조선민주주의인민공화국 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國 Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk[1] Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: 강성대국 (Powerful and prosperous nation)
Anthem: Aegukka
Capital (and largest city)		Pyongyang 39°2′N, 125°45′E
Official languages		Korean
Demonym		North Korean, Korean
Government		Juche Socialist Republic
-	Eternal President of the Republic	Kim Il-sung (deceased) a
-	Chairman of the National Defence Commission	Kim Jong-ilb
-	President of the Supreme People's Assembly	Kim Yong-namc
-	Premier	Kim Yong-il
Establishment
-	Independence declared	March 1, 1919
-	Liberation	August 15, 1945
-	Formal declaration	September 9, 1948
Area
-	Total	120,540 km² (98th) 46,528 sq mi
-	Water (%)	4. The Flag of North Korea was adopted on September 8 1948 Citation needed, as the national flag and ensign. The National Emblem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea bears the design of a hydroelectric power plant under Mount Paektu and bearing the beaming light A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Aegukka is the name of the national anthem of North Korea. Aegukka (The Patriotic Song is the National anthem of The demographics of North Korea are difficult to assess due to the limited amount of data available from the country Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it The term socialist state (or socialist republic, or workers' state) can carry one of several different (but related meanings In strictly speaking any The position of Eternal President of the Republic (공화국의 영원한 주석 is established by a line in the preface to the North Korean constitution. Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early The National Defence Commission of North Korea (NDC is defined by the 1998 constitution as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born 16 February 1941 Vyatskoye, Soviet Union; official biographies state 16 February 1942 Baekdu The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA is the Unicameral Parliament of North Korea (DPRK Kim Yong-nam (born February 4 1928 is a top North Korean official This is a list of Premiers of North Korea. Kim Il-sung ( 9 September 1948 - 28 December 1972) Not to be confused with Kim Jong-il, the leader of North Korea. The division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea stems from the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending Japan The March First Movement, or Samil Movement, was one of the earliest displays of Korean independence movements during the Japanese occupation of Korea Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Victory over Japan Day ( V-J Day, also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1945 ( MCMXLV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here Surface areas between 100000 km² and 1000000 km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 87
Population
-	2007 estimate	23,301,725[2] (48th)
-	Density	190/km² (55th) 492/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006[3] estimate
-	Total	$40. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 00 billion (91st)
-	Per capita	$1,900 (147th)
Currency		North Korean won (₩) (KPW)
Time zone		Korea Standard Time (UTC+9)
Internet TLD		.kp
Calling code		+850
a Died 1994, named "Eternal President" in 1998. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The wŏn ( sign: ₩; code: KPW) is the currency of North Korea. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Korea Standard Time (KST Korean: ko 한국 표준시 ko 韓國標準時 Han-guk pyojunsi is the standard time zone in North and South Korea and is 9 hours A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E b Kim Jong-il is the nation's most prominent leading figure and government figure head, although he is neither the head of state nor the head of government; his official title is Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, a position which he has held since 1994. Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born 16 February 1941 Vyatskoye, Soviet Union; official biographies state 16 February 1942 Baekdu The National Defence Commission of North Korea (NDC is defined by the 1998 constitution as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters c Kim Yong-nam is the "head of state for foreign affairs". Kim Yong-nam (born February 4 1928 is a top North Korean official Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state

North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK^[4]), a state located in East Asia, in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, with its capital in the city of Pyongyang. A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at.

To the south, separated by the Korean Demilitarized Zone, lies South Korea, with which it formed one nation until division following World War II. The Korean Demilitarized Zone ( Korean: 한반도의 군사 분계선 is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a Buffer South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including At its northern Amnok River border are China and, separated by the Tumen River in the extreme north-east, Russia. The Yalu River ( Chinese) or the Amnok River ( Korean) is a River on the border between China and North Korea. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Tumen or Tuman River is a 521 km-long river that serves as part of the boundary between China, North Korea, and Russia, rising in Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending

North Korea is widely considered to be a Stalinist dictatorship. Stalinism is the political regime named after Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union from 1929–1953 A dictatorship is usually defined as an autocratic Form of government in which the Government is ruled by a Dictator. ^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} The country's government styles itself as following the Juche ideology of self reliance, developed by Kim Il-sung, the country's former leader. The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early The current leader is Kim Jong-il, the late president Kim Il-sung's son. Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born 16 February 1941 Vyatskoye, Soviet Union; official biographies state 16 February 1942 Baekdu Relations are strongest with other officially socialist states, Vietnam, Laos, especially China and Russia, as well as with Cambodia and Myanmar. Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Following a major famine in the early 1990s, due partly to the collapse of the Soviet Union (previously a major economic partner), leader Kim Jong-il instigated the "Military-First" policy in 1995, increasing economic concentration and support for the military. The North Korean famine began in 1995 and peaked in 1997 in North Korea. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Sŏn'gun, often spelled Songun, is North Korea 's “Military First” policy which prioritizes the Korean People's Army in the affairs of state and allocates

North Korea's culture is officially promoted and heavily controlled by the government. The Mass Games are government-organized events glorifying its two leaders, involving over 100,000 performers. Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of Performing arts or Gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance

History

Main article: History of North Korea

See also: History of Korea and Division of Korea

Formation

In the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea, which ended with Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, the Soviet Union accepted the surrender of Japanese forces and controlled the area north of the 38th parallel, with the United States controlling the area south of this parallel. For the history of Korea before its division, see History of Korea. The history of Korea stretches from Lower Paleolithic times to the present The division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea stems from the 1945 Allied victory in World War II, ending Japan Korea under Japanese rule refers to the period between 1910 and 1945 when Korea was forcibly annexed by the Japanese Empire. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The 38th parallel north is a Circle of latitude that is 38 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A circle of latitude, on the Earth, is an imaginary East - West circle connecting all locations (not taking into account elevation that share a given Virtually all Koreans welcomed liberation from Japanese imperial rule, yet objected to the re-imposition of foreign rule upon their country. Korea under Japanese rule refers to the period between 1910 and 1945 when Korea was forcibly annexed by the Japanese Empire. The Soviets and Americans disagreed on the implementation of Joint Trusteeship over Korea, with each establishing its socio-economic system upon its jurisdiction, leading, in 1948, to the establishment of ideologically opposed governments. In Law, jurisdiction (from the Latin ius iuris meaning "law" and dicere meaning "to speak" is the practical Authority ^[11] The United States and the Soviet Union then withdrew their forces from Korea. Growing tensions and border skirmishes between north and south led to the Korean War. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the

On June 25, 1950, the (North) Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel, with the war aim of peninsular reunification under their political system. Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Korean People's Army (short KPA is the Military of North Korea. The war continued until July 27, 1953, when the United Nations Command, the Korean People's Army, and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army signed the Korean War Armistice Agreement. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA ( was the Army deployed by the Chinese government during the Korean War. ^[12] Since that time the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has separated the North and South. The Korean Demilitarized Zone ( Korean: 한반도의 군사 분계선 is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a Buffer

Economic evolution

In the aftermath of the Korean War and throughout the 1960s, the country's state-controlled economy grew at a significant rate. The Economy of North Korea is a centrally planned economy. North Korea's economy remains one of the world's last centrally planned systems It was considered the second most industrialized nation in Asia, after Japan. is a process of social and economic change whereby a human group is transformed from a Pre-industrial society into an industrial one For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. During the 1970s, the expansion of North Korea's economy, with the accompanying rise in living standards, came to an end, and a few decades later went into reverse. The country struggled throughout the 1990s, largely due to the loss of strategic trade arrangements with the USSR,^[13] and strained relations with China following China's normalization with South Korea in 1992. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 ^[14] In addition, North Korea experienced record-breaking floods in 1995 and 1996, followed by several years of equally severe drought, beginning in 1997. A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land a deluge A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply ^[15] This situation, compounded by the existence of only 18 percent arable land^[16] and an inability to import goods necessary to sustain industry,^[17] led to an immense famine and left North Korea in economic shambles. Large numbers of North Koreans illegally entered the People's Republic of China in search of food. Faced with a country in decay, Kim Jong-il adopted a "Military-First" policy to reinforce the regime. Sŏn'gun, often spelled Songun, is North Korea 's “Military First” policy which prioritizes the Korean People's Army in the affairs of state and allocates ^[18]

Although private property is still formally prohibited, the volume of private trade with China grows year by year. The collapse of the system of state allowances has also contributed to the growth of a multi-sector market economy. ^[19] Collapse of large state-owned enterprises released a huge amount of workers who engage in cross-border trade with China.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of North Korea

The Tower of Juche Idea, in Pyongyang. The Politics of North Korea take place within a nominally democratic multi-party framework in practice North Korea functions as a Dominant-party state. The Juche Tower (officially the Tower of Juche Idea) is a Monument in Pyongyang, North Korea. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at.

North Korea is a self-described Juche (self-reliance) state. The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it ^[20] Government is organized as a dictatorship, with a pronounced cult of personality organized around Kim Il-sung (the founder of North Korea and the country's first and only president) and his son and heir, Kim Jong-il. A dictatorship is usually defined as an autocratic Form of government in which the Government is ruled by a Dictator. A cult of personality or personality cult arises when a country's leader uses Mass media to create a heroic public image through unquestioning flattery and praise Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born 16 February 1941 Vyatskoye, Soviet Union; official biographies state 16 February 1942 Baekdu Following Kim Il-sung's death in 1994, he was not replaced but instead received the designation of "Eternal President", and was entombed in the vast Kumsusan Memorial Palace in central Pyongyang. The position of Eternal President of the Republic (공화국의 영원한 주석 is established by a line in the preface to the North Korean constitution. The Kumsusan Memorial Palace, sometimes referred to as the Kim Il-sung Mausoleum, is a large building located northeast of downtown Pyongyang, the capital city of Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at.

Although the active position of president has been abolished in deference to the memory of Kim Il-sung,^[21] the de facto head of state is Kim Jong-il, who is Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea. The National Defence Commission of North Korea (NDC is defined by the 1998 constitution as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters The legislature of North Korea is the Supreme People's Assembly, currently led by President Kim Yong-nam. The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA is the Unicameral Parliament of North Korea (DPRK Kim Yong-nam (born February 4 1928 is a top North Korean official The other senior government figure is Premier Kim Yong-il. This is a list of Premiers of North Korea. Kim Il-sung ( 9 September 1948 - 28 December 1972) Not to be confused with Kim Jong-il, the leader of North Korea.

North Korea is a single-party state. The governing party is the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, a coalition of the Workers' Party of North Korea and two other smaller parties, the North Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party. The Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, formed on July 22 1946 is a North Korean United front led by the Workers' Party of Korea. The Workers Party of North Korea (북조선로동당 ( 1946 – 1949) was a Communist party in North Korea, a predecessor of the current Workers The Chondoist Chongu (or Ch'ŏngu) Party (an approximate translation into English could be "Party of the Young Friends of the Heavenly Way" These parties nominate all candidates for office and hold all seats in the Supreme People's Assembly.

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in North Korea

Multiple international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, accuse North Korea of having one of the worst human rights records of any nation. The human rights record of North Korea is extremely difficult to fully assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country Human rights refers to the "basic Rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a Western based international Non-governmental organization which defines its mission as "to Human Rights Watch is a United States -based international Non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on Human rights. ^[22] North Koreans have been referred to as "some of the world's most brutalized people", due to the severe restrictions placed on their political and economic freedoms. Political freedom is the absence of interference with the sovereignty of an individual by the use of coercion or aggression ^[23] North Korean defectors have testified to the existence of prison and detention camps with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 inmates (about 0. Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people commonly in large groups without trial 85% of the population), and have reported torture, starvation, rape, murder, medical experimentation, forced labour, and forced abortions. Torture, according to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, is "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental is intentionally Starvation (also called inanition) is a severe reduction in Vitamin, Nutrient, and Energy intake and is the most extreme form of Rape, also referred to as Sexual assault, is an Assault by a person involving Sexual intercourse with or Sexual penetration of another person Murder is the unlawful killing of another human person with Malice aforethought, as defined in Common Law countries Unfree labour is a generic or collective term for those work relations especially in modern or early modern history in which people are employed against their will An By comparison, the United States Prison System makes up about 0. Prisons in the United States are operated under strict authority of both the federal and state governments as Incarceration is a Concurrent power 82% of the total US population, however the U. S. also has one of the highest per-capita imprisonment rates in the world. ^[24]

The system changed slightly at the end of 1990s, when population growth became very low. In many cases, where capital punishment was de facto, it was replaced by less severe punishments. Bribery became prevalent throughout the country. For example, just listening to South Korean radio could result in capital punishment. However, many North Koreans wear clothes of South Korean origin, listen to Southern music, watch South Korean videotapes and even receive Southern broadcasts,^[25][26] although they are still prohibited; in most cases punishment is nothing more than a pecuniary fine, and many such problems are normally solved "unofficially", through bribery.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of North Korea

See also: North Korea-United States relations

Since the ceasefire of the Korean War in 1953, the relations between the North Korean government and South Korea, the United States, and Japan have remained tense. The Foreign relations of North Korea are often tense and unpredictable North Korea–United States relations developed primarily during the Korean War, but in recent years have been largely defined by the United States' suspicions regarding A ceasefire (or truce) is a temporary stoppage of a War or any Armed conflict, where each side of the conflict agrees The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Fighting was halted in the ceasefire, but both Koreas are still technically at war. Both North and South Korea signed the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration in 2000, in which both sides made promises to seek out a peaceful reunification. In August 2000 after over 50 years’ separation members of the visiting groups of separated families and relatives in the North and the South had a meeting with separated family members in ^[27] Additionally, on October 4, 2007, the leaders of North and South Korea pledged to hold summit talks to officially declare the war over and reaffirmed the principle of mutual non-aggression. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[28]

In 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush labelled North Korea part of an "axis of evil" and an "outpost of tyranny". The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Definition President Bush's exact statement was as follows second goal is to prevent regimes (terrorist that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and Outposts of tyranny was a term used in 2005 by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and subsequently by others in the U The highest-level contact the government has had with the United States was with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who made a visit to Pyongyang in 2000,^[29] but the two countries do not have formal diplomatic relations. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs Madeleine Korbel Albright (born Marie Jana Korbelová on May 15, 1937) was the first woman to become United States Secretary of State. ^[2] In 2006, approximately 37,000 American soldiers remained in South Korea, with plans to reduce the number to 25,000 by 2008. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː ^[30] Kim Jong-il has privately stated his acceptance of U. Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born 16 February 1941 Vyatskoye, Soviet Union; official biographies state 16 February 1942 Baekdu S. troops on the peninsula, even after a possible reunification. Korean reunification is a possible future Reunification of North Korea and South Korea under a single government ^[31] It is claimed by U. S. sources that if North Korea and the United States normalize relations, both Koreas would wish to maintain the presence of US troops, out of fear of China and Japan, but North Korea strongly denies that and demands the removal of American troops (see North Korea-United States relations). China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. North Korea–United States relations developed primarily during the Korean War, but in recent years have been largely defined by the United States' suspicions regarding ^[31]

North Korea has long maintained close relations with the People's Republic of China and Russia. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The fall of communism in eastern Europe in 1989, and the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, resulted in a devastating drop in aid to North Korea from Russia, although China continues to provide substantial assistance. "Fall of Communism" redirects here For the fall of the Soviet Union itself see History of the Soviet Union (1985–1991. Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 North Korea continues to have strong ties with its socialist southeast Asian allies in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma The Kingdom of Cambodia ( formerly known as Kampuchea (, transliterated: Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea) is a country in South East ^[32] North Korea has started installing a concrete and barbed wire fence on its northern border, in response to China's wishing to curb refugees fleeing from North Korea. The Chinese-Korean Border Fence is a fence constructed on both sides of the 1416-kilometre border shared between China and North Korea. Previously the shared border with China and North Korea had only been lightly patrolled. ^[33]

As a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons program, the Six-party talks were established to find a peaceful solution to the growing unrest between the two Korean governments, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, Japan, and the United States. North Korea claims to possess Nuclear weapons and the CIA asserts that it has a substantial arsenal of Chemical weapons. The six-party talks aim to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns as a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons program.

On July 17, 2007, United Nations inspectors verified the shutdown of five North Korean nuclear facilities, according to the February 2007 agreement. Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[34]

On October 4, 2007, South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il signed an 8-point peace agreement, on issues of permanent peace, high-level talks, economic cooperation, renewal of train, highway and air travel, and a joint Olympic cheering squad. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[35]

Propaganda towards South Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) government officially states on its website ^[36] that the U. S. government controls South Korea, and maintains an army of 40,000 US military personnel there to "avoid the union of the Korean people".

The DPRK also advises that any South Korean attempting to cross into North Korea will be killed by U. S. soldiers. According to the DPRK, any South Korean citizen who talks or reads about North Korea will be punished with incarceration or capital punishment.

This perspective is rejected by the international community at large.

Military

Main article: Korean People's Army

Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea. The Korean People's Army (short KPA is the Military of North Korea. Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born 16 February 1941 Vyatskoye, Soviet Union; official biographies state 16 February 1942 Baekdu Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army is the highest post of command of the Korean People's Army, the army of North Korea and one of the largest standing armies The National Defence Commission of North Korea (NDC is defined by the 1998 constitution as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters The Korean People's Army (KPA) is the name for the collective armed personnel of the North Korean military. The Korean People's Army (short KPA is the Military of North Korea. The army has four branches: Ground Force, Naval Force, Air Force, and the Civil Securities Force. The Korean People's Army Ground Force is the Army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly called North Korea The Korean People's Army Naval Force is the Navy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly called North Korea The Korean People's Air Force (aka North Korean Air Force) is the Air force of North Korea.

According to the U.S. Department of State, North Korea has the fourth-largest military in the world, at an estimated 1. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking 21 million armed personnel, with about 20% of men aged 17-54 in the regular armed forces. ^[37] North Korea has the highest percentage of military personnel per capita of any nation in the world, with approximately 40 enlisted soldiers per 1,000 citizens. ^[38] Military strategy is designed for insertion of agents and sabotage behind enemy lines in wartime,^[37] with much of the KPA's forces deployed along the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone. The Korean Demilitarized Zone ( Korean: 한반도의 군사 분계선 is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a Buffer

Nuclear weapons program

Main article: North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

On October 9, 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. North Korea claims to possess Nuclear weapons and the CIA asserts that it has a substantial arsenal of Chemical weapons. Events 768 - Carloman I and Charlemagne are crowned Kings of The Franks. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The 2006 North Korean nuclear test was the detonation of a nuclear device conducted on October 9, 2006 by the Democratic People's Republic ^[39] The blast was smaller than expected and U. S. officials suggested that it may have been an unsuccessful test or a partially successful fizzle. The energy released from a nuclear weapon detonated in the Troposphere can be divided into four basic categories Blast &mdash40-50% of total energy ^[40] North Korea has previously stated that it has produced nuclear weapons and according to U. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. S. intelligence and military officials it has produced, or has the capability to produce, up to six or seven such devices. Intelligence (also called intellect) is an Umbrella term used to describe a property of the Mind that encompasses many related abilities such as the capacities A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking ^[41]

On March 17, 2007, North Korea told delegates at international nuclear talks it would begin shut down preparations for its main nuclear facility. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. This was later confirmed on 14 July 2007 as International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors observed the initial shut-down phases of the currently operating 5 MW Yongbyon nuclear reactor, despite there being no official time line declared. Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its The Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center is North Korea 's major nuclear facility operating its first Nuclear reactors It is located in the county of In return, the reclusive nation has received 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil shipped from South Korea. Fuel oil is a fraction obtained from Petroleum Distillation, either as a distillate or a residue Once the old small nuclear reactor is permanently shut down, North Korea will receive the equivalent of 950,000 tons of fuel oil when the six-nation talks reconvene. Following breakthrough talks held in September 2007, aimed at hastening the end of North Korea's nuclear program, North Korea was to "disable some part of its nuclear facilities" by the end of 2007, according to the US Assistant Secretary of State.

The details of such an agreement are due to be worked out in a session held in the People's Republic of China which will involve South Korea, China, Russia and Japan. Terms for the agreement have thus far not been disclosed, nor has it been disclosed what offer was made on the United States's part in exchange. The possibility of removing North Korea from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism has been discussed, which imposes a ban on all arms related trade with countries on the list, along with withholding US aid. Should these bans be lifted, the US may help North Koreans following devastating floods in August 2007. Flooding in North Korea in August 2007 caused extensive damage and loss of life

On 25 April 2008 the US released a video of a Syrian Military complex which featured Chon Chibu the nuclear scientist from the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center on a sight-seeing trip of Syria. Chon Chibu is a Nuclear Scientist work works on the DPRK Civilian Nuclear Programme at the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center in DPRK The Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center is North Korea 's major nuclear facility operating its first Nuclear reactors It is located in the county of

Geography

Main article: Geography of North Korea

See also: Korean Peninsula

Map of North Korea

North Korea is on the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula, covering an area of 120,540 square kilometres (46,541 sq mi). North Korea is located in East Asia on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are North Korea shares land borders with China and Russia to the north, and borders South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The Korean Demilitarized Zone ( Korean: 한반도의 군사 분계선 is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a Buffer To its west are the Yellow Sea and Korea Bay, and to its east lies Japan across the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea). The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a Marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. Korea Bay, also called West Korea Bay, is located at the north of the Yellow Sea, between Liaoning Province of China and North P'yŏngan The Sea of Japan is a Marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bordered by Japan, Korea, North Korea and Russia The highest point in North Korea is Paektu-san Mountain at 2,744 metres (9,003 ft). Baekdu Mountain, also known as Changbai Mountain in China, is a volcanic Mountain on the border between China and North Korea The longest river is the Amnok River which flows for 790 kilometres (491 mi). ^[42]

North Korea's climate is relatively temperate, with precipitation heavier in summer during a short rainy season called changma, and winters that can be bitterly cold. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric ^[43] For a week from 7 August 2007 the most devastating floods in 40 years caused the North Korean Government to ask for international help. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Flooding in North Korea in August 2007 caused extensive damage and loss of life NGOs, such as the Red Cross, asked people to raise funds because they feared a humanitarian catastrophe. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an International humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers worldwide who stated ^[44]

The capital and largest city is Pyongyang; other major cities include Kaesong in the south, Sinuiju in the northwest, Wonsan and Hamhung in the east and Chongjin in the northeast. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. Kaesŏng ( Gaeseong) is a city in North Hwanghae Province southern North Korea (DPRK a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Sinŭiju ( Sinŭiju-si) is a city in North Korea, on the border with China and is the capital of North P'yŏngan Province Hamhŭng ( Hamhŭng-si) is North Korea 's second largest city, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province Ch'ŏngjin ( Ch'ŏngjin-si) North Korea's third largest city It is also the capital of the North Hamgyŏng Province in North Korea.

Economy

A satellite photo of the Korean Peninsula at night. The largest northern group of lights, Pyongyang is dwarfed by the massive southern group showing Seoul, illustrating large differences in outdoor illumination between North Korea and its neighbours. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea.

Main article: Economy of North Korea

See also: Tourism in North Korea

In the aftermath of the Korean War and throughout the 1960s and '70s, the country's state-controlled economy grew at a significant rate before collapsing. The Economy of North Korea is a centrally planned economy. North Korea's economy remains one of the world's last centrally planned systems Tourism in North Korea is highly controlled by the government and as such it is not a frequently visited destination — roughly 1500 Western tourists visit North The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the The Economy of North Korea is a centrally planned economy. North Korea's economy remains one of the world's last centrally planned systems State-owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods. The government focuses on heavy military industry, following Kim Jong-il's adoption of the Songun "Military-First" policy. Sŏn'gun, often spelled Songun, is North Korea 's “Military First” policy which prioritizes the Korean People's Army in the affairs of state and allocates Estimates of the North Korean economy cover a broad range, as the country does not release official figures and the secretive nature of the country makes outside estimation difficult. According to accepted estimates, North Korea spends $5 billion out of a gross domestic product (GDP) of $20. 9 billion on the military, compared with South Korea's $24 billion out of a GDP of $1. 196 trillion. Part of the reason for this is that the military serves a number of roles in addition to national defense. The military assists farmers with crops, local areas with building of infrastrucure, and, as is similar to the National Guard in the United States, assisting during natural disasters. ^[45][46]

1990s famine

Main article: North Korean famine

In the 1990s North Korea faced significant economic disruptions, including a series of natural disasters, economic mismanagement, serious fertilizer shortages, and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. The North Korean famine began in 1995 and peaked in 1997 in North Korea. Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant During the Cold War, the term Communist Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) was used to refer to the Soviet Union and countries it either controlled or that were These resulted in a shortfall of staple grain output of more than 1 million tons from what the country needs to meet internationally-accepted minimum dietary requirements. ^[47] The North Korean famine known as "Arduous March" resulted in the deaths of between 300,000 and 800,000 North Koreans per year during the three year famine, peaking in 1997, with 2. The North Korean famine began in 1995 and peaked in 1997 in North Korea. 0 million total being "the highest possible estimate. "^[48] The deaths were most likely caused by famine-related illnesses such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and diarrhea rather than starvation. Pneumonia is an inflammatory illness of the Lung. Frequently it is described as lung Parenchyma / alveolar inflammation and abnormal Tuberculosis (abbreviated as TB for tubercle bacillus or T u' b' erculosis Bacillus --> is a common In Medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences) is frequent loose or liquid Bowel movements Acute diarrhea Starvation (also called inanition) is a severe reduction in Vitamin, Nutrient, and Energy intake and is the most extreme form of ^[48]

In 2006, Amnesty International reported that a national nutrition survey conducted by the North Korean government, the World Food Programme, and UNICEF found that 7 percent of children were severely malnourished; 37 percent were chronically malnourished; 23. Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a Western based international Non-governmental organization which defines its mission as "to The United Nations Children's Fund (or UNICEF) was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946 Malnutrition is a general term for a medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet. 4 percent were underweight; and one in three mothers was malnourished and anaemic as the result of the lingering effect of the famine. Anemia ( AmE) or anæmia/anaemia ( BrE) (from the Ancient Greek grc-Latn anaîmia, meaning “without blood” is defined as a qualitative The inflation caused by some of the 2002 economic reforms, including the Songun or "Military-first" policy, was cited for creating the increased price of basic foods. Sŏn'gun, often spelled Songun, is North Korea 's “Military First” policy which prioritizes the Korean People's Army in the affairs of state and allocates ^[49]

The history of Japanese assistance to North Korea is quite tumultuous; from a large pro-Pyongyang community of North Koreans in Japan to public outrage over the 1998 North Korean missile launch and revelation of the abductions of Japanese citizens. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. ^[50] In June 1995 an agreement was reached that the two countries would act jointly (Snyder1999). ^[51] South Korea would provid 150,000 MT of grain in unmarked bags, and Japan would provide 150,000 MT gratis and another 150,000 MT on concessional terms. ^[52] In October 1995 and January 1996, North Korea again approached Japan for assistance. On these two accasions, which at a crucial moment in the evolution of the famine, opposition from both South Korea and domestic political sources quashed the deals. ^[53] Beginning in 1997, the U. S. began shipping food aid to North Korea through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to combat the famine. Shipments peaked in 1999 at nearly 700,000 tons making the U. S. the largest foreign aid donor to the country at the time. Under the Bush Administration, aid was drastically reduced year after year from 350,000 tons in 2001 to 40,000 in 2004. The Presidency of George W Bush began on his inauguration on January 20, 2001 as the 43rd and current President of the United States of America ^[54] The Bush Administration took criticism for using "food as a weapon" during talks over the North's nuclear weapons program, but insisted the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) criteria were the same for all countries and the situation in North Korea had "improved significantly since its collapse in the mid-1990s. The United States Agency for International Development (or USAID) is the United States federal government organization responsible for most non- military " Agricultural production had increased from about 2. 7 million metric tons in 1997 to 4. 2 million metric tons in 2004. ^[55]

Foreign commerce

Pyongyang Metro. The Pyongyang Metro is a metro system in Pyongyang, North Korea, consisting of two lines

China and South Korea remain the largest donors of unconditional food aid to North Korea. The U. S. objects to this manner of donating food due to lack of oversight. ^[55] In 2005, China and South Korea combined to provide 1 million tons of food aid, each contributing half. ^[56] In addition to food aid, China reportedly provides an estimated 80 to 90 percent of North Korea's oil imports at "friendly prices" that are sharply lower than the world market price. ^[57]

On 19 September 2005, North Korea was promised fuel aid and various other non-food incentives from South Korea, the U. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. S. , Japan, Russia, and China in exchange for abandoning its nuclear weapons program and rejoining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ( NPT or NNPT) is a Treaty to limit the spread Providing food in exchange for abandoning weapons programs has historically been avoided by the U. S. so as not to be perceived as "using food as a weapon". ^[58] Humanitarian aid from North Korea's neighbors has been cut off at times to provoke North Korea to resume boycotted talks, such as South Korea's "postponed consideration" of 500,000 tons of rice for the North in 2006 but the idea of providing food as a clear incentive (as opposed to resuming "general humanitarian aid") has been avoided. ^[59] There have also been aid disruptions due to widespread theft of railroad cars used by mainland China to deliver food relief. A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. ^[60]

In July 2002, North Korea started experimenting with capitalism in the Kaesong Industrial Region. Kaesŏng Industrial Region is a special administrative Industrial region of North Korea. ^[61] A small number of other areas have been designated as Special Administrative Regions, including Sinŭiju along the China-North Korea border. In North and South Korea, Special Cities Metropolitan Cities and Directly Governed Cities are cities that have a status equivalent to that of Provinces Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region was a proposed special administrative region (SAR of North Korea, on the border with China. China and South Korea are the biggest trade partners of North Korea, with trade with China increasing 15% to US$1. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː 6 billion in 2005, and trade with South Korea increasing 50% to over 1 billion for the first time in 2005. ^[58] It is reported that the number of mobile phones in Pyongyang rose from only 3,000 in 2002 to approximately 20,000 during 2004. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. ^[62] As of June 2004, however, mobile phones became forbidden again. ^[63] A small number of capitalistic elements are gradually spreading from the trial area, including a number of advertising billboards along certain highways. Recent visitors have reported that the number of open-air farmers' markets has increased in Kaesong and Pyongyang, as well as along the China-North Korea border, bypassing the food rationing system. Kaesŏng ( Gaeseong) is a city in North Hwanghae Province southern North Korea (DPRK a former Directly Governed City, and the capital of Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at.

In an event in 2003 dubbed the "Pong Su incident", a North Korean cargo ship allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia was seized by Australian officials, strengthening Australian and United States' suspicions that Pyongyang engages in international drug smuggling. The Pong Su incident occurred during April 2003 when members of the Australian Special Operations Command intercepted and boarded the Pong Su, a North The North Korean government denied any involvement. ^[64]

Tourism

Tourism in North Korea is organized by the state owned Tourism Organisation ("Ryohaengsa"). Every group of travelers as well as individual tourist/visitors are permanently accompanied by one or two "guides" who normally speak the mother tongue of the tourist. The whole program is dictated by the guides; any contact with North Koreans is subdued, whenever possible. While tourism has increased over the last few years, tourists from Western countries remain few. The majority of the tourists that do go come from China and Japan. For citizens of the US and South Korea it is practically impossible to obtain a visa for North Korea. Exceptions for US citizens are made for the yearly Arirang Festival. The Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang are held in the Rungnado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the late Communist

In the area of the Kŭmgangsan-mountains, the company Hyundai established and operates a special Tourist area. Hyundai refers to a group of companies and related organizations founded by Chung Ju-yung in South Korea. Traveling to this area, one of the nicest regions on the Korean peninsula, is also possible for South Koreans and US citizens, but only in organized groups from South Korea. ("see also Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region").

Transport

Main articles: Communications in North Korea, Transportation in North Korea, and Tourism in North Korea

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of North Korea

North Korea's population of roughly 23 million is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogeneous in the world, with very small numbers of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, South Korean and European expatriate minorities. Based on the limited information available in the early 1990s about the country's telecommunications network telephone services – an estimated 30000 telephones in 1985 – mainly were available The standard route to and from North Korea is by plane through Beijing, People's Republic of China. Tourism in North Korea is highly controlled by the government and as such it is not a frequently visited destination — roughly 1500 Western tourists visit North The demographics of North Korea are difficult to assess due to the limited amount of data available from the country The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong Japanese people in North Korea consist mainly of four groups of people prisoners-of-war in the Soviet Union, Japanese accompanying repatriating Zainichi Korean The Vietnamese people (người Việt or vi ''người Kinh'' are an Ethnic group originating from what is now northern Vietnam and southern China.

Religion

Main article: Religion in North Korea

Both Koreas share a Buddhist and Confucian heritage and a recent history of Christian and Cheondoism ("religion of the Heavenly Way") movements. Traditionally religion in North Korea primarily consists of Buddhism and Confucianism, and to a lesser extent Christianity and syncretic Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Mahayana Buddhism Korean Confucianism is the form of Confucianism developed in Korea. The practice of Christianity in Korea has a relatively short history but after a difficult beginning it has seen significant growth and success Cheondoism or Chondoism (in Korean Hangul 천도교 Cheondogyo, " Religion of the Heavenly Way" is a 20th-century The North Korean constitution states that freedom of religion is permitted. ^[65] According to Human Rights Watch, free religious activities no longer exist in the DPRK as the government sponsors religious groups only to create an illusion of religious freedom. Human Rights Watch is a United States -based international Non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on Human rights. ^[66] In practical terms all religion in North Korea is superseded by a cult of personality devoted to the deceased ruler Kim Il-Sung and his heir, Kim Jong-Il.

Pyongyang was the centre of Christian activity in Korea before the Korean War. Today, two state-sanctioned churches exist, which freedom of religion advocates say are showcases for foreigners. Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance ^[67][68] Official government statistics report that there are 10,000 Protestants and 4,000 Roman Catholics in North Korea. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. ^[69]

According to a ranking published by Open Doors, an organization that supports persecuted Christians, North Korea is currently the country with the most severe persecution of Christians in the world. Open Doors is a non-denominational Christian mission supporting persecuted Christian believers in countries where Christianity is socially or legally A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth ^[70] Human rights groups such as Amnesty International also have expressed concerns about religious persecution in North Korea. Amnesty International (commonly known as Amnesty or AI) is a Western based international Non-governmental organization which defines its mission as "to ^[71]

According to government's statistics, as of 2000 Cheondoism is the largest organized religion in North Korea, which adherents constitute about 12. Cheondoism or Chondoism (in Korean Hangul 천도교 Cheondogyo, " Religion of the Heavenly Way" is a 20th-century 9% of the total population. ^[72] Cheondoists are followed by Christians (2. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth 1%) and Buddhists (1. A number of noted individuals have been Buddhists. Historical Buddhist thinkers and founders of schools Individuals are grouped by nationality except in cases where the 5%). ^[73] Korean shamanism, an unorganized system of beliefs, is followed by 12. Korean shamanism encompasses a variety of indigenous beliefs and practices that have been influenced by Buddhism and Taoism. 3% of the North Koreans. ^[74]

Language

North Korea shares the Korean language with South Korea. This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː There are dialect differences within both Koreas, but the border between North and South does not represent a major linguistic boundary. While prevalent in the South, the adoption of modern terms from foreign languages has been limited in North Korea. Hanja (Chinese characters) are no longer used in North Korea, although still occasionally used in South Korea. Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated A Chinese character, also known as a Han character ( is a Logogram used in writing Chinese (hanzi Japanese ( Both Koreas share the phonetic writing system called Chosongul in North Korea and Hangul South of the DMZ. The official Romanization differs in the two countries, with North Korea using a slightly modified McCune-Reischauer system, and the South using the Revised Romanization of Korean. In Linguistics, romanization (or latinization, also spelled romanisation or latinisation) is the representation of a Word or McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea.

Culture

Scene from Mass Games in Pyongyang. Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of Performing arts or Gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at.

Main articles: Culture of Korea and Contemporary culture of North Korea

There is a vast cult of personality around Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il and much of North Korea's literature, popular music, theater, and film glorify the two men. This article is about the traditional culture of Korea. For the modern culture see Culture of North Korea and Culture of South Korea This article is about the contemporary culture of North Korea A cult of personality or personality cult arises when a country's leader uses Mass media to create a heroic public image through unquestioning flattery and praise

A popular event in North Korea is the Mass Games. Mass games or mass gymnastics are a form of Performing arts or Gymnastics in which large numbers of performers take part in a highly regimented performance The most recent and largest Mass Games was called "Arirang". The Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance Arirang are held in the Rungnado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the late Communist It was performed six nights a week for two months, and involved over 100,000 performers. Attendees to this event report that the anti-West sentiments have been toned down compared to previous performances. The Mass Games involve performances of dance, gymnastic, and choreographic routines which celebrate the history of North Korea and the Workers' Party Revolution. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic Gymnastics is a Sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength agility and coordination See also, Choreography (literally "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance see chorea) and "γραφή" The Mass Games are held in Pyongyang at various venues (varying according to the scale of the Games in a particular year) including the May Day Stadium.

Culture is officially protected by the North Korean government. Large buildings committed to culture have been built, such as the People's Palace of Culture or the Grand People's Palace of Studies, both in Pyongyang. Outside the capital, there's a major theatre in Hamhung and in every city there are State-run theatres and stadiums. Hamhŭng ( Hamhŭng-si) is North Korea 's second largest city, and the capital of South Hamgyŏng Province

Korean culture came under attack during the Japanese rule from 1910-1945. Korea under Japanese rule refers to the period between 1910 and 1945 when Korea was forcibly annexed by the Japanese Empire. Japan enforced a cultural assimilation policy. A region or society where several different groups are spontaneously assimilated is sometimes referred to as a Melting pot. Koreans were forced to learn and speak Japanese, adopt the Japanese family name system and Shinto religion, and forbidden to write or speak the Korean language in schools, businesses, or public places. is the native religion of Japan and was once its State religion. ^[75] In addition, the Japanese altered or destroyed various Korean monuments including Gyeongbok Palace and documents which portrayed the Japanese in a negative light were revised. Gyeongbok Palace (경복궁 Gyeongbokgung) is a palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. This methodical alteration process was done by the Editing Agency of Korean History.

In July 2004, the Complex of Goguryeo Tombs became the first site in the country to be included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The Complex of Goguryeo Tombs lies in North Korea. In July 2004 it became the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the country United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Administrative divisions of North Korea and Cities of North Korea

See also: Provinces of Korea and Special cities of Korea

North Korea is divided into nine provinces, three special regions, and two directly-governed cities (chikhalsi, 직할시, 直轄市) :

Provinces

Division	Transliteration	Hangul	Hanja
Province
Chagang	Chagang-do	자강도	慈江道
North Hamgyong	Hamgyŏng-pukto	함경북도	咸鏡北道
South Hamgyong	Hamgyŏng-namdo	함경남도	咸鏡南道
North Hwanghae	Hwanghae-pukto	황해북도	黃海北道
South Hwanghae	Hwanghae-namdo	황해남도	黃海南道
Kangwon	Kangwŏndo	강원도	江原道
North Pyongan	P'yŏngan-pukto	평안북도	平安北道
South Pyongan	P'yŏngan-namdo	평안남도	平安南道
Ryanggang *	Ryanggang-do	량강도	兩江道
Special regions
Kaesŏng Industrial Region	Kaesŏng Kong-ŏp Chigu	개성공업지구	開城工業地區
Kumgangsan Tourist Region	Kŭmgangsan Kwangwang Chigu	금강산관광지구	金剛山觀光地區
Sinuiju Special Administrative Region	Sinŭiju T'ŭkpyŏl Haengjŏnggu	신의주특별행정구	新義州特別行政區
Directly-governed cities
Pyongyang	P'yŏngyang Chikhalsi	평양직할시	平壤直轄市
Rason	Rasŏn (Rajin-Sŏnbong) Chikhalsi	라선(라진-선봉) 직할시	羅先(羅津-先鋒) 直轄市

* - Sometimes rendered "Yanggang" (양강도). The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels This article describes the historical evolution of Korea 's Provinces ( Do; Hangul: 도 Hanja: ko 道 In North and South Korea, Special Cities Metropolitan Cities and Directly Governed Cities are cities that have a status equivalent to that of Provinces A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. A special administrative region or SAR may be;People's Republic of China Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, present-day Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated Chagang ( Chagang-do) is an province in North Korea; it is bordered by China on the north Ryanggang and South Hamgyong North Hamgyŏng ( Hamgyŏng-pukto) is a province of North Korea. South Hamgyŏng ( Hamgyŏng-namdo) is a province of North Korea. North Hwanghae ( Hwanghae-pukto) is a province of North Korea. South Hwanghae ( Hwanghae-namdo) is a province of North Korea. Kangwŏn ( Kangwŏn-do) is a province of North Korea, with its capital at Wŏnsan. North P'yŏngan ( P'yŏngan-pukto) is a province of North Korea. South P'yŏngan ( P'yŏngan-namdo) is a province of North Korea. Ryanggang ( Ryanggang-do) is a province in North Korea. The province is bordered by China on the north North Hamgyong on the east Kaesŏng Industrial Region is a special administrative Industrial region of North Korea. Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region was a proposed special administrative region (SAR of North Korea, on the border with China. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. Rasŏn (formerly Rajin-Sŏnbong) is a Directly Governed City in North Korea, which borders with Jilin province of China and Primorsky

Major cities

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Korean War

Notes and references

Further reading

• Jasper Becker, Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea, Oxford University Press (2005) , hardcover, 328 pages, ISBN 13: 9780195170443
• Gordon Cucullu, Separated At Birth: How North Korea Became The Evil Twin, Globe Pequot Press (2004) , hardcover, 307 pages, ISBN 1-59228-591-0
• Bruce Cumings, Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History, W.W. Norton & Company, 1998, paperback, 527 pages, ISBN 0-393-31681-5
• Bruce Cumings, Origins of the Korean War (Vol. W W Norton & Company is an American book publishing company that has remained independent since its founding 1) : Liberation and the Emergence of Separate Regimes 1945-1947, Princeton University Press, 1981, paperback, ISBN 0-691-10113-2
• Bruce Cumings, Origins of the Korean War (Vol. The Princeton University Press is an independent publisher with close connections to Princeton University. 2) : The Roaring of the Cataract 1947-1950, Cornell University Press, 2004, hardcover, ISBN 89-7696-613-9
• Bruce Cumings, North Korea: Another Country, New Press, 2004, paperback, ISBN 1-56584-940-X
• Bruce Cumings, Living Through The Forgotten War: Portrait Of Korea, Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 2004, paperback, ISBN 0-9729704-0-1
• Bruce Cumings, Inventing the Axis of Evil: The Truth About North Korea, Iran, and Syria, New Press, 2006, paperback, ISBN 1-59558-038-7
• Delisle, Guy, Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea, Drawn & Quarterly Books, 2005, hardcover, 176 pages, ISBN 1-896597-89-0
• Nick Eberstadt, aka Nicholas Eberstadt, The End of North Korea, American Enterprise Institute Press (1999) , hardcover, 191 pages, ISBN 0-8447-4087-X
• John Feffer, North Korea South Korea: U. The New Press is a not-for-profit United States -based publishing house that operates in the public interest The New Press is a not-for-profit United States -based publishing house that operates in the public interest S. Policy at a Time of Crisis, Seven Stories Press, 2003, paperback, 197 pages, ISBN 1-58322-603-6
• Ron Goodden, North Korea commentary (August, 2007)
• Michael Harrold, Comrades and Strangers: Behind the Closed Doors of North Korea, Wiley Publishing, 2004, paperback, 432 pages, ISBN 0-470-86976-3
• Helen-Louise Hunter, Kim Il-song's North Korea. Seven Stories Press is an independent Publishing company located in New York City that publishes both cutting-edge works of fiction and a wide array of non-fiction Praeger, 1999. ISBN 0-275-96296-2.
• Kang, Chol-Hwan (2001). The Aquariums of Pyongyang. } The Aquariums of Pyongyang, by Kang Chol-Hwan and Pierre Rigoulot, is an account of the imprisonment of Kang Chol-Hwan and his family in the Yodok Basic Books, 2001. ISBN 0-465-01102-0.  
• Mitchell B. Lerner, The Pueblo Incident: A Spy Ship and the Failure of American Foreign Policy, University Press of Kansas, 2002, hardcover, 408 pages, ISBN 0-7006-1171-1
• Andrei Lankov, 'North of the DMZ: Essays on Daily Life in North Korea , McFarland & Company (April 24, 2007), paperback, 358 pages, ISBN 978-0786428397
• John Feffer, North Korea South Korea: U. S. Policy at a Time of Crisis, Seven Stories Press, 2003, paperback, 197 pages, ISBN 1-58322-603-6
• Oberdorfer, Don. Seven Stories Press is an independent Publishing company located in New York City that publishes both cutting-edge works of fiction and a wide array of non-fiction The two Koreas : a contemporary history. Addison-Wesley, 1997, 472 pages, ISBN 0-201-40927-5
• Kong Dan Oh, and Ralph C. Hassig, North Korea Through the Looking Glass, The Brookings Institution, 2000, paperback, 216 pages, ISBN 0-8157-6435-9
• Osmond, Andrew, High, Minnow Press, 2004, paperback, 216 pages, ISBN 978-0953944828 Includes a fictional account of the creation of a new state of New Korea.
• Quinones, Dr. C. Kenneth, and Joseph Tragert, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding North Korea, Alpha Books, 2004, paperback, 448 pages, ISBN 1-59257-169-7
• Sigal, Leon V. , Disarming Strangers: Nuclear Diplomacy with North Korea, Princeton University Press, 199, 336 pages, ISBN 0-691-05797-4
• Chris Springer, Pyongyang: The Hidden History of the North Korean Capital. The Princeton University Press is an independent publisher with close connections to Princeton University. Saranda Books, 2003. ISBN 963-00-8104-0.
• Vladimir, Cyber North Korea, Byakuya Shobo, 2003, paperback, 223 pages, ISBN 4-89367-881-7
• Norbert Vollertsen, Inside North Korea: Diary of a Mad Place, Encounter Books, 2003, hardcover, 280 pages, ISBN 1-893554-87-2
• Wahn Kihl, Y. (1983) "North Korea in 1983: Transforming "The Hermit Kingdom"?" Asian Survey, Vol. 24, No. 1: pp100-111
• Robert Willoughby, North Korea: The Bradt Travel Guide. Globe Pequot, 2003. ISBN 1-84162-074-2.
• Hyun Hee Kim, "The Tears of My Soul", William Morrow and Company, Inc. , 1993, hardcover, 183 pages, ISBN 0-688-12833-5
• Ducruet, Cesar et Jo, Jin-Cheol (2008) Coastal Cities, Port Activities and Logistic Constraints in a Socialist Developing Country: The Case of North Korea, Transport Reviews, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 1-25: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/462288788-26821155/content~content=a782923580~db=all~tab=content~order=page

Pictorials

• Christian Kracht, Eva Munz, Lukas Nikol, "The Ministry Of Truth. Christian Kracht (born 29 December 1966 in Saanen) is a Swiss writer and journalist Kim Jong Ils North Korea", Feral House, Oct 2007, 132 pages, 88 color photographs, ISBN 978-932595-27-7

External links

• KCNA - Korean Central News Agency, the official news agency of the DPRK
• Naenara - ("My country") DPRK's Official Web Portal run by Korea Computer Company
• North Korea at the Open Directory Project
• Official Website of the DPR Korea
• Official Website of the DPR Korea in Switzerland