North Korea

North Korea,officially theDemocratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK),is a country inEast Asia. It constitutes the northern half of theKorean Peninsulaand bordersChinaandRussiato the north at theYalu(Amnok) andTumenrivers, andSouth Koreato the south at theKorean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).The country's western border is formed by theYellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by theSea of Japan. North Korea, likeits southern counterpart, claims to be the sole legitimate government of the entire peninsula andadjacent islands.Pyongyangis the capital and largest city.
TheKorean Peninsulawas first inhabited as early as theLower Paleolithicperiod. Itsfirst kingdomwas noted in Chinese records in the early 7th century BCE. Following the unification of theThree Kingdoms of KoreaintoSillaandBalhaein the late 7th century, Korea was ruled by theGoryeo dynasty(918–1392) and theJoseon dynasty(1392–1897). The succeedingKorean Empire(1897–1910) wasannexed in 1910into theEmpire of Japan. In 1945, after theJapanese surrenderat theend of World War II, Korea wasdivided into two zonesalong the38th parallel, with thenorth occupied by the Soviet Unionand thesouth occupied by the United States. In 1948, separate governments were formed in Korea: the socialist andSoviet-alignedDemocratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, and the capitalist,Western-alignedRepublic of Korea in the south. North Korean invasion of South Korea in 1950 started theKorean War. In 1953, theKorean Armistice Agreementbrought about aceasefireand established ademilitarized zone(DMZ), but no formalpeace treatyhas ever been signed. Post-war North Korea benefited greatly from economic aid and expertise provided by otherEastern Bloccountries. However,Kim Il Sung, North Korea's first leader, promoted his personal philosophy ofJucheas thestate ideology. Pyongyang's international isolation sharply accelerated from the 1980s onwards as theCold Warcame to an end. Thefall of the Soviet Unionin 1991 then brought about a sharp decline to the North Korean economy. From 1994 to 1998,North Korea suffered a faminewith the population continuing to suffer from malnutrition. In 2024, the DPRK formally abandoned efforts to peacefullyreunify Korea.
North Korea is atotalitariandictatorshipwith acomprehensive cult of personalityaround theKim family.Amnesty Internationalconsiders the country to have the worsthuman rights recordin the world. Officially, North Korea is an "independentsocialist state"whichholds democratic elections; however, outside observers have described the elections as unfair, uncompetitive, and pre-determined, in a manner similar toelections in the Soviet Union. The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling party of North Korea. According to Article 3 of the constitution,Kimilsungism–Kimjongilismis the official ideology of North Korea. Themeans of productionare owned by the state throughstate-run enterprisesandcollectivized farms. Most services—such ashealthcare,education,housing, andfood production—are subsidized or state-funded.
North Korea followsSongun, a "military first" policy which prioritizes theKorean People's Armyin state affairs and the allocation of resources. Itpossesses nuclear weapons. Its active-duty army of 1.28 million soldiers is the fourth-largest in the world. In addition to being a member of the United Nations since 1991, North Korea is also a member of theNon-Aligned Movement,G77, and theASEAN Regional Forum.
The modern spelling of Korea first appeared in 1671 in the travel writings of theDutch East India Company'sHendrick Hamel.
After the division of the country into North and South Korea, the two sides used different terms to refer to Korea:ChosunorJoseon(조선) in North Korea, andHanguk(한국) in South Korea. In 1948, North Korea adoptedDemocratic People's Republic of Korea(Korean:조선민주주의인민공화국,Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk;listen) as its official name. In the wider world, because its government controls the northern part of theKorean Peninsula, it is commonly calledNorth Koreato distinguish it from South Korea, which is officially called theRepublic of Koreain English. Both governments consider themselves to be the legitimate government of the whole ofKorea.For this reason, the people do not consider themselves as 'North Koreans' but as Koreans in the same divided country as their compatriots in the South, and foreign visitors are discouraged from using the former term.
According toKorean mythologyin 2333 BCE, theGojoseonKingdom was established by the god-kingDangun. Following the unification of theThree Kingdoms of Koreaunder the nameUnified Sillain 668 AD, Korea was subsequently ruled by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and theJoseon dynasty(1392–1897). In 1897,King Gojongproclaimed theKorean Empire, which wasannexedby theEmpire of Japanin 1910.
From 1910 to theend of World War IIin 1945, Korea wasunder Japanese rule. Most Koreans were peasants engaged insubsistence farming.In the 1930s, Japan developed mines, hydro-electric dams, steel mills, and manufacturing plants in northern Korea and neighboringManchuria.The Korean industrial working class expanded rapidly, and many Koreans went to work in Manchuria.As a result, 65% of Korea's heavy industry was located in the north, but, due to the rugged terrain, only 37% of its agriculture.
Northern Korea had little exposure to modern, Western ideas.One partial exception was the penetration of religion. Since the arrival of missionaries in the late nineteenth century, the northwest of Korea, andPyongyangin particular, had been a stronghold of Christianity.As a result, Pyongyang was called the "Jerusalem of the East".
A Korean guerrilla movement emerged in the mountainous interior and in Manchuria, harassing the Japanese imperial authorities. One of the most prominent guerrilla leaders was the CommunistKim Il Sung.
After theJapanese surrenderat the end of World War II in 1945,the Korean Peninsula was dividedinto two zones along the38th parallel, with the northern half of the peninsulaoccupied by the Soviet Unionand the southern halfby the United States. Negotiations on reunification failed. Soviet generalTerenty Shtykovrecommended the establishment of theSoviet Civil Administrationin October 1945, and supported Kim Il Sung as chairman of theProvisional People's Committee of North Korea, established in February 1946. In September 1946, South Korean citizensrose up against the Allied Military Government. In April 1948, anuprising of the Jeju islanderswas violently crushed. The South declared its statehood in May 1948 and two months later the ardent anti-communistSyngman Rheebecame its ruler. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established in the North on 9 September 1948. Shtykov served as the first Soviet ambassador, while Kim Il Sung became premier.
Soviet forces withdrew from the North in 1948, and most American forces withdrew from the South in 1949. Ambassador Shtykov suspected Rhee was planning to invade the North and was sympathetic to Kim's goal of Korean unification under socialism. The two successfully lobbied Soviet leaderJoseph Stalinto support a quick war against the South, which culminated in the outbreak of the Korean War.
Themilitary of North Koreainvaded theSouthon 25 June 1950, and swiftly overran most of the country. TheUnited Nations Command(UNC) was subsequently established following theUN Security Council's recognition of North Korean aggression against South Korea. The motion passed because theSoviet Union, a close ally of North Korea and a member of the UN Security Council, was boycotting the UN over its recognition of theRepublic of Chinarather than thePeople's Republic of China.The UNC, led by the United States, intervened to defend the South, and rapidly advanced into North Korea. As they neared the border with China,Chinese forcesintervened on behalf of North Korea, shifting the balance of the war again. Fighting ended on 27 July 1953, withan armisticethat approximately restored the original boundaries between North and South Korea, but no peace treaty was signed.Approximately 3 million people died in the Korean War, with a higher proportional civilian death toll thanWorld War IIor theVietnam War.In both per capita and absolute terms, North Korea was the country most devastated by the war, which resulted in the death of an estimated 12–15% of the North Korean population (c.10 million), "a figure close to or surpassing the proportion ofSoviet citizens killed in World War II", according toCharles K. Armstrong.As a result of the war, almost every substantial building in North Korea was destroyed.Some have referred to the conflict as a civil war, with other factors involved.
A heavily guardeddemilitarized zone(DMZ) still divides the peninsula, and an anti-communist and anti-North Korea sentiment remains in South Korea. Since the war, the United States has maintained a strongmilitary presence in the Southwhich is depicted by the North Korean government as an imperialist occupation force.It claims that the Korean War was caused by the United States and South Korea.
In October 2024, North Korea claims that 1.4 million people have joined its military after accusing South Korea of a drone intrusion. In response, South Korea is restricting leaflet launches near the border to prevent potential conflict, while both sides engage in psychological warfare, including disturbing broadcasts at the border.
The post-war 1950s and 1960s saw an ideological shift in North Korea, as Kim Il Sung sought to consolidate his power. Kim Il Sung was highly critical of Soviet premierNikita Khrushchevand hisde-Stalinizationpolicies and critiqued Khrushchev as revisionist.During the 1956August Faction Incident, Kim Il Sung successfully resisted efforts by theSoviet Unionand China to depose him in favor ofSoviet Koreansor the pro-ChineseYan'an faction.Some scholars believe that the 1956 August incident was an example of North Korea demonstrating political independence.However, most scholars consider the final withdrawal of Chinese troops from North Korea in October 1958 to be the latest date when North Korea became effectively independent. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, North Korea sought to distinguish itself internationally by becoming a leader of theNon-Aligned Movementand promoting the ideology ofJuche.In United States policymaking, North Korea was considered among theCaptive Nations.Despite its efforts to break out of the Soviet and Chinese spheres of influence, North Korea remained closely aligned with both countries throughout the Cold War.
Industry was the favored sector in North Korea. Industrial production returned to pre-war levels by 1957. In 1959, relations with Japan had improved somewhat, and North Korea began allowing the repatriation of Japanese citizens in the country. The same year, North Korea revalued theNorth Korean won, which held greater value than its South Korean counterpart. Until the 1960s, economic growth was higher than in South Korea, and North Korean GDP per capita was equal to that of its southern neighbor as late as 1976.However, by the 1980s, the economy had begun to stagnate; it started its long decline in 1987 and almost completely collapsed after thedissolution of the Soviet Unionin 1991, when all Soviet aid was suddenly halted.
An internal CIA study acknowledged various achievements of the North Korean government post-war: compassionate care for war orphans and children in general, a radical improvement in the status of women, free housing, free healthcare, and health statistics particularly in life expectancy and infant mortality that were comparable to even the most advanced nations up until theNorth Korean famine.Life expectancy in the North was 72 before the famine which was only marginally lower than in the South.The country once boasted a comparatively developed healthcare system; pre-famine North Korea had a network of nearly 45,000 family practitioners with some 800 hospitals and 1,000 clinics.
The relative peace between the North and South following the armistice was interrupted by border skirmishes, celebrity abductions, and assassination attempts. The North failed in several assassination attempts on South Korean leaders, such asin 1968, 1974, and theRangoon bombingin 1983; tunnels were found under theDMZand tensions flared over theaxe murder incidentatPanmunjomin 1976.For almost two decades after the war, the two states did not seek to negotiate with one another. In 1971, secret, high-level contacts began to be conducted culminating in the 1972July 4 South–North Joint Statementthat established principles of working toward peaceful reunification. The talks ultimately failed because in 1973, South Korea declared its preference that the two Koreas should seek separate memberships in international organizations.
TheSoviet Unionwasdissolvedon 26 December 1991, ending its aid and support to North Korea. In 1992, as Kim Il Sung's health began deteriorating, his sonKim Jong Ilslowly began taking over various state tasks. Kim Il Sungdied of a heart attack in 1994; Kim Jong Il declared a three-year period of national mourning, afterward officially announcing his position as the new leader.
North Korea promised to halt its development of nuclear weapons under theAgreed Framework, negotiated with U.S. presidentBill Clintonand signed in 1994. Building onNordpolitik, South Korea began to engage with the North as part of itsSunshine Policy.Kim Jong Il instituted a policy calledSongun, or "military first".
Flooding in the mid-1990s exacerbated the economic crisis, severely damaging crops and infrastructure and leading towidespread faminethat the government proved incapable of curtailing, resulting in the deaths of between 240,000 and 420,000 people. Which led many North Koreans to flee into China, South Korea and neighboring countries. In China, these illegal North Korea child immigrants are called theKotjebi. In 1996, the government accepted UN food aid.
The international environment changed onceGeorge W. Bushbecame U.S. President in 2001. His administration rejected South Korea's Sunshine Policy and the Agreed Framework. Bush included North Korea in hisaxis of evilin his2002 State of the Union Address. The U.S. government accordingly treated North Korea as arogue state, while North Korea redoubled its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.On 9 October 2006, North Korea announced it had conductedits first nuclear weapons test.
U.S. PresidentBarack Obamaadopted a policy of "strategic patience", resisting making deals with North Korea.Tensions with South Korea and the United States increased in 2010 with thesinking of the South Korean warshipCheonanand North Korea'sshelling of Yeonpyeong Island.
On 17 December 2011, Kim Jong Ildied from a heart attack. His youngest sonKim Jong Unwas announced as his successor.In the face of international condemnation, North Korea continued to develop its nuclear arsenal, possibly including ahydrogen bomband a missile capable of reaching the United States.
Throughout 2017, followingDonald Trump's ascension to the US presidency, tensions between the United States and North Korea increased, and there was heightened rhetoric between the two, with Trump threatening "fire and fury" if North Korea ever attacked U.S. territoryamid North Korean threats to test missiles that would land nearGuam.The tensions substantially decreased in 2018, and adétentedeveloped.Aseries of summitstook place between Kim Jong Un of North Korea, PresidentMoon Jae-inof South Korea, and President Trump.
On 10 January 2021, Kim Jong Un was formally elected as theGeneral Secretaryin8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, a title previously held by Kim Jong Il.On 24 March 2022, North Korea conducted a successful ICBM test launch for the first time since the 2017 crisis.In September 2022, North Korea passed a law that declared itself anuclear state.
On December 30, 2023, North Korean leaderKim Jong-unprovocatively declared South Korea, under the leadership ofYoon Suk Yeol, a "colonial vassal state",marking a significant departure from the longstanding position of mutual claims over the entire Korean Peninsula by both North and South Korea. This statement was followed by a call on January 15, 2024, for a constitutional amendment to redefine the boundary with South Korea as the 'Southern National Borderline,' further intensifying the rhetoric against South Korea. Kim Jong-un also stated that in the event of a war, North Korea would seek to annex the entirety of South Korea.In 2024, North Korea hasdeployed a contingent of troops to Russiain support of Russia'swar against Ukraine.
North Korea occupies the northern portion of theKorean Peninsula, lying between latitudes37°and43°N, and longitudes124°and131°E. It covers an area of 120,540 square kilometers (46,541 sq mi).To its west are theYellow SeaandKorea Bay, and to its east lies Japan across theSea of Japan.
Early European visitors to Korea remarked that the country resembled "a sea in a heavy gale" because of the many successivemountain rangesthat crisscross the peninsula.Some 80 percent of North Korea is composed of mountains and uplands, separated by deep and narrow valleys. All of the Korean Peninsula's mountains with elevations of 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) or more are located in North Korea. The highest point in North Korea isPaektu Mountain, a volcanic mountain with an elevation of 2,744 meters (9,003 ft) above sea level.Considered a sacred place by North Koreans, Mount Paektu holds significance in Korean culture and has been incorporated in the elaborate folklore and personality cult around the Kim family.For example, the song, "We Will Go To Mount Paektu" sings in praise of Kim Jong Un and describes a symbolic trek to the mountain. Other prominent ranges are theHamgyong Rangein the extreme northeast and theRangrim Mountains, which are located in the north-central part of North Korea.Mount Kumgangin theTaebaek Range, which extends into South Korea, is famous for its scenic beauty.
The coastal plains are wide in the west and discontinuous in the east. A great majority of the population lives in the plains and lowlands. According to aUnited Nations Environmental Programmereport in 2003, forest covers over 70 percent of the country, mostly on steep slopes.North Korea had a 2019Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 8.02/10, ranking it 28th globally out of 172 countries.The longest river is theAmnok(Yalu) River which flows for 790 kilometers (491 mi).The country contains three terrestrial ecoregions:Central Korean deciduous forests,Changbai Mountains mixed forests, andManchurian mixed forests.
North Korea experiences ahumid continental climatewithin theKöppen climate classificationscheme. Winters bring clear weather interspersed with snow storms as a result of northern and northwestern winds that blow fromSiberia.Summer tends to be by far the hottest, most humid, and rainiest time of year because of the southern and southeasternmonsoonwinds that carry moist air from thePacific Ocean. Approximately 60 percent of all precipitation occurs from June to September.Spring and autumn are transitional seasons between summer and winter. The daily average high and low temperatures forPyongyangare −3 and −13 °C (27 and 9 °F) in January and 29 and 20 °C (84 and 68 °F) in August.
North Korea functions as a highly centralized,one-partytotalitariandictatorship.According to itsconstitution, it is a self-described revolutionary andsocialist state"guided in its building and activities only by great Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism".In addition to the constitution, North Korea is governed by theTen Principles for the Establishment of a Monolithic Ideological System(also known as the "Ten Principles of the One-Ideology System") which establishes standards for governance and a guide for the behaviors of North Koreans.TheWorkers' Party of Korea(WPK), acommunist partyled by a member of theKim family,has an estimated 6.5 million membersand is in control of North Korean politics. It has two satellite parties, theKorean Social Democratic Partyand theChondoist Chongu Party.
Kim Jong Un of theKim familyis the currentSupreme LeaderorSuryeongof North Korea.He heads all major governing structures: he is thegeneral secretary of the Workers' Party of Koreaandpresident of the State Affairs.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 the leader was announced "Eternal General Secretary" and "Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission" after his death in 2011.
According to the constitution, there are officially three main branches of government. The first of these is theState Affairs Commission(SAC), which acts as "the supreme national guidance organ of state sovereignty".Its role is to deliberate and decide the work on defense building of the State, including major policies of the State, and to carry out the directions of the president of the commission, Kim Jong Un.The SAC also directly supervises theMinistry of Defence,Ministry of State Securityand theMinistry of Social Security.
Legislative poweris held by the unicameralSupreme People's Assembly(SPA).Its 687 members are elected every five years byuniversal suffrage,though the elections have been described by outside observers as similar toelections in the Soviet Union.Elections in North Korea have also been described as a form of government census, due to the near 100% turnout. Although the elections are notpluralistic, North Korean state media describes the elections as "an expression of the absolute support and trust of all voters in the DPRK government".Supreme People's Assembly sessions are convened by the SPA Standing Committee, whoseChairman(Choe Ryong-haesince 2019) is the third-ranking official in North Korea.Deputies formally elect the chairman, the vice chairpersons and members of the Standing Committee and take part in the constitutionally appointed activities of the legislature: pass laws, establish domestic and foreign policies, appoint members of the cabinet, review and approve the state economic plan, among others.The SPA itself cannot initiate any legislation independently of party or state organs. It is unknown whether it has ever criticized or amended bills placed before it, and the elections are based around a single list of WPK-approved candidates who stand without opposition.
Executive poweris vested in theCabinet of North Korea, which has been headed byPremierPak Thae-songsince 29 December 2024,who's officially the second-ranking official after Kim Jong Un.The Premier represents the government and functions independently. His authority extends over two vice premiers, 30ministers, two cabinet commission chairmen, the cabinet chief secretary, the president of theCentral Bank, the director of theCentral Bureau of Statisticsand the president of theAcademy of Sciences.
North Korea, like its southern counterpart, claims to be the legitimate government of the entireKorean Peninsulaand adjacent islands.Despite its official title as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea", some observers have described North Korea's political system as a "hereditary dictatorship".It has also been described as aStalinistdictatorship.
Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism is the official ideology of North Korea and the WPK, and is the cornerstone of party works and government operations.Juche, part of the larger Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism along withSongununder Kim Jong Un,is viewed by the official North Korean line as an embodiment of Kim Il Sung's wisdom, an expression of his leadership, and an idea which provides "a complete answer to any question that arises in the struggle for national liberation".Juchewas pronounced in December 1955 in a speech calledOn Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Workin order to emphasize a Korea-centered revolution.Its core tenets areeconomic self-sufficiency, military self-reliance and an independent foreign policy. The roots ofJuchewere made up of a complex mixture of factors, including the popularity of Kim Il Sung, the conflict with pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese dissenters, and Korea's centuries-long struggle for independence.Juchewas introduced into the constitution in 1972.
Juchewas initially promoted as a "creative application" ofMarxism–Leninism, but in the mid-1970s, it was described by state propaganda as "the only scientific thought... and most effective revolutionary theoretical structure that leads to the future of communist society".Jucheeventually replaced Marxism–Leninism entirely by the 1980s,and in 1992 references to the latter were omitted from the constitution.The 2009 constitution dropped references to communism and elevated theSongunmilitary first policy while explicitly confirming the position of Kim Jong Il.However, the constitution retains references to socialism.The WPK reasserted its commitment to communism in 2021.Juche's concepts of self-reliance have evolved with time and circumstances, but still provide the groundwork for the spartan austerity, sacrifice, and discipline demanded by the party.
Since the founding of the nation, North Korea's supreme leadership has stayed within the Kim family, which in North Korea is referred to as theMount PaektuBloodline. It is a three-generation lineage descending from the country's first leader, Kim Il Sung, who developed North Korea around theJuche ideology, and stayed in power until his death.Kim developed a cult of personality closely tied to the state philosophy of Juche, which was later passed on to his successors: his son Kim Jong Il in 1994 and grandson Kim Jong Un in 2011. In 2013, Clause 2 of Article 10 of the newly editedTen Fundamental Principles of the Workers' Party of Koreastated that the party and revolution must be carried "eternally" by the "Mount Paektu Bloodline".
According toNew Focus International, the cult of personality, particularly surrounding Kim Il Sung, has been crucial for legitimizing the family's hereditary succession.The control the North Korean government exercises over many aspects of the nation's culture is used to perpetuate thecult of personalitysurrounding Kim Il Sung,and Kim Jong Il.While visiting North Korea in 1979, journalist Bradley Martin wrote that nearly all music, art, and sculpture that he observed glorified "Great Leader" Kim Il Sung, whose personality cult was then being extended to his son, "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il.
Claims that the family has been deified are contested by B. R. Myers: "Divine powers have never been attributed to either of the two Kims. In fact, the propaganda apparatus in Pyongyang has generally been carefulnotto make claims that run directly counter to citizens' experience or common sense."He further explains that the state propaganda painted Kim Jong Il as someone whose expertise lay in military matters and that the famine of the 1990s was partially caused by natural disasters out of Kim Jong Il's control.
The song "No Motherland Without You", sung by the North Korean army choir, was created especially for Kim Jong Il and is one of the most popular tunes in the country. Kim Il Sung is still officially revered as the nation's "Eternal President". Several landmarks in North Korea arenamed for Kim Il Sung, includingKim Il Sung University,Kim Il Sung Stadium, andKim Il Sung Square. Defectors have been quoted as saying that North Korean schools deify both father and son.Kim Il Sung rejected the notion that he had created a cult around himself and accused those who suggested this of "factionalism".Following the death of Kim Il Sung, North Koreans were prostrating and weeping to a bronze statue of him in an organized event;similar scenes were broadcast by state television following the death of Kim Jong Il.
Critics maintain that Kim Jong Il's personality cult was inherited from his father. Kim Jong Il was often the center of attention throughout ordinary life. His birthday is one of the most importantpublic holidays in the country. On his 60th birthday (based on his official date of birth), mass celebrations occurred throughout the country.Kim Jong Il's personality cult, although significant, was not as extensive as his father's. One point of view is that Kim Jong Il's cult of personality was solely out of respect for Kim Il Sung or out of fear of punishment for failure to pay homage,while North Korean government sources consider it genuine hero worship.
As a result of its isolation, North Korea is sometimes known as the "hermit kingdom", a term that originally referred to the isolationism in the latter part of theJoseon Dynasty.Initially, North Korea had diplomatic ties only with other communist countries, and even today, most of the foreign embassies accredited to North Korea are located inBeijingrather than inPyongyang.In the 1960s and 1970s, it pursued an independent foreign policy, established relations with many developing countries, and joined theNon-Aligned Movement. In the late 1980s and the 1990s its foreign policy was thrown into turmoil with the collapse of theSoviet Bloc. Suffering an economic crisis, it closed a number of its embassies. At the same time, North Korea sought to build relations with developed free market countries.
North Korea joined theUnited Nationsin 1991 together withSouth Korea. North Korea is also a member of theNon-Aligned Movement,G77and theASEAN Regional Forum.As of 2015, North Korea had diplomatic relations with 166 countries and embassies in 47 countries.North Korea does not have diplomatic relations withArgentina,Botswana,Estonia,France,Iraq,Israel,Japan,Taiwan,theUnited States,andUkraine.Germanyis unusual in maintaining a North Korean embassy. German AmbassadorFriedrich Lohrsays most of his time in North Korea involved facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and agricultural assistance to a population plagued by food shortages.
North Korea enjoys aclose relationship with Chinawhich is often called North Korea's closest ally.Relations were strained beginning in 2006 because of China's concerns about North Korea's nuclear program.Relations improved afterXi Jinping,General Secretary of the Chinese Communist PartyandChinese Presidentvisited North Korea in June 2019.North Korea continues to have strong ties with several Southeast Asian countries such asVietnam,Laos,Cambodia,andIndonesia.Relations with Malaysiawere strained in 2017 by theassassination of Kim Jong-nam. North Korea has aclose relationship with Russiaand has voiced support for theRussian invasion of Ukraine.
North Korea was previously designated astate sponsor of terrorismby the U.S.because of its alleged involvement in the1983 Rangoon bombingand the1987 bombing of a South Korean airliner.On 11 October 2008, the United States removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism after Pyongyang agreed to cooperate on issues related to its nuclear program.North Korea was re-designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. under the administration ofDonald Trumpon 20 November 2017 after continued nuclear tests.The kidnapping of at least 13 Japanese citizensby North Korean agents in the 1970s and the 1980s has had a detrimental effect on North Korea's relationship with Japan.
US President Trump met with Kim in Singapore on 12 June 2018. An agreement was signed between the two countries endorsing the 2017Panmunjom Declarationsigned by North and South Korea, pledging to work towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.They met in Hanoifrom 27 to 28 February 2019, but failed to achieve an agreement.On 30 June 2019, Trump met with Kim along with South Korean presidentMoon Jae-inat the Korean DMZ.
TheKorean Demilitarized Zonewith South Korea remains the most heavily fortified border in the world.Inter-Korean relations are at the 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, the then North Korean leader Kim Il Sung proposed a federation between North and South Korea named theDemocratic Federal Republic of Koreain which the respective political systems would initially remain.However, relations remained cool well until the early 1990s, with a brief period in the early 1980s when North Korea offered to provide flood relief to its southern neighbor.Although the offer was initially welcomed, talks over how to deliver the relief goods broke down and none of the promised aid ever crossed the border.The two countries also organized a reunion of 92 separated families.
TheSunshine Policyinstituted by South Korean presidentKim Dae-jungin 1998 was a watershed in inter-Korean relations. It encouraged other countries to engage with the North, which allowed Pyongyang to normalize relations with a number of European Union states and contributed to the establishment of joint North-South economic projects. The culmination of the Sunshine Policy was the2000 inter-Korean summit, when Kim Dae-jung visited Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang.Both North and South Korea signed theJune 15th North–South Joint Declaration, in which both sides promised to seek peaceful reunification.On 4 October 2007, South Korean presidentRoh Moo-hyunand Kim Jong Il signed an eight-point peace agreement.However, relations worsened when South Korean presidentLee Myung-bakadopted a more hard-line approach and suspended aid deliveries pending the de-nuclearization of the North. In 2009, North Korea responded by ending all of its previous agreements with the South.It deployed additional ballistic missilesand placed its military on full combat alert after South Korea, Japan and the United States threatened to intercept aUnha-2space launch vehicle.The next few years witnessed a string of hostilities, including the alleged North Korean involvement in thesinking of South Korean warshipCheonan,mutual ending of diplomatic ties,a North Korean artilleryattack on Yeonpyeong Island,and growing international concern over North Korea's nuclear program.
In May 2017,Moon Jae-inwas elected president of South Korea with a promise to return to the Sunshine Policy.In February 2018, a détente developed at the Winter Olympics held in South Korea.In April, South Korean president Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un met at the DMZ, and, in thePanmunjom Declaration, pledged to work for peace and nuclear disarmament.In September, at a joint news conference in Pyongyang, Moon and Kim agreed upon turning theKorean Peninsulainto a "land of peace without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats".
In January 2024, North Korea officially announced through its leader Kim Jong Un that it would no longer seek reunification with South Korea. Kim instead called for "completely occupying, subjugating and reclaiming" South Korea if war breaks out.Kim Jong Un also announced to the Supreme People's Assembly that the constitution should be changed such that South Korea would be considered the "primary foe and invariable principal enemy" of North Korea.Additionally, government agencies tasked with promoting reunification were closed.
The North Korean armed forces, or theKorean People's Army(KPA), is estimated to comprise 1,280,000 active and 6,300,000 reserve and paramilitary troops, making it one of thelargest military institutions in the world.With an active duty army consisting of4.9% of its population, North Korea maintains the fourthlargest active military forcein the world behind China, India and the United States.About 20 percent of men aged 17–54 serve in the regular armed forces,and approximately one in every 25 citizens is an enlisted soldier.
The KPA is divided into five branches:Ground Force,Navy,Air and Anti-Air Force,Special Operations Force, andRocket Force. Command of the KPA lies in both theCentral Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Koreaand the independent State Affairs Commission, which controls theMinistry of Defence.
Of all the KPA's branches, the Ground Force is the largest, comprising approximately one million personnel divided into 80 infantrydivisions, 30 artillerybrigades, 25 special warfare brigades, 20 mechanized brigades, 10 tank brigades and seven tankregiments.It is equipped with 3,700 tanks, 2,100armored personnel carriersandinfantry fighting vehicles,17,900 artillery pieces, 11,000 anti-aircraft gunsand some 10,000MANPADSandanti-tank guided missiles.The Air Force is estimated to possess around 1,600 aircraft (with between 545 – 810 serving combat roles), while the Navy operates approximately 800 vessels, including the largest submarine fleet in the world.The KPA's Special Operation Force is also the world's largest special forces unit.
North Korea is anuclear-armed state,though the nature and strength of the country's arsenal is uncertain. As of September 2023, estimates of its size ranged between 40 and 116 assemblednuclear warheads.Delivery capabilitiesare provided by the Rocket Force, which has some 1,000ballistic missileswith a range of up to 11,900 km (7,400 mi).
According to a 2004 South Korean assessment, North Korea also possesses a stockpile ofchemical weaponsestimated to amount to between 2,500 and 5,000 tons, including nerve, blister, blood, and vomiting agents, as well as the ability to cultivate and producebiological weaponsincludinganthrax,smallpox, andcholera.As a result of its nuclear and missile tests, North Korea has beensanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolutions1695of July 2006,1718of October 2006,1874of June 2009,2087of January 2013,and2397in December 2017.
The sale of weapons to North Korea by other states is prohibited by UN sanctions, and the KPA's conventional capabilities are limited by a number of factors including obsolete equipment, insufficient fuel supplies and a shortage of digitalcommand and controlassets. To compensate for these deficiencies, the KPA has deployed a wide range ofasymmetric warfaretechnologies including anti-personnel blinding lasers,GPSjammers,midget submarinesandhuman torpedoes,stealthpaint,andcyberwarfareunits.In 2015, North Korea was reported to employ 6,000 sophisticated computer security personnel in a cyberwarfare unit operating out of China.KPA units were blamed for the 2014Sony Pictures hackand have allegedly attempted to jam South Koreanmilitary satellites.
Much of the equipment in use by the KPA is engineered and manufactured bythe domestic defense industry. Weapons are manufactured in roughly 1,800 underground defense industry plants scattered throughout the country, most of them located inChagang Province.The defense industry is capable of producing a full range of individual and crew-operated weapons, artillery, armored vehicles, tanks, missiles, helicopters, submarines, landing and infiltration craft andYak-18trainers, and may even have limited jet aircraft manufacturing capacity.According to North Korean state media, military expenditure amounted to 15.8 percent of the state budget in 2010.The U.S. State Department has estimated that North Korea's military spending averaged 23% of its GDP from 2004 to 2014, the highest level in the world.North Korea successfully tested a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile on 19 October 2021.
North Korea has acivil lawsystem based on thePrussian modeland influenced by Japanese traditions and communist legal theory.Judiciary procedures are handled by theCentral Court(the highestcourt of appeal), provincial or special city-level courts, people's courts, and special courts. People's courts are at the lowest level of the system and operate in cities, counties and urban districts, while different kinds of special courts handle cases related to military, railroad, or maritime matters.
Judges are elected by their respective local people's assemblies, but this vote tends to be overruled by the Workers' Party of Korea. Thepenal codeis based on the principle ofnullum crimen sine lege(no crime without a law), but remains a tool for political control despite several amendments reducing ideological influence.Courts carry out legal procedures related to not only criminal and civil matters, but also political cases as well.Political prisoners are sent tolabor camps, while criminal offenders are incarcerated in a separate system.
TheMinistry of Social Securitymaintains most law enforcement activities. It is one of the most powerful state institutions in North Korea and oversees the national police force, investigates criminal cases and manages non-political correctional facilities.It handles other aspects of domestic security like civil registration, traffic control, fire departments and railroad security.TheMinistry of State Securitywas separated from the Ministry of Public Security in 1973 to conduct domestic and foreign intelligence, counterintelligence and manage the political prison system. Political camps can be short-term reeducation zones or "kwalliso" (total control zones) for lifetime detention.Camp 15 in YodokandCamp 18 in Pukchanghave been described in detailed testimonies.
The security apparatus is extensive,exerting strict control over residence, travel, employment, clothing, food and family life.Security forces employmass surveillance. It is believed they tightly monitor cellular and digital communications.
North Korea has updated its constitution, labeling South Korea as a "hostile state" and abandoning its previous goal of peaceful reunification. This shift coincides with the destruction of inter-Korean connections and increased border defenses.
The state ofhuman rightsin North Korea has been widely condemned. A 2014 UN inquiry into the DPRK's human rights record found evidence for "systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations" and stated that "the gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world",withAmnesty InternationalandHuman Rights Watchholding similar views.North Koreans have been referred to as "some of the world's most brutalized people" byHuman Rights Watch, because of the severe restrictions placed on theirpoliticalandeconomic freedoms.The North Korean population is strictly managed by the state and all aspects of daily life are subordinated to party and state planning. According to US government reports, employment is managed by the party on the basis of political reliability, and travel is tightly controlled by the Ministry of People's Security.The US State Department says that North Koreans do not have a choice in the jobs they work and are not free to change jobs at will.
There are restrictions on the freedom of association, expression and movement; arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment result in death and execution.Citizens in North Korea are generally not permitted to leave the countryat will and its government denies access to UN human rights observers.
The Ministry of State Security extrajudicially apprehends and imprisons those accused of political crimes without due process.People perceived as hostile to the government, such as Christians or critics of the leadership,are deported to labor camps without trial,often with their whole family and mostly without any chance of being released.Forced labor is part of an established system ofpolitical repression.
Based on satellite images and defector testimonies, an estimated 200,000 prisoners are held in six large prison camps,where they are made to work to right their wrongdoings.Supporters of the government who deviate from the government line are subject toreeducationin sections oflabor campsset aside for that purpose. Those who are deemedpolitically rehabilitatedmay reassume responsible government positions on their release.
TheUnited Nations Commission of Inquiryhas accused North Korea ofcrimes against humanity.TheInternational Coalition to Stop Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea(ICNK) estimates that over 10,000 people die in North Korean prison camps every year.
With 1,100,000 people inmodern slavery(via forced labor), North Korea is ranked highest in the world in terms of the percentage of population in modern slavery, with 10.4 percent enslaved according to theWalk Free's 2018Global Slavery Index.North Korea is the only country in the world that has not explicitly criminalized any form of modern slavery.A United Nations report listed slavery among the crimes against humanity occurring in North Korea.
According to the US State Department, the North Korean government does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination ofhuman traffickingand is not making significant efforts to do so.North Korea has trafficked thousands of its own citizens allegedly as forced laborers to Russia,Poland,Malaysia,various parts of Africaand thePersian Gulfwhere most of the laborers' earnings are pocketed by Pyongyang.
The North Korean government rejects the human rights abuse claims,calling them a smear campaign and a human rights racket made to topple the government.In a 2014 report to the UN, North Korea dismissed accusations of atrocities as wild rumors.The official state media,KCNA, responded with an article that included homophobic insults against the author of the human rights report,Michael Kirby, calling him "a disgusting old lecher with a 40-odd-year-long career of homosexuality ... This practice can never be found in the DPRK boasting of the sound mentality and good morals ... In fact, it is ridiculous for such gay  [sic] to sponsor dealing with others' human rights issue."The government, however, admitted some human rights issues related to living conditions and stated that it is working to improve them.
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 high growth rates. Systematic inefficiency began to arise around 1960, when the economy shifted from theextensiveto theintensive developmentstage. The shortage of skilled labor, energy, arable land and transportation significantly impeded long-term growth and resulted in consistent failure to meet planning objectives.The major slowdown of the economy contrasted with South Korea, which surpassed the North in terms of absoluteGDPand per capita income by the 1980s.North Korea declared the last seven-year plan unsuccessful in December 1993 and thereafter stopped announcing plans.
The loss ofEastern Bloctrading partners and a series of natural disasters throughout the 1990s caused severe hardships, including widespreadfamine. By 2000, the situation improved owing to a massive international food assistance effort, but the economy continues to suffer from food shortages, dilapidated infrastructure and a critically low energy supply.In an attempt to recover from the collapse, the government began structural reforms in 1998 that formally legalizedprivate ownershipof assets and decentralized control over production.A second round of reforms in 2002 led to an expansion of market activities, partialmonetization, flexible prices and salaries, and the introduction of incentives and accountability techniques.Despite these changes, North Korea remains acommand economywhere the state owns almost all means of production and development priorities are defined by the government.
North Korea has the structural profile of a relatively industrialized countrywhere nearly half of thegross domestic productis generated byindustryandhuman developmentis at medium levels.Purchasing power parity(PPP) GDP is estimated at $40 billion,with a very low per capita value of $1,800.In 2012,gross national incomeper capita was $1,523, compared to $28,430 in South Korea.TheNorth Korean wonis the national currency, issued by theCentral Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.The economy has been developing dramatically in recent years despite sanctions. TheSejong Institutedescribes these changes as "astonishing".
The economy is heavily nationalized.Food and housing are extensively subsidized by the state; education and healthcare are free;and the payment of taxes was officially abolished in 1974.A variety of goods are available in department stores and supermarkets in Pyongyang,though most of the population relies on small-scalejangmadangmarkets.In 2009, the government attempted to stem the expanding free market by banning jangmadang and the use of foreign currency,heavily devaluing the won and restricting the convertibility of savings in the old currency,but the resultinginflationspike and rare public protests caused a reversal of these policies.Private trade is dominated by women because most men are required to be present at their workplace, even though many state-owned enterprises are non-operational.
Industry and services employ 65%of North Korea's 12.6 million labor force.Major industries include machine building, military equipment, chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing andtourism.Iron oreandcoalproduction are among the few sectors where North Korea performs significantly better than itssouthern neighbor—it produces about 10 times more of each resource.Using ex-Romanian drilling rigs, several oil exploration companies have confirmed significant oil reserves in the North Korean shelf of the Sea of Japan, and in areas south of Pyongyang.The agricultural sector was shattered by the natural disasters of the 1990s.Its 3,500cooperativesand state farmswere moderately successful until the mid-1990sbut now experience chronicfertilizerand equipment shortages. Rice, corn, soybeans andpotatoesare some of the primary crops.A significant contribution to the food supply comes from commercial fishing andaquaculture.Smaller specialized farms, managed by the state, also produce high-value crops, includingginseng,honey,matsutakeand herbs fortraditional KoreanandChinese medicine.Tourismhas been a growing sector for the past decade.North Korea has been aiming to increase the number of foreign visitors through projects like theMasikryong Ski Resort.On 22 January 2020, North Korea closed its borders to foreign tourists in response to the threat of theCOVID-19 pandemic in North Korea.
Foreign trade surpassed pre-crisis levels in 2005 and continues to expand.North Korea has a number of special economic zones (SEZs) andSpecial Administrative Regionswhere foreign companies can operate with tax and tariff incentives while North Korean establishments gain access to improved technology.Initially four such zones existed, but they yielded little overall success.The SEZ system was overhauled in 2013 when 14 new zones were opened and theRason Special Economic Zonewas reformed as a joint Chinese-North Korean project.TheKaesong Industrial Regionis a special economic zone where more than 100 South Korean companies employ some 52,000 North Korean workers.As of August 2017, China is the biggest trading partner of North Korea outside inter-Korean trade, accounting for more than 84% of the total external trade ($5.3 billion) followed byIndiaat 3.3% share ($205 million).In 2014, Russia wrote off 90% of North Korea's debt and the two countries agreed to conduct all transactions inrubles.Overall, external trade in 2013 reached a total of $7.3 billion (the highest amount since 1990), while inter-Korean trade dropped to an eight-year low of $1.1 billion.
Transport infrastructure in North Korea includes railways, highways, water and air routes, but rail transport is by far the most widespread. North Korea has some 5,200 kilometers (3,200 mi) of railways mostly instandard gaugewhich carry 80% of annual passenger traffic and 86% of freight, but electricity shortages undermine their efficiency.Construction of ahigh-speed railwayconnecting Kaesong, Pyongyang andSinuijuwith speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (120 mph) was approved in 2013.North Korea connects with theTrans-Siberian RailwaythroughRajin.
Road transport is very limited—only 724 kilometers (450 mi) of the 25,554 kilometers (15,879 mi) road network are paved,and maintenance on most roads is poor.Only 2% of the freight capacity is supported by river and sea transport, and air traffic is negligible.All port facilities are ice-free and host a merchant fleet of 158 vessels.Eighty-two airportsand 23 helipadsare operational and the largest serve the state-run airline,Air Koryo.Cars are relatively rare,but bicycles are common.There is only oneinternational airport—Pyongyang International Airport—serviced by Russia and China (seeList of public airports in North Korea)
North Korea's energy infrastructure is obsolete and in disrepair. Power shortages are chronic and would not be alleviated even by electricity imports because the poorly maintained grid causes significant losses during transmission.Coalaccounts for 70% of primary energy production, followed byhydroelectric powerwith 17%.The government under Kim Jong Un has increased emphasis on renewable energy projects like wind farms, solar parks, solar heating andbiomass.A set of legal regulations adopted in 2014 stressed the development of geothermal, wind and solar energy along withrecyclingand environmental conservation.North Korea's long-term objective is to curb fossil fuel usage and reach an output of 5 millionkilowattsfrom renewable sources by 2044, up from its current total of 430,000 kilowatts from all sources. Wind power is projected to satisfy 15% of the country's total energy demand under this strategy.
North Korea also strives to develop its own civilian nuclear program. These efforts are under much international dispute due to their military applications and concerns about safety.
R&D efforts are concentrated at the State Academy of Sciences, which runs 40 research institutes, 200 smaller research centers, a scientific equipment factory and six publishing houses.The government considers science and technology to be directly linked to economic development.A five-year scientific plan emphasizing IT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, marine technology, and laser and plasma research was carried out in the early 2000s.A 2010 report by the South Korean Science and Technology Policy Institute identifiedpolymer chemistry, single carbon materials,nanoscience, mathematics, software, nuclear technology and rocketry as potential areas of inter-Korean scientific cooperation. North Korean institutes are strong in these fields of research, although their engineers require additional training, and laboratories need equipment upgrades.
Under its "constructing a powerfulknowledge economy" slogan, the state has launched a project to concentrate education, scientific research and production into a number of "high-tech development zones". International sanctions remain a significant obstacle to their development.TheMiraewonnetwork ofelectronic librarieswas established in 2014 under similar slogans.
Significant resources have been allocated to the national space program, which is managed by theNational Aerospace Technology Administration(formerly managed by theKorean Committee of Space Technologyuntil April 2013).Domestically producedlaunch vehiclesand theKwangmyŏngsŏng satellite classare launched from twospaceports, theTonghae Satellite Launching Groundand theSohae Satellite Launching Station. After four failed attempts, North Korea became thetenth spacefaring nationwith the launch ofKwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2in December 2012, which successfully reached orbit but was believed to be crippled and non-operational.It joined theOuter Space Treatyin 2009and has stated its intentions to undertakecrewedandMoon missions.The government insisted the space program is for peaceful purposes, but the United States, Japan, South Korea and other countries maintained that it serves to advance North Korea's ballistic missile program.On 7 February 2016, a statement broadcast on Korean Central Television said that a new Earth observation satellite,Kwangmyongsong-4, had successfully been put into orbit.
Usage of communication technology is controlled by theMinistry of Post and Telecommunications. An adequate nationwidefiber-optictelephone systemwith 1.18 million fixed linesand expanding mobile coverage is in place.Most phones are installed for senior government officials and installation requires written explanation why the user needs a telephone and how it will be paid for.Cellular coverage is available with a3Gnetwork operated byKoryolink, a joint venture withOrascom Telecom Holding.The number of subscribers has increased from 3,000 in 2002to almost two million in 2013.International calls through either fixed or cellular service are restricted, andmobile Internetis not available.
Internet access itself is limited to a handful of elite users and scientists. Instead, North Korea has awalled gardenintranetsystem calledKwangmyong,which is maintained and monitored by theKorea Computer Center.Its content is limited to state media, chat services, message boards,an e-mail service and an estimated 1,000–5,500 websites.Computers employ theRed Star OS, an operating system derived fromLinux, with auser shellvisually similar to that ofOS X.On 19 September 2016, a TLDR project noticed the North Korean Internet DNS data and top-level domain was left open which allowed global DNS zone transfers. A dump of the data discovered was shared onGitHub.
North Korea's population was 10.9 million in 1961.With the exception of a smallChinese communityand a few ethnicJapanese, North Korea's 25,971,909people are ethnically homogeneous.Demographic experts in the 20th century estimated that the population would grow to 25.5 million by 2000 and 28 million by 2010, but this increase never occurred due to theNorth Korean famine.The famine began in 1995, lasted for three years, and resulted in the deaths of between 240,000 and 420,000 North Koreans.
International donors led by the United States initiated shipments of food through theWorld Food Programin 1997 to combat the famine.Despite a drastic reduction of aid under theGeorge W. Bush administration,the situation gradually improved: the number of malnourished children declined from 60% in 1998to 37% in 2006and 28% in 2013.Domestic food production almost recovered to the recommended annual level of 5.37 million tons of cereal equivalent in 2013,but the World Food Program reported a continuing lack of dietary diversity and access to fats and proteins.By the mid-2010s national levels of severe wasting, an indication of famine-like conditions, were lower than in other low-income countries and about on par with developing nations in the Pacific and East Asia. Children's health and nutrition is significantly better on a number of indicators than in many other Asian countries.
The famine had a significant impact on the population growth rate, which declined to 0.9% annually in 2002.It was 0.5% in 2014.Late marriages after military service, limited housing space and long hours of work or political studies further exhaust the population and reduce growth.The national birth rate is 14.5 births per year per 1,000 population.Two-thirds of households consist ofextended familiesmostly living in two-room units.Marriageis virtually universal anddivorceis extremely rare.
North Korea shares theKorean languagewith South Korea, although somedialectal differencesexist within both Koreas.North Koreans refer to theirPyongan dialectasmunhwaŏ("cultured language") as opposed to the dialects of South Korea, especially theSeoul dialectorp'yojun'ŏ("standard language"), which are viewed as decadent because of its use of loanwords fromChineseandEuropean languages(particularlyEnglish).Words of Chinese, Manchu or Western origin have been eliminated frommunhwaalong with the usage of Chinesehanchacharacters.Written language uses only theChosŏn'gŭl(Hangul) phonetic alphabet, developed underSejong the Great(1418–1450).
North Korea is officially anatheist state.Its constitution guaranteesfreedom of religionunder Article 68, but this principle is limited by the requirement that religion may not be used as a pretext to harm the state, introduce foreign forces, or harm the existing social order.Religious practice is therefore restricted,despite nominal constitutional protections.Proselytizing is also prohibited due to concerns about foreign influence. The number of Christian churchgoers nonetheless more than doubled between the 1980s and the early 2000s due to the recruitment of Christians who previously worshipped privately or in small house churches.TheOpen Doorsmission, a Protestant group based in the United States and founded during the Cold War era, claims the most severepersecution of Christiansin the world occurs in North Korea.
There are no known official statistics of religions in North Korea. According to a 2020 study published by theCentre for the Study of World Christianity, 73% of the population areirreligious(58%agnostic, 15%atheist), 13% practiceChondoism, 12% practiceKorean shamanism, 1.5% areBuddhist, and less than 0.5% practice another religion such asChristianity,Islam, orChinese folk religion.Amnesty International has expressed concerns about religious persecution in North Korea.Pro-North groups such as the Paektu Solidarity Alliance deny these claims, saying that multiple religious facilities exist across the nation.Some religious places of worship are located in foreign embassies in the capital city of Pyongyang.Five Christian churches built with state funds stand in Pyongyang: three Protestant, one Roman Catholic, and one Russian Orthodox.Critics claim these are showcases for foreigners.
Buddhism andConfucianismstill influence spirituality.Chondoism ("Heavenly Way") is an indigenoussyncretic beliefcombining elements of Korean shamanism, Buddhism,TaoismandCatholicismthat is officially represented by the WPK-controlledChondoist Chongu Party.Chondoism is recognized and favored by the government, being seen as an indigenous form of "revolutionary religion".
The2008 censuslisted the entire population as literate.An 11-year free, compulsory cycle of primary and secondary education is provided in more than 27,000nursery schools, 14,000kindergartens, 4,800 four-year primary and 4,700 six-year secondary schools.77% of males and 79% of females aged 30–34 have finished secondary school.An additional 300 universities and colleges offerhigher education.
Most graduates from the compulsory program do not attend university but begin their obligatory military service or proceed to work in farms or factories instead. The main deficiencies of higher education are the heavy presence of ideological subjects, which comprise 50% of courses in social studies and 20% in sciences,and the imbalances in curriculum. The study of natural sciences is greatly emphasized while social sciences are neglected.Heuristicsis actively applied to develop the independence and creativity of students throughout the system.The study ofRussianandEnglishwas made compulsory in upper middle schools in 1978.
North Korea has a life expectancy of 72.3 years in 2019, according to HDR 2020.While North Korea is classified as a low-income country, the structure of North Korea's causes of death (2013) is unlike that of other low-income countries.Instead, it is closer to worldwide averages, with non-communicable diseases—such as cardiovascular disease and cancers—accounting for 84 percent of the total deaths in 2016.
According to the World Bank report of 2016 (based onWHO's estimate), only 9.5% of the total deaths recorded in North Korea are attributed to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal and nutrition conditions, a figure which is slightly lower than that of South Korea (10.1%) and one fifth of other low-income countries (50.1%) but higher than that of high income countries (6.7%).Only one out of ten leading causes of overall deaths in North Korea is attributed to communicable diseases (lower respiratory infection), a disease which is reported to have declined by six percent since 2007.
In 2013,cardiovascular diseaseas a single disease group was reported as the largest cause of death in North Korea.The three major causes of death in North Korea arestroke,COPDandischaemic heart disease.Non-communicable diseases risk factors in North Korea include high rates of urbanization, an aging society, and high rates ofsmokingandalcoholconsumption amongst men.
Maternal mortality is lower than other low-income countries, but significantly higher than South Korea and other high income countries, at 89 per 100,000 live births.In 2008 child mortality was estimated to be 45 per 1,000, which is much better than other economically comparable countries.Chadfor example had a child mortality rate of 120 per 1,000, despite the fact that Chad was most likely wealthier than North Korea at the time.
Healthcare Access and Quality Index, as calculated byIHME, was reported to stand at 62.3, much lower than that of South Korea.
According to a 2003 report by theUnited States Department of State, almost 100% of the population has access to water and sanitation.Further, 80% of the population had access toimproved sanitationfacilities in 2015.
North Korea has the highest number of doctors per capita amongst low-income countries, with 3.7 physicians per 1,000 people, a figure which is also significantly higher than that of South Korea, according toWHO's data.
Conflicting reports between Amnesty and WHO have emerged, where the Amnesty report claimed that North Korea had an inadequate health care system, while the Director of the World Health Organization claimed that North Korea's healthcare system was considered the envy of the developing world and had "no lack of doctors and nurses".
A free universal insurance system is in place.Quality of medical care varies significantly by regionand is often low, with severe shortages of equipment, drugs and anesthetics.According to WHO, expenditure on health per capita is one of the lowest in the world.Preventive medicineis emphasized through physical exercise and sports, nationwide monthly checkups and routine spraying of public places against disease. Every individual has a lifetime health card which contains a full medical record.
According to North Korean documents and refugee testimonies,all North Koreans are sorted into groups according to theirSongbun, anascribed statussystem 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 or given certain opportunities.
Songbun allegedly affects access to educational and employment opportunities and particularly whether a person is eligible to join North Korea's ruling party.There are 3 main classifications and about 50 sub-classifications. According to Kim Il Sung, speaking in 1958, the loyal "core class" constituted 25% of the North Korean population, the "wavering class" 55%, and the "hostile class" 20%.The highest status is accorded to individuals descended from those who participated with Kim Il Sung in the resistance against Japanese occupation before and during World War II and to those who were factory workers, laborers, or peasants in 1950.
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.
Despite a historically strong Chinese influence, Korean culture has shaped its own unique identity.It came under attack during theJapanese rulefrom 1910 to 1945, when Japan enforced acultural assimilationpolicy. Koreans were forced to learn and speak Japanese, adopt the Japanese family name system andShintoreligion, and were forbidden to write or speak the Korean language in schools, businesses, or public places.
After the peninsula was divided in 1945, two distinct cultures formed out of the common Korean heritage. North Koreans have little exposure to foreign influence.The revolutionary struggle and the brilliance of the leadership are some of the main themes in art. "Reactionary" elements from traditional culture have been discarded and cultural forms with a "folk" spirit have been reintroduced.
Korean heritage is protected and maintained by the state.Over 190 historical sites and objects of national significance are cataloged asNational Treasures of North Korea, while some 1,800 less valuable artifacts are included in a list ofCultural Assets. TheHistoric Monuments and Sites in Kaesongand theComplex of Koguryo TombsareUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.TheGoguryeo tombsare registered onUNESCO's list ofWorld Heritage Sites. These remains were registered as the first World Heritage property of North Korea in the UNESCOWorld Heritage Committee(WHC) in July 2004. There are 63 burial mounds on the site, with clear murals preserved. The burial customs of the Goguryeo culture have influenced Asian civilizations beyond Korea, including Japan.
Visual arts are generally produced in the aesthetic ofsocialist 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 license 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 byMansudae Art Studiosince its establishment in 1959. It employs around 1,000 artists in what is likely the biggest art factory in the world where paintings,murals,postersand monuments are designed and produced.The studio has commercialized its activity and sells its works to collectors in a variety of countries including China, where it is in high demand.Mansudae Overseas Projectsis a subdivision of Mansudae Art Studio that carries out construction of large-scale monuments for international customers.Some of the projects include theAfrican Renaissance MonumentinSenegal,and theHeroes' AcreinNamibia.
All publishing houses are owned by the government or the WPK because they are considered an important tool foragitprop.TheWorkers' Party of Korea Publishing Houseis the most authoritative among them and publishes allworks of Kim Il Sung, ideological education materials and party policy documents.The availability of foreign literature is limited, examples being North Korean editions of Indian, German, Chinese and Russian fairy tales,Tales from Shakespeare, some works ofBertolt BrechtandErich Kästner,and theHarry Potterseries.
Kim Il Sung's personal works are considered "classical masterpieces" while the ones created under his instruction are labeled "models ofJucheliterature". These includeThe Fate of a Self-Defense Corps Man,The Song of KoreaandImmortal History, a series of historical novels depicting the suffering of Koreans under Japanese occupation.More than four million literary works were published between the 1980s and the early 2000s, but almost all of them belong to a narrow variety of political genres like "army-first revolutionary literature".
Science fictionis considered a secondary genre because it somewhat departs from the traditional standards of detailed descriptions and metaphors of the leader. The exotic settings of the stories give authors more freedom to depictcyberwarfare,violence,sexual abuse, andcrime, which are absent in other genres. Sci-fi works glorify technology and promote theJucheconcept ofanthropocentric existencethrough depictions ofrobotics,space exploration, andimmortality.
The government emphasized optimistic folk-based tunes and revolutionary music throughout most of the 20th century.Ideological messages are conveyed through massive orchestral pieces like the "Five Great Revolutionary Operas" based on traditional Koreanch'angguk.Revolutionary operas differ from their Western counterparts by adding traditional instruments to the orchestra and avoidingrecitativesegments.Sea of Bloodis the most widely performed of the Five Great Operas: since its premiere in 1971, it has been played over 1,500 times,and its 2010 tour in China was a major success.Westernclassical musicbyBrahms,Tchaikovsky,Stravinskyand other composers is performed both by theState Symphony Orchestraand student orchestras.
Pop musicappeared in the 1980s with thePochonbo Electronic EnsembleandWangjaesan Light Music Band.Improved relations with South Korea following the2000 inter-Korean summitcaused a decline in direct ideological messages in pop songs, but themes like comradeship, nostalgia and the construction of a powerful country remained.In 2014, theall-girlMoranbong Bandwas described as the most popular group in the country.North Koreans also listen toK-popwhich spreads through illegal markets.
Government policies towardsfilmare no different from those applied to other arts—motion pictures serve to fulfill the targets of "social education". Some of the most influential films are based on historic events (An Jung-geun shoots Itō Hirobumi) or folk tales (Hong Gildong).Most movies have predictable propaganda story lines which make cinema an unpopular entertainment; viewers only see films that feature their favorite actors.Western productions are only available at private showings to high-ranking Party members,although the 1997 filmTitanicis frequently shown to university students as an example of Western culture.Access to foreign media products is available through smuggledDVDsand television or radio broadcasts in border areas.Western films likeThe Interview,Charlie's Angels, and the aforementionedTitanicare just a few films that have been smuggled across the borders of North Korea, allowing for access to the North Korean citizens.
North Korean media are under some of the strictest government control in the world. Thecensorship in North Koreaencompasses 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 all the media is controlled and filtered through governmental censors.Freedom of the press in 2017 was 180th out of 180 countries inReporters Without Borders' annualPress Freedom Index.According toFreedom House, all media outlets serve as government mouthpieces, all journalists are party members and listening to foreign broadcasts carries the threat of the death penalty.The main news provider is theKorean Central News Agency. All 12 majornewspapersand 20 periodicals, includingRodong Sinmun, are published in the capital.
There are three state-owned TV stations. Two of them broadcast only on weekends and theKorean Central Televisionis on air every day in the evenings.Uriminzokkiriand its associatedYouTubeandTwitteraccounts distribute imagery, news and video issued by government media.TheAssociated Pressopened the first Western all-format, full-time bureau in Pyongyang in 2012.
Media coverage of North Koreahas often been inadequate as a result of the country's isolation. Stories like Kim Jong Un executing his ex-girlfriend or feeding his uncle to a pack of hungry dogs have been circulated by foreign media as truth despite the lack of a credible source.Many of the claims originate from the South Koreanright-wingnewspaperThe Chosun Ilbo.Max Fisher ofThe Washington Posthas 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.
Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancientagricultural and nomadic traditionsin southernManchuriaand theKorean Peninsula, it has gone through a complex interaction of the natural environment and different cultural trends.Ricedishes andkimchiare staple Korean food. In a traditional meal, they accompany both side dishes (panch'an) and main courses likejuk,pulgogiornoodles.Sojuliquor is the best-known traditional Korean spirit.
North Korea's most famous restaurant,Okryu-gwan, located in Pyongyang, is known for itsraengmyeoncold noodles.Other dishes served there includegray mulletsoup with boiled rice,beef rib soup, green bean pancake,sinsolloand dishes made fromterrapin.Okryu-gwan sends research teams into the countryside to collect data onKorean cuisineand introduce new recipes.Some Asian cities host branches of thePyongyang restaurant chainwhere waitresses perform music and dance.
Most schools have daily practice inassociation football,basketball,table tennis,gymnastics,boxingand others. TheDPR Korea Leagueis popular inside the country and its games are often televised.The national football team,Chollima, competed in theFIFA World Cupin2010, when it lost all three matches againstBrazil,PortugalandIvory Coast.Its1966 appearancewas much more successful, seeing a surprise 1–0 victory overItalyand a quarter final loss to Portugal by 3–5.Anational teamrepresents the nation in international basketball competitions as well. In December 2013, former American basketball professionalDennis Rodmanvisited North Korea to help train the national team after he developed a friendship with Kim Jong Un.
North Korea'sfirst appearancein theOlympicscamein 1964. The1972 Olympicssaw its summer games debut and five medals, including one gold. With the exception of the boycottedLos AngelesandSeoul Olympics, North Korean athletes have won medals in all summer games since then.WeightlifterKim Un-gukbroke theworld recordof theMen's 62 kgcategory at the2012 Summer OlympicsinLondon.Successful Olympians receive luxury apartments from the state in recognition for their achievements.
TheArirang Mass Gameshas been recognized by theGuinness World Recordsas the biggest choreographic event in the world.Some 100,000 athletes performrhythmic gymnasticsand dances while another 40,000 participants create a vast animated screen in the background. The event is an artistic representation of the country's history and pays homage to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, thelargest stadium in the worldwith its capacity of 150,000, hosts the Festival.ThePyongyang Marathonis another notable sports event. It is anIAAF Bronze Label Racewhere amateur runners from around the world can participate.
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