking heuristic coined by Stafford Beer. Stafford Beer coined the term POSIWID and used it many times in public addresses. In his address to the University of Valladolid, Spain, in October 2001, he said "According to the cybernetician, the purpose of a system is what it does. This is a basic dictum. It stands for bald fact, which makes

title: The purpose of a system is what it does

text: The purpose of a system is what it does The purpose of a system is what it does (POSIWID) is a systems thinking heuristic coined by Stafford Beer. Stafford Beer coined the term POSIWID and used it many times in public addresses. In his address to the University of Valladolid, Spain, in October 2001, he said "According to the cybernetician, the purpose of a system is what it does. This is a basic dictum. It stands for bald fact, which makes a better starting point in seeking understanding than the familiar attributions of good intention, prejudices about expectations, moral judgment,

title: Television in North Korea

text: issued Samjiyon tablet computers. Television sets sold in North Korea are only able to operate on the PAL system, to prevent them from being able to pick up broadcasts from the south. Imported TV sets that are able to operate on both PAL and NTSC, such as those from Japan, have their NTSC abilities disabled by the government on import. As of August 16, 2016, there are four television channels in North Korea. All are state-owned. This is the oldest television channel in North Korea, and it started regular broadcasting in 1963. As of 2017, it's the only North Korean

title: Telecommunications in North Korea

text: Telecommunications in North Korea Telecommunications in North Korea refers to the communication services available in North Korea. North Korea has not fully adopted mainstream Internet technology due to its isolationist policies. North Korea has an adequate telephone system, with 1.18 million fixed lines available in 2008. However, most phones are only installed for senior government officials. Someone wanting a phone installed must fill out a form indicating their rank, why he/she wants a phone, and how he/she will pay for it. Most of these are installed in government offices, collective farms, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with only perhaps 10 percent

title: Citizenship in North Korea

text: born in North Korea with "unknown or stateless parents." The process of naturalization involves formal proceedings for acquiring citizenship of a country. It is not guaranteed and can involve a wide variety of stipulations. In North Korea, the status of naturalization is unclear. It can only be granted by the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and further specific requirements are unknown. The government of North Korea does not recognize dual nationality. However, North Korean citizens who flee to South Korea automatically become South Korean citizens. Also, North Korean citizens who defect to South Korea and become South Korean citizens

title: Cuba–North Korea relations

text: apparently to be repaired in North Korea and returned. The ship was later handed back to the North Korean government. In January 2016, North Korea and Cuba established a barter trade system. Also in 2016, the Workers' Party of Korea and the Communist Party of Cuba met to discuss strengthening ties. After Fidel Castro's death in 2016, the North Korean government declared a three-day mourning period and sent an official delegation to his funeral. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the Cuban embassy in Pyongyang to pay his respects. In 2018, the new Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited North Korea,

title: Provinces of North Korea

text: Provinces of North Korea Provinces are the first-level division within North Korea. There are 9 provinces in North Korea: Chagang, North Hamgyong, South Hamgyong, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, Kangwon, North Pyongan, South Pyongan and Ryanggang. Although the details of local administration have changed dramatically over time, the basic outline of the current three-tiered system was implemented under the reign of Gojong in 1895. A similar system also remains in use in South Korea. A province () are the highest-ranked administrative divisions in North Korea. Provinces have equal status to the special cities. The populations listed for each province are from

title: Government of North Korea

text: (SPA). The Premier, who appoints three Vice Premiers and the government's ministers, heads the cabinet. The government is dominated by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and has been since North Korea's inception in 1948. The Cabinet now has the right to supervise and control the Provisional People's Committee for North Korea (LPC) with regard to local economies and administration. As the State Administrative Council (SAC) was replaced by the Cabinet, the Local Administrative and Economic Committee (LAEC) was abolished and its functions regarding local politics transferred to the LPC. Under Kim Jong-il, the cabinet's power was elevated to

title: Crime in North Korea

text: the then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to negotiate their release. In April 2013, American tour operator Kenneth Bae, also known as Pae Jun Ho, was accused of plotting to overthrow the North Korean government. State media reported that there was evidence to substantiate the claim. He has since been released and allowed to return to the United States. According to the law of North Korea, such an act is punishable either by a life sentence in prison, or death. Prostitution in North Korea is illegal and, according to the North Korean government, does not exist. However, the government is reported

title: 2017–18 North Korea crisis

text: Olympics. North and South Korea marched together in the Olympics opening ceremony and fielded a united women's ice hockey team. As well as the athletes, North Korea sent an unprecedented high-level delegation, headed by Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong-un, and President Kim Yong-nam, and including performers like the Samjiyon Orchestra. The delegation passed along an invitation to President Moon to visit North Korea. According to North Korea expert Sung-Yoon Lee, North Korea's policy toward the Olympics is to enhance North Korea's status: "One doesn't need to be a genius to see that this is what North Korea does: After

title: Government of North Korea

text: Chang was already regarded as the second-most powerful person in North Korea and his appointment strengthened the probability that Kim's third son, Kim Jong-un, would succeed him. However, in December 2013 Chang was fired from all government posts and subsequently executed. Kim Jong Un ordered for his uncle to be executed. In June 2016, following the 7th WPK Conference, the Constitution of North Korea was updated, replacing the National Defence Commission with the State Affairs Commission and placing Kim Jong-un as the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission. This places Kim Jong-un as the official head of state. 7th Central

title: Telecommunications in North Korea

text: selling well in North Korea, primarily used for watching South Korean dramas and films on personal computers. Telecommunications in North Korea Telecommunications in North Korea refers to the communication services available in North Korea. North Korea has not fully adopted mainstream Internet technology due to its isolationist policies. North Korea has an adequate telephone system, with 1.18 million fixed lines available in 2008. However, most phones are only installed for senior government officials. Someone wanting a phone installed must fill out a form indicating their rank, why he/she wants a phone, and how he/she will pay for it. Most of

title: LGBT rights in North Korea

text: LGBT rights in North Korea Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in North Korea face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Homosexuality and being openly transgender are not "de jure" illegal in North Korea, but the government does not support or allow other people in North Korea to support LGBT rights. Homosexuality and transgender issues are not formally addressed in the penal code. Criminal sanctions are sometimes levied against homosexuality or non-conforming gender expression deemed to be, "against the socialist lifestyle." While punishment was rare, it has been reported by "The Korea Times" that North Korea has executed

title: Provinces of North Korea

text: the 2008 North Korea Census. From this census, there are an additional 702,372 people living in military camps. Provinces of North Korea Provinces are the first-level division within North Korea. There are 9 provinces in North Korea: Chagang, North Hamgyong, South Hamgyong, North Hwanghae, South Hwanghae, Kangwon, North Pyongan, South Pyongan and Ryanggang. Although the details of local administration have changed dramatically over time, the basic outline of the current three-tiered system was implemented under the reign of Gojong in 1895. A similar system also remains in use in South Korea. A province () are the highest-ranked administrative divisions in

title: Government of North Korea

text: The Workers' Party of Korea is organized according to the Monolithic Ideological System and the Great Leader, a system and theory conceived by Kim Yong-ju and Kim Jong-il. The highest body of the WPK is formally the Congress, which last convened as the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in May 2016. Although the WPK is (in theory) organizationally similar to communist parties, in practice it is far less institutionalized and informal politics plays a larger role than usual. Institutions such as the Central Committee, the Secretariat, the Central Military Commission (CMC), the Politburo and the Presidium have

title: Economy of North Korea

text: North Korea claims that it is the only state in the world that does not levy taxes. Taxes were abolished beginning on April 1, 1974. Since 2003, North Korean authorities issue government bonds called The "People's Life Bonds". North Korea sold bonds internationally in the late 1970s for 680 million Deutsche marks and 455 million Swiss francs. North Korea defaulted on these bonds by 1984, although the bonds remain traded internationally on speculation that the country would eventually perform on the obligations. North Korea's self-reliant development strategy assigned top priority to developing heavy industry, with parallel development in agriculture and

title: North Korea

text: Visual arts are generally produced in the aesthetics of Socialist realism. North Korean painting combines the influence of Soviet and Japanese visual expression to instill a sentimental loyalty to the system. All artists in North Korea are required to join the Artists' Union, and the best among them can receive an official licence to portray the leaders. Portraits and sculptures depicting Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un are classed as "Number One works". Most aspects of art have been dominated by Mansudae Art Studio since its establishment in 1959. It employs around 1,000 artists in what is likely the

title: North Korea

text: While some analysts believe private commerce recently changed the Songbun system to some extent, most North Korean refugees say it remains a commanding presence in everyday life. The North Korean government claims all citizens are equal and denies any discrimination on the basis of family background. North Korea has maintained one of the most closed and centralized economies in the world since the 1940s. For several decades it followed the Soviet pattern of five-year plans with the ultimate goal of achieving self-sufficiency. Extensive Soviet and Chinese support allowed North Korea to rapidly recover from the Korean War and register very

title: Human trafficking in North Korea

text: Reports indicate that more restrictions have been imposed on leaving North Korea, and there are reports of more severe punishments being imposed on those who seek to leave the country and those who are forcibly returned. Reports by North Korean defectors include instances of the government punishing traffickers; however, NGO reports indicate that the “traffickers” may include activists or professional border crossers who assist North Koreans voluntarily leaving for China. There were no known trafficking prosecutions or convictions during the reporting period. The North Korean government does not make any known attempts to identify individuals as victims of trafficking or

title: Media of North Korea

text: A few of the government elite with state approval are connected to the internet via a link to China. The general population of North Korea do not have internet access, however the people do have access to Kwangmyong, an intranet set up by the government. North Korea itself has a limited presence on the internet, with several sites on their national .kp domain. The "Mosquito Net" filtering model used in North Korea attempts to attract foreign investment, while the filter simultaneously blocks foreign ideas. Despite extremely strict regulations and draconian penalties, North Koreans, particularly elite citizens, have increasing access to

title: North Korea

text: army of 1.21 million is the fourth largest in the world, after China, the United States and India. It possesses nuclear weapons. International organizations have assessed that human rights violations in North Korea are commonplace and are so severe as to have no parallel in the contemporary world. The North Korean government strongly denies most allegations, accusing international organizations of fabricating human rights abuses as part of a smear campaign with the covert intention of regime change, although they admit that there are human rights issues relating to living conditions which the government is attempting to correct. The name "Korea"

title: Women in North Korea

text: Women in North Korea The status of women in North Korea is not fully understood outside the country, due to the political isolation of North Korea, the unwillingness of the North Korean authorities to allow foreign investigators access in the country, and the existence of conflicting reports. The official position of the North Korean government is that women have equal rights with men. North Korea has enacted laws such as the Law on Sex Equality, the Labor Law, and the Law on Nationalization of Essential Industries. Although these social systems have not entirely been successful, they have been integrated into

title: Television in North Korea

text: Television in North Korea Television in North Korea is subject to the Korean Central Broadcasting Committee and controlled by the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. A study in 2017 found that 98% of households had a television set. Television in North Korea uses a PAL 576i analog signal transmission system and 4:3 aspect ratio. The main signal transmission means it is terrestrial broadcasting, but Pyongyang has its own cable TV. The three major television channels – Korean Central Television, Mansudae and – as of 2014 are available in a special app found on the government

title: Tourism in North Korea

text: Tourism in North Korea Tourism in North Korea is tightly controlled by the North Korean government. Only about 4,000 to 6,000 Western tourists visit North Korea each year. All tourism is organized by one of several state-owned tourism bureaus, including Korea International Travel Company (KITC), Korean International Sports Travel Company (KISTC), Korean International Taekwondo Tourism Company (KITTC) and Korean International Youth Travel Company (KIYTC). Interactions between foreign tourists and local people have historically been tightly controlled; however, from photos seen around the Internet and evidence from travelers to North Korea, those restrictions seem to have relaxed slightly in the past

title: Free North Korea Radio

text: Free North Korea Radio The Free North Korea Radio () is an independent radio broadcaster based in Seoul, South Korea. The station is run primarily by North Korean refugees and defectors and frequently broadcasts short-wave transmissions of information critical of the Government of North Korea to the general population inside North Korea. The radio was established by Kim Seong-min, an ex-DPRK military monitor for foreign broadcasts, who was influenced by the foreign broadcasts that he monitored and defected from the DPRK in 1996. Free North Korea Radio started broadcasting from Seoul in 2004. Free North Korea Radio staff have been

title: Administrative divisions of North Korea

text: also have workers' districts ("Rodongjagu", ). Administrative divisions of North Korea The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels. These divisions were discovered in 2002. Many of the units have equivalents in the system of South Korea. At the highest level are nine provinces, two directly governed cities, and three special administrative divisions. The second-level divisions are cities, counties, wards, and districts. These are further subdivided into third-level entities: towns, neighborhoods, villages, and "workers' districts". The three-level administrative system used in North Korea was first inaugurated by Kim Il-sung in 1952, as part of a massive

title: North Korea

text: core of North Korean diplomacy and have seen numerous shifts in the last few decades. North Korea's policy is to seek reunification without what it sees as outside interference, through a federal structure retaining each side's leadership and systems. In 1972, the two Koreas agreed in principle to achieve reunification through peaceful means and without foreign interference. On 10 October 1980 then North Korean president Kim Il-sung proposed a federation between North and South Korea named the Democratic Federal Republic of Korea in which the respective political systems would initially remain. However, relations remained cool well until the early 1990s,

title: Politics of North Korea

text: with both South Korea and the United States. North Korea has also experimented with market economics in some sectors of its economy, but these have had limited impact. Some outside observers have suggested that Kim Jong-il himself favored such reforms but that some parts of the party and the military resisted any changes that might threaten stability for North Korea. Although there are occasional reports of signs of opposition to the government, these appear to be isolated, and there is no evidence of major internal threats to the current government. Some foreign analysts have pointed to widespread starvation, increased emigration

title: Kenya–North Korea relations

text: Daily Nation, Kenya's leading newspaper, North Korean officials have visited Nairobi twice with intent of starting a mission in Nairobi. The officials visited Nairobi in November 2014 and March 2015. According to the paper, the UN pressured the Kenyan government to reject North Korea's application to establish a resident mission in Nairobi. Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho commented and said that North Korea never made the request to establish a Nairobi mission. Kenya–North Korea relations Kenya–North Korea relations () are bilateral relations between Kenya and North Korea. Ties between Kenya and North Korea date back to 12 May

title: Catholic Church in North Korea

text: book in 1991. Catholic Church in North Korea The Catholic Church in North Korea is not officially part of the worldwide Catholic Church or under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. It allegedly does not belong to the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. The church is administered by the Korean Catholic Association (KCA), created by the Communist government in June 1988 as a means of control over Catholic life. The remaining Catholic churches are inactive. According to reports from within North Korea, courtesy of the KCA, there are approximately 3000 Catholics in the country. However, experts from

title: Catholic Church in North Korea

text: Catholic Church in North Korea The Catholic Church in North Korea is not officially part of the worldwide Catholic Church or under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. It allegedly does not belong to the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church. The church is administered by the Korean Catholic Association (KCA), created by the Communist government in June 1988 as a means of control over Catholic life. The remaining Catholic churches are inactive. According to reports from within North Korea, courtesy of the KCA, there are approximately 3000 Catholics in the country. However, experts from other countries place

title: Economy of North Korea

text: of 5.37 MMT. In 2014 North Korea had an exceptionally good harvest, 5.08 million tonnes of cereal equivalent, almost sufficient to feed the entire population. While food production had recovered significantly since the hardest years of 1996 and 1997, the recovery was fragile, subject to adverse weather and year to year economic shortages. Distribution was uneven with the Public Distribution System largely ineffective. Any shortfall between production and need could be easily met by government funded imports, should the decision to make those purchases be made. According to a 2012 report by South Korea-based North Korea Resource Institute (NKRI), North

title: Internet in North Korea

text: to be operating out of North Korea after legal challenges forced it out of Sweden. The move was later revealed to be a hoax. South Korean "No Cut News" has reported that the North Korean government trains computer hackers in Kim Chaek University of Technology and Kim Il-sung University to earn money overseas. A group of North Korean hackers based in Shenyang, China, developed and sold "auto-programs" (programs that allow player characters to earn experience and in-game currency while the player does none of the work) for an online game "Lineage" and a South Korea citizen was arrested in May

title: Propaganda in North Korea

text: blouses, despite the way it would have made them visible to attack. In contrast to Stalinist depictions of people steeling themselves, preparing themselves intellectually, and so growing up and becoming fit to create Communism, the usual image in North Korean literature is of a spontaneous virtue that revolts against intellectualism but naturally does what is right. Stories often have only mildly flawed Korean characters, who are easily reformed because of their inherently pure nature. This device has resulted in problems such as lack of conflict and hence dullness. South Korea is often depicted as a place of dangerous racial contamination.

title: Myanmar–North Korea relations

text: Korea and Myanmar deepened into cooperation with nuclear issues. Myanmar is believed to operate a nuclear weapons program that seeks to emulate the success of North Korea's nuclear weapons capability. The program is supported by North Korean training and equipment. Although the 2011–2015 Myanmar political reforms have led to the cancellation or downgrading of military ties, reports on suspicious activities have continued . Burma (Myanmar) and North Korea already had some contacts in 1948 when Burma became independent. U Nu's government, however, voted in favor of the motion in the UN that recognized Syngman Rhee's government as the legitimate government

title: North Korea–Tanzania relations

text: has operated around 13 medical clinics in the country of which two were closed down. With the two clinics closed down, the government found various irregularities with the clinics. Doctors were not licensed and they were performing unlicensed medical practices. North Korea maintains an embassy in Dar es Salaam which is accredited to all neighboring nations except Uganda and Kenya. The Tanzanian embassy in China is accredited to maintain relations with North Korea. North Korea–Tanzania relations North Korean–Tanzanian relations () are bilateral relations between Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea and Tanzania. Tanzania and North Korea have a long history of

title: Human rights in North Korea

text: in fact has been abducted in China and sent to North Korea in order to teach English to Kim Jong Un. Most countries and multilateral organizations have criticized North Korea for its alleged human rights abuses. Since 2005, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution every year to condemn the human rights situation in North Korea. Multiple countries have been critical of the allegations made against North Korea. China's delegation to the United Nations said that North Korea has made considerable progress in protecting human rights. Sudan's government said that instead of criticizing the country, there should be

title: North Korea–South Korea relations

text: 2014 government-funded survey found 13% of South Koreans viewed North Korea as hostile, and 58% of South Koreans believed North Korea was a country they should cooperate with. On January 1, 2015, Kim Jong-un, in his New Year's address to the country, stated that he was willing to resume higher-level talks with the South. In the first week of August 2015, a mine went off at the DMZ, wounding two South Korean soldiers. The South Korean government accused the North of planting the mine, which the North denied. After that South Korea restarted propaganda broadcasts to the North. On August

title: Economy of North Korea

text: compost and other organic fertilizer has been encouraged. North Korean fisheries export seafood, primarily crab, to Dandong, Liaoning, illicitly. Crabs, clams and conches from the Yellow Sea waters of North Korea are popular in China, possibly because the less salty water improves taste. Since the 1950s, a majority of North Koreans have received their food through the public distribution system (PDS). The PDS requires farmers in agricultural regions to hand over a portion of their production to the government and then reallocates the surplus to urban regions, which cannot grow their own foods. About 70% of the North Korean population,

title: History of North Korea

text: son, Kim Jong-il, who had already assumed key positions in the government, succeeded as General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party. At that time, North Korea had no secretary-general in the party nor a president. What minimal legal procedure had been established was summarily ignored. Although a new constitution appeared to end the wartime political system, it did not completely terminate the transitional military rule. Rather it legitimized and institutionalized military rule by making the National Defense Commission (NDC) the most important state organization and its chairman the highest authority. After three years of consolidating his power, Kim Jong-il became

title: Politics of North Korea

text: to find a way to sustain its economy without compromising the internal stability of its government or its ability to respond to perceived external threats. Recently, North Korean efforts to improve relations with South Korea to increase trade and to receive development assistance have been mildly successful. North Korea has tried to improve its relations with South Korea by participating in the Pyeongchang Olympics (North Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics), when Kim Jong-un sent his band and a few officials to visit South Korea. But North Korea's determination to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles has prevented stable relations

title: North Korea

text: lack of a credible source. Many of the claims originate from the South Korean right-wing newspaper "The Chosun Ilbo". Max Fisher of "The Washington Post" has written that "almost any story [on North Korea] is treated as broadly credible, no matter how outlandish or thinly sourced". Occasional deliberate disinformation on the part of North Korean establishments further complicates the issue. The censorship in North Korea encompasses all the information produced by the media. Monitored heavily by government officials, the media is strictly used to reinforce ideals approved by the government. There is no freedom of press in North Korea as

title: Tourism in North Korea

text: In 2011, a Tumen-Korean train service was scheduled to start. Though gambling is prohibited for North Korean citizens, two casinos exist in North Korea for the Chinese tourist market – the Imperial Hotel & Casino in Rason and the Pyongyang Casino in the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang. In 2016, the North Korea government allowed Chinese tourists to stay in North Korea for a maximum of 6 months. In principle, any person is allowed to travel to North Korea; only South Koreans and journalists are routinely denied, although there have been some exceptions for journalists. For instance, Croatian journalists had

title: Iran–North Korea relations

text: Iran–North Korea relations Iran–North Korea relations (; ) are described as being positive by official news agencies of the two countries. Diplomatic relations improved following the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the establishment of an Islamic Republic. Iran and North Korea pledge cooperation in educational, scientific, and cultural spheres. Some media reports claim this cooperation extends to nuclear cooperation, though official U.S. government publications and academic studies have disputed this. The United States has been greatly concerned by North Korea's arms deals with Iran, which started during the 1980s with North Korea acting as a third party in arms deals

title: Health in North Korea

text: service and health insurance system. North Korea's government provides universal health care for all citizens. North Korean health services are offered for free. In 2001 North Korea spent 3% of its gross domestic product on health care. Beginning in the 1950s, North Korea put great emphasis on healthcare, and between 1955 and 1986, the number of hospitals grew from 285 to 2,401, and the number of clinics – from 1,020 to 5,644. Special health care is available mainly in cities, where pharmacies are also common. Essential medicines are well available. There are hospitals attached to factories and mines. Most hospitals

title: Vehicle registration plates of North Korea

text: Vehicle registration plates of North Korea North Korea has issued registration plates for all government and privately owned vehicles since 1947. The system is loosely based on that found in Japan insofar as numerical prefixes are applied to denote a particular type or class of vehicle. Privately owned vehicles display orange plates with black characters. The first two denote the place of registration in the Hangul script. The remainder are the vehicle's actual registration number. Early examples contained up to 4 digits. Those issued since 1992 can have up to 5 digits split into two groups by a hyphen. Example

title: North Korea

text: the current Supreme Leader or "Suryeong" of North Korea. He heads all major governing structures: he is Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. His grandfather Kim Il-sung, the founder and leader of North Korea until his death in 1994, is the country's "Eternal President", while his father Kim Jong-il who succeeded Kim Il-sung as leader was announced "Eternal General Secretary" after his death in 2011. According to the Constitution of North Korea there are officially three main branches of government. The first

title: Korea Open Government License

text: has four license category below: Korea Open Government License Korea Open Government License (KOGL, , "gong-gong nuri") is one of the copyright licenses which allow distributing copyrighted public records. Because in the past there was no standard system about the copyrighted public records, it was a bit complicated that the procedure of getting copyright permission and making inquiry about the licenses. To simplify the complicated procedure and to make the standard system of the copyrighted public records, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism developed the Korea Open Government License, KOGL. The license scheme is similar in concept to

title: Korea Open Government License

text: Korea Open Government License Korea Open Government License (KOGL, , "gong-gong nuri") is one of the copyright licenses which allow distributing copyrighted public records. Because in the past there was no standard system about the copyrighted public records, it was a bit complicated that the procedure of getting copyright permission and making inquiry about the licenses. To simplify the complicated procedure and to make the standard system of the copyrighted public records, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism developed the Korea Open Government License, KOGL. The license scheme is similar in concept to the Creative Commons licenses. KOGL

title: North Korea–South Korea relations

text: as part of measures primarily aimed at striking back at North Korea diplomatically and financially. North Korea denied all such allegations and responded by severing ties between the countries and announced it abrogated the previous non-aggression agreement. On November 23, 2010, North Korea's artillery fired at South Korea's Yeonpyeong island in the Yellow Sea and South Korea returned fire. Two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed, more than a dozen were wounded, including three civilians. About 10 North Koreans were believed to be killed; however the North Korean government denies this. The town was evacuated and South Korea

title: Administrative divisions of North Korea

text: country had used a multi-level system similar to that still used in South Korea. (The English translations are not official, but approximations. Names are romanized according to the McCune-Reischauer system as officially used in North Korea; the editor was also guided by the spellings used on the 2003 National Geographic map of Korea). The nine provinces ("To"; , ) derive from the traditional provinces of Korea, but have been further subdivided since the division of Korea. They are large areas including cities, rural and mountainous regions. The two special cities ("T'ŭkpyŏlsi"; , ) are large metropolitan cities that have been

title: North Korea–United States relations

text: at Kumho, on North Korea's east coast. Donald Rumsfeld, the US secretary of defense, was on the board of ABB when it won this deal, but a Pentagon spokeswoman, Victoria Clarke, said that Rumsfeld does not recall it being brought before the board at any time. Construction of these reactors was eventually suspended. In 2002 the US Government announced that it would release $95m to North Korea as part of the Agreed Framework. In releasing the funding, President George W Bush waived the Framework's requirement that North Korea allow inspectors to ensure it has not hidden away any weapons-grade plutonium

title: North Korea

text: most severe persecution of Christians in the world occurs in North Korea. Four state-sanctioned churches exist, but critics claim these are showcases for foreigners. According to North Korean documents and refugee testimonies, all North Koreans are sorted into groups according to their Songbun, an ascribed status system based on a citizen's assessed loyalty to the government. Based on their own behavior and the political, social, and economic background of their family for three generations as well as behavior by relatives within that range, Songbun is allegedly used to determine whether an individual is trusted with responsibility, given opportunities, or even

title: Economy of North Korea

text: Group of Korea is the official company that manages oversea investments to North Korea. North and South Korea's economic ties have fluctuated greatly over the past 30 years or so. In the late 1990s and most of the 2000s, North-South relations warmed under the Sunshine Policy of President Kim Dae-jung. Many firms agreed to invest in North Korea, encouraged by the South Korean government's commitment to cover their losses, should investment projects in the north fail to become profitable. Following a 1988 decision by the South Korean Government to allow trade with the North (see Reunification efforts since 1971), South

title: Freedom of religion in North Korea

text: verify. Traditionally, religion in North Korea primarily consists of Buddhism and Confucianism and to a lesser extent Korean shamanism and syncretic Chondogyo. Since the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, there is also a Christian minority. According to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the government sponsors religious groups only to create an illusion of religious freedom. North Korea sees organised religious activity, except that which is supervised by officially recognized groups linked to the Government, as a potential pretext to challenging the leadership and social order. Religion many times is practiced in secret. Genuine religious freedom does not

title: Human rights in North Korea

text: and food shortages. Instead, the regime blocked humanitarian aid and diverted resources to the military. In 2016, British scholar Hazel Smith reported that health and nutrition of the population had improved greatly and was comparable to other developing countries. She disputed the view that government policies were creating a human rights crisis that was unique to North Korea. Economic reform abolished the old coupon system in North Korea, which had favored non-productive citizens regarding access to food. After the coupon system disappeared, an average urban family spent between 75 and 85 percent of their income on food, while state farmers

title: Nuclear power in North Korea

text: to the city of Pyonsong, from the capital, and combined into a single scientific center. Nuclear power in North Korea North Korea (DPRK) has been active in developing nuclear technology since the 1950s. Although the country currently has no operational power-generating nuclear reactor, efforts at developing its nuclear power sector continue. Moreover, North Korea has developed nuclear weapons. It conducted what are widely accepted to have been nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017. Since the 1950s, North Korea has been interested in nuclear technology and has pursued the use of nuclear technology by transferring knowledge and technology

title: Nuclear power in North Korea

text: Nuclear power in North Korea North Korea (DPRK) has been active in developing nuclear technology since the 1950s. Although the country currently has no operational power-generating nuclear reactor, efforts at developing its nuclear power sector continue. Moreover, North Korea has developed nuclear weapons. It conducted what are widely accepted to have been nuclear tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017. Since the 1950s, North Korea has been interested in nuclear technology and has pursued the use of nuclear technology by transferring knowledge and technology related to nuclear energy from the Soviet Union. In April 1955, it decided to establish

title: Human rights in North Korea

text: to have been abducted since the end of the Korean War. Advocates and family members have accused the government of doing little or nothing to gain their freedom. South Korea officially recognized 480 South Korean abductees to be held in North Korea. Even after the Korean War, North Korea is accused of abducting South Koreans such as Kim Dongsik, who was abducted on January 16, 2000 and Jin Gyeong-suk, a North Korean defector to South Korea who was abducted on August 8, 2004. In November 2013, a civic group, the Korean War Abductees Family Association (KWAFA), consisting of family members

title: North Korea–South Korea football rivalry

text: North Korea–South Korea football rivalry This article is about matches between the North Korean and South Korean national teams in association football. It covers women's football as well as men's. Despite tensions between the two states, a sense of shared Korean nationhood has resulted in Koreans in both countries supporting the other state's football teams, except of course when the two teams meet. Football commentators on the Seoul Broadcasting System have "excitedly" supported the North's team in its matches against other countries, and North Korean players such as Hong Yong-Jo, Mun In-Guk or Jong Tae-Se "are stars south of the

title: Human trafficking in North Korea

text: of an established system of political repression. North Koreans do not have a choice in the jobs they work and are not free to change jobs at will; the North Korean government determines what work each citizen will have. From April to September 2009, the government initiated a “150-Day Battle” campaign to boost the economy by requiring increased work hours and production targets of citizens, and implementing government-imposed programs, such as road building and construction work. The country initiated a second “labor mobilization” campaign, the “100-Day Battle,” immediately after the initial “150-Day Battle.” The North Korean government is directly involved

title: North Korea

text: economic crisis, severely damaging crops and infrastructure and led to widespread famine which the government proved incapable of curtailing. In 1996, the government accepted UN food aid. Since the outbreak of the famine, the government has reluctantly tolerated illegal black markets while officially maintaining a state socialist economy. Corruption flourished and disillusionment with the government spread. The international environment changed with the election of U.S. president George W. Bush in 2001. His administration rejected South Korea's Sunshine Policy and the Agreed Framework. The U.S. government treated North Korea as a rogue state, while North Korea redoubled its efforts to acquire

title: Demographics of North Korea

text: was divided into two occupied zones: North occupied by the Soviet Union and the South by the United States. Negotiations on unification failed, and in 1948 two separate countries were formed: North and South Korea. Korean is the official language of North Korea. "The World Factbook" states "traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo" in regards to religion, but also states "autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom". , 8.86% of the population older than 5 years old have attained academic degrees. In 2000, North Korea spent 38.2% of

title: North Korea–Singapore relations

text: meeting. North Korea has organized official visits semi-regularly to Singapore, often in conjunction with visits to other Southeast Asian countries. In 2014, Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong visited Singapore. In 2012, the President of North Korea Supreme People’s Assembly, visited Singapore. Other North Korean elites that have visited includes Kim Jong Un’s family members Kim Jong Nam (deceased), Kim Jong-Chul, and Jang Sung Taek (deceased), as well as other key government figures, such as Pak Nam Gi (deceased). Singapore’s then Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Yeo, visited North Korea in 2008. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Bilahari Kausikan visited

title: Human rights in North Korea

text: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi the involvement of North Korean "special institutions" in the kidnapping of Japanese citizens during a period of six years from 1977 to 1983. Kim officially admitted to abducting 13 Japanese citizens out of 17 Japanese the Japanese government accused North Korea of abducting. He stated that those responsible had been punished. Five surviving victims were allowed to visit Japan and decided not to return to North Korea. For eight more Japanese abductees, officials claimed deaths caused by accidents or illnesses; Japan says this leaves two still unaccounted for, and says that what the North claimed were

title: Grenada–North Korea relations

text: assistance to the People’s Revolutionary Government of Grenada. The agreement was in return for weapons and ammunitions that were worth US$12 million. During the United States invasion of Grenada, North Korea sent 24 troops to fight against the United States and the Caribbean Peace Force troops. Grenada–North Korea relations Grenada–North Korea relations () were formally formal diplomatic relations between the People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea established full diplomatic relations on Wednesday 9 May 1979. The two countries' diplomatic relationship ended