Difference between revisions of "North Korea"

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−	'''North Korea''' is the commonly used short form name for the '''Democratic People's Republic of Korea''' (or '''DPRK'''),<ref>Another acronym occasionally used in the media is '''DPRNK''', as for ''Democratic People's Republic of North Korea''.</ref> a [[state]] located in [[East Asia]], in the northern half of the [[Korean Peninsula]], with its capital and largest city being [[Pyongyang]].	+	[[File:North-korea-flag-dprk.jpg|thumb|The flag of North Korea. The star symbolizes [[Communism]], the red for ''revolution'', and the blue for ''peace and sovereignty''.]]
		+	The '''Democratic People’s Republic of Korea''' is a country in East Asia. The country follows a form of left-nationalist ideology called ''[[Juche]]'', or ''self-sufficiency''<ref>[http://juche.v.wol.ne.jp/defaulte.htm International Institute of the Juche Idea]</ref>. North Korea’s claims to control over the entire Korean peninsula are contested by [[South Korea]], a capitalist nation originally ruled by dictator Syngman Rhee<ref>Blum, William. ''Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions since WWII''. Monroe, Maine, Courage Press, p.49-52, 1995/2003.</ref>. From 1950-1953, the two sides fought the [[Korean War]], which failed to result in a decisive victory for either side.
−	To the south, separated by the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]], lies [[South Korea]], with which it formed the [[Korean Empire]] until its [[Korea under Japanese rule|occupation]] and division following [[World War II]]. At its northern [[Yalu River|Amnok River]] border are China and, separated by the [[Tumen River]] in the extreme north-east, Russia.	+	The highest organ of state power in North Korea is the Supreme People’s Assembly. The other bodies are the National Defence Commission, chaired by [[Kim Jong-il]], the Presidium, chaired by Kim Yong-nam, and the cabinet (government ministers), chaired by Choe Yong-rim<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 6, Paragraph I, Articles 87-99, Paragraphs II-IV]</ref>.
−	North Korea is a [[one party state]].<ref>{{cite web	+	==History==
−	|url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/28/wnkorea128.xml	+	North Korea’s fate first diverged from [[South Korea]] in 1945. In that year, the Soviet Army liberated North Korea from [[Japan]]ese colonial occupation<ref>Hasegawa, Tsuyoshi. Racing the Enemy: Stalin, Truman, and the Surrender of Japan, Cambridge, Massachusetts, First Harvard University Press, p.8, 9, 14, 24, 26, 29, 41, 59-60, 63, 71, 73, 76, 78-79, 84, 87, 94, 109, 151, 194-196, 200, 233-234, 252-254, 265-267,270, 273, 275, 296, 328, 2005.</ref> and agreed with the [[United States]] to hold elections for a unified Korean government. However, in 1948 the elections in the South were rigged, installing American puppet<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngman_Rhee Syngman Rhee]</ref> [[Syngman Rhee]]. The North declined to participate, and held separate elections in won by the [[Korean Workers' Party]] and [[Kim Il-sung]].
−	|title = North Korea power struggle looms	+	[[File:342px-Kimilsung.jpg|thumb|Kim ll Sung, founder of the DPRK.]]
−	|accessdate = 2007-10-31	+
−	|last = Spencer	+
−	|first = Richard	+
−	|authorlink = Richard Spencer (journalist)	+
−	|date = 2007-08-28	+
−	|work = The Telegraph (online version of UK national newspaper)	+
−	|quote = A power struggle to succeed Kim Jong-il as leader of North Korea's Stalinist dictatorship may be looming after his eldest son was reported to have returned from semi-voluntary exile.	+
−	}}</ref><ref>{{cite web	+
−	|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/international/asia/02CND-KORE.html?ex=1380513600&en=a29d7f1e49aabee0&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND	+
−	|title = North Korea Says It Is Using Plutonium to Make A-Bombs	+
−	|accessdate = 2007-10-31	+
−	|last = Brooke	+
−	|first = James	+
−	|authorlink = James Brooke (journalist)	+
−	|date = 2003-10-02	+
−	|work = The New York Times (online version of New York, United States newspaper)	+
−	|quote = North Korea, run by a Stalinist dictatorship for almost six decades, is largely closed to foreign reporters and it is impossible to independently check today's claims.	+
−	}}</ref><ref>{{cite web	+
−	|url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2388356.ece	+
−	|title = North Korea's nuclear 'deal' leaves Japan feeling nervous	+
−	|accessdate = 2007-10-31	+
−	|last = Parry	+
−	|first = Richard Lloyd	+
−	|authorlink = Richard Lloyd Parry	+
−	|date = 2007-09-05	+
−	|work = The Times (online version of UK's national newspaper of record)	+
−	|quote = The US Government contradicted earlier North Korean claims that it had agreed to remove the Stalinist dictatorship’s designation as a terrorist state and to lift economic sanctions, as part of talks aimed at disarming Pyongyang of its nuclear weapons.	+
−	}}</ref><ref>{{cite web	+
−	|url = http://socialistworld.net/eng/2003/02/08korea.html	+
−	|title = The Korean crisis	+
−	|accessdate = 2007-10-31	+
−	|last = Walsh	+
−	|first = Lynn	+
−	|authorlink = Lynn Walsh	+
−	|date = 2003-02-08	+
−	|work = CWI online: Socialism Today, February 2003 edition, journal of the Socialist Party, CWI England and Wales	+
−	|publisher = socialistworld.net, website of the committee for a worker’s international	+
−	|quote = Kim Jong-il's regime needs economic concessions to avoid collapse, and just as crucially needs an end to the strategic siege imposed by the US since the end of the Korean war (1950-53). Pyongyang's nuclear brinkmanship, though potentially dangerous, is driven by fear rather than by militaristic ambition. The rotten Stalinist dictatorship faces the prospect of an implosion. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, which deprived North Korea of vital economic support, the regime has consistently attempted to secure from the US a non-aggression pact, recognition of its sovereignty, and economic assistance. The US's equally consistent refusal to enter into direct negotiations with North Korea, effectively ruling out a peace treaty to formally close the 1950-53 Korean war, has encouraged the regime to resort to nuclear blackmail.	+
−	}}</ref><ref>{{cite web	+
−	|url = http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=333&Itemid=106	+
−	|title = US is threat to peace not North Korea	+
−	|accessdate = 2007-10-31	+
−	|last = Oakley	+
−	|first = Corey	+
−	|authorlink = Corey Oakley	+
−	|year = 2006	+
−	|month = October	+
−	|work = Edition 109 - October-November 2006	+
−	|publisher = Socialist Alternative website in Australia	+
−	|quote = In this context, the constant attempts by the Western press to paint Kim Jong Il as simply a raving lunatic look, well, mad. There is no denying that the regime he presides over is a nasty Stalinist dictatorship that brutally oppresses its own population. But in the face of constant threats from the US, Pyongyang's actions have a definite rationality from the regime's point of view.	+
−	}}</ref><ref>{{cite web	+
−	|url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Let_The_Music_Play_On/articleshow/2859521.cms	+
−	|title = Leader Article: Let The Music Play On	+
−	|accessdate = 2008-03-27	+
−	|last = Baruma	+
−	|first = Ian	+
−	|authorlink =	+
−	|date =	+
−	|work = The Times of India	+
−	|quote = North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is one of the world's most oppressive, closed, and vicious dictatorships. It is perhaps the last living example of pure totalitarianism - control of the state over every aspect of human life. Is such a place the right venue for a western orchestra? Can one imagine the New York Philharmonic, which performed to great acclaim in Pyongyang, entertaining Stalin or Hitler?	+
−	}}</ref> 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 current leader is [[Kim Jong-il]], the late president Kim Il-sung's son. Relations are strongest with other officially [[socialist]] states: [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], and especially [[People's Republic of China|China]], as well as with [[Russia]], [[Cambodia]] and [[Myanmar]]. Following a [[North Korean famine|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 [[Songun|"Military-First" policy]] in 1995, increasing economic concentration and support for the military.	+
−	==Geography==	+	Meanwhile, in South Korea, Syngman Rhee’s dictatorship was characterized by immense repressions, actively aided by American forces under Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge<ref>Blum, William. ''Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions since WWII''. Monroe, Maine, Courage Press, p.49-52, 1995/2003.</ref>. For example, in April 1948 Syngman Rhee’s forces laid waste to Jeju Island as a punishment for an anti-government demonstration, killing 60,000 islanders<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/2000/06/18/ghosts-of-cheju.html NewsWeek]</ref>. Outraged, massive guerrilla resistance movements were founded across South Korea, under the leadership of the Workers' Party of South Korea’s Pak Hon-yong. Watching all this with concern were the North Koreans, who intervened in support of Pak’s guerrillas in 1950, beginning the Korean War.
−	North Korea occupies the northern portion of the [[Korean Peninsula]], covering an area of {{convert|120540|km2|sqmi|0}} (roughly the size of the American state [[Pennsylvania]]). North Korea shares land borders with China and Russia to the north, and borders South Korea along the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]]. 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 highest point in North Korea is [[Paektu-san Mountain]] at {{convert|2744|m|ft|0}}. The longest river is the Amnok River which flows for {{convert|790|km|mi|0}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koreanhistoryproject.org/Jta/Kr/KrGEO0.htm |title=Korea Geography |accessdate=2007-08-01 |author=Caraway, Bill |year=2007 |work=The Korean History Project }}</ref>	+
−	North Korea's [[climate]] is relatively [[temperate]], with [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] heavier in summer during a short rainy season called ''changma'', and winters that can be bitterly cold.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/north-korea/21.htm |title=North Korea - Climate |accessdate=2007-08-01 |author=[[Federal Research Division]] of the US [[Library of Congress]] |year=2007 |work=Country Studies }}</ref>	+	The demoralized and under-equipped South Korean army was swiftly defeated, and the survivors were penned into a small pocket around Pusan<ref>Andrei Lankov (2010-01-31) http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2010/02/113_60003.html January 1951: Life of Korean War Refugees in Busan [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Korea_Times The Korea Times]</ref>. However, the [[Soviet]]s were at that time boycotting the United Nations security council in protest over the continued presence of Chiang Kai-shek’s dictatorship, which allowed the Western powers to pass a resolution to support the Syngman Rhee regime by military force<ref>Goncharov, Sergei N, Lewis, John W, and Xue Litai. ''Uncertain Partners: Stalin, Mao, and the Korean War''. Stanford, California, Stanford University Press, p.161, 1993.</ref>.
−	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.	+	Badly outnumbered, the North Koreans now strategically retreated to the Chinese border, the Communist government of which intervened in support of North Korea beginning on October 25<sup>th</sup>, 1950<ref>Goncharov, Sergei N, Lewis, John W, and Xue Litai. ''Uncertain Partners: Stalin, Mao, and the Korean War''. Stanford, California, Stanford University Press, p.199, 1993.</ref>. The forces supporting Syngman Rhee then retreated back to the border, and eventually peace was agreed in 1953.
−	==Government and politics==	+	Kim Il-sung now set about making North Korea a major industrial power out of the ruins of war, and through the use of economic planning<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.htmlSocialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 2, Article 34]</ref> created an advanced, industrial economy. In fact, the North Korean economy was comparable or larger by per capita GDP until the 1970s and 1980s<ref>[http://www.ggdc.net/maddison/Historical_Statistics/horizontal-file_03-2007.xls Historical Statistics]</ref>, and this was based more on industry than South Korea’s largely agrarian economy at the time.
−	North Korea is a self-described ''[[Juche]]'' (self-reliance) state.<ref>{{cite web	+
−	|url = http://www.korea-dpr.com/faq.htm#18	+
−	|title = 18. Is North Korea a 'Stalinist' state?	+
−	|accessdate = 2007-10-31	+
−	|last =	+
−	|first =	+
−	|authorlink =	+
−	|date = 2005-05-05	+
−	|work = DPRK FAQ; Document approved by Zo Sun Il	+
−	|publisher = Official Webpages of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	+
−	|	+
−	}}</ref> 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]]. Following Kim Il-sung's death in 1994, he was not replaced but instead received the designation of "[[Eternal President of the Republic|Eternal President]]", and was entombed in the vast [[Kumsusan Memorial Palace]] in central [[Pyongyang]].	+
−	Although the active position of president has been abolished in deference to the memory of Kim Il-sung,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/061st_issue/98091708.htm |title=DPRK's Socialist Constitution (Full Text) |accessdate=2007-08-01 |author=10th [[Supreme People's Assembly]]. |date=1998-09-15 |work=The People's Korea }}</ref> the [[de facto]] head of state is Kim Jong-il, who is [[Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea]]. The legislature of North Korea is the [[Supreme People's Assembly]], currently led by President [[Kim Yong-nam]]. The other senior government figure is [[List of Premiers of North Korea|Premier]] [[Kim Yong-il]].	+	However, with the fall of the [[Soviet Union]] (which left North Korea almost isolated), and because of western economic sanctions, North Korea has been prevented from exporting these industrial products in exchange for foodstuffs, as was the previous system. This has caused poverty amongst the North Korean people.
−	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 Korea]] and two other smaller parties, the [[Korean Social Democratic Party]] and the [[Chondoist Chongu Party]]. These parties nominate all candidates for office and hold all seats in the Supreme People's Assembly.	+	In 1994, Kim Il-sung died, and was made ''Honorary President''. Power was divided between the three agencies of government, under the guidance of the Supreme People’s Assembly<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 1, Paragraph I, Articles 87-99, Paragraphs II-IV]</ref>. In particular, though, Kim-Jong il is believed to govern the country. From this time until 2008, North and South Korea lived in relative peace, with a democratic government taking power in the South for the first time. However, in 2008 South Korea saw the return of dictatorial capitalism with Lee Myung-bak.<ref>[http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2008/05/137_23934.html Korea Times]</ref><ref>[http://kctu.org/?mid=ActionAlerts&page=2&document_srl=267 KCTU News]</ref> Since then, North Korea has returned to a policy of [[Juche]] isolation.
−	==Foreign relations==	+	==Government==
−	Since the [[ceasefire]] of the [[Korean War]] in 1953, the relations between the North Korean government and South Korea, [[European Union]], Canada, the United States, and Japan have remained tense. 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kcckp.net/en/one/nation.php?1+joint |title=North-South Joint Declaration |accessdate=2007-08-01 |date=2000-06-15 |work=[[Naenara]] }}</ref> 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.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKSEO16392220071004 |title=Factbox - North, South Korea pledge peace, prosperity |accessdate=2007-10-04 |author=Reuters }}</ref>	+	[[File:Flag_of_the_Workers'_Party_of_Korea.png|thumb|Flag of the Workers Party of Korea.]]
		+	The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is based on a legislative branch, specifically the Supreme People’s Assembly. This body has vast authority, similar to other Parliaments, such as electing people to posts in the courts and the executive branches of government. It is elected every five years by “universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot”<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 6, Paragraph I, Articles 89-90]</ref>. In addition to the Supreme People’s Assembly deputies, there is also an SPA Presidium, the “upper house” of the Assembly.&nbsp
		+	The Supreme People’s Assembly also appoints a cabinet, a council of ministers, which is in charge of directing many economic matter, and reporting to the SPA on the rest. The cabinet also is empowered to direct commissions, among other things.
−	The highest-level contact the government has had with the United States was with [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Madeleine Albright]], who made a visit to Pyongyang in 2000,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/albright.html |title=Interview - Madeleine Albright |accessdate=2007-08-11 |author=Bury, Chris |month=November | year=2000 |work=[[Nightline (US news program)|Nightline]] [[Frontline (US TV series)|Frontline]], on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]].org }}</ref> but the two countries do not have formal diplomatic relations.<ref name="cia" /> By 2006, approximately 37,000 American soldiers remained in South Korea, with plans to reduce the number to 25,000 by 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200501/13/eng20050113_170566.html |title=S. Korea to cut 40,000 troops by 2008 |accessdate=2007-08-01 |author=Xinhua |date=2005-01-13 |work=[[People's Daily]] Online}}</ref> [[Kim Jong-il]] has privately stated his acceptance of U.S. troops on the peninsula, even after a possible [[Korean reunification|reunification]].<ref name="wpost">{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/07/27/DI2005072701759.html |title=North Korea: Six-Party Talks Continue |accessdate=2007-08-01 |author=Oberdorfer, Don |date=2005-07-28 |work=[[The Washington Post]] Online }}</ref> Publicly, North Korea strongly demands the removal of American troops from Korea (see [[North Korea-United States relations]]).<ref name="wpost"/>	+	Finally, the last major body of the government is the National Defence Commission, which is charged with organizing the military to defend North Korea from external threat<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 6, Paragraph I, Articles 87-99, Paragraphs II-IV]</ref>.
−	North Korea has long maintained close relations with the People's Republic of China and Russia. The [[Revolutions of 1989|fall of communism]] in [[eastern Europe]] in 1989, and the disintegration of the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Union]] in 1991, resulted in a devastating drop in aid to North Korea from Russia, although China continues to provide substantial assistance. North Korea continues to have strong ties with its [[Socialism|socialist]] [[southeast Asia]]n allies in [[Vietnam]], [[Laos]], and [[Cambodia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/165th_issue/2001072510.htm |title=Kim Yong Nam Visits 3 ASEAN Nations To Strengthen Traditional Ties |accessdate=2007-08-01 |year=2001 |work=The People's Korea }}</ref>	+	By far, the largest political party in North Korea is the [[Korean Workers' Party]]. Other parties, however, do exist, including the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/north-korea/63.htm CountryStudies.us]</ref>. Neither is repressed by the North Korean government.
−	North Korea has started installing a [[Chinese-Korean Border Fence|concrete and barbed wire fence]] on its northern border, in response to China's wishing to curb refugees fleeing from North Korea. Previously the shared border with China and North Korea had only been lightly patrolled.<ref>[http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5084232.html Report: N. Korea building fence to keep people in]</ref>	+
−	As a result of the [[North Korea and weapons of mass destruction|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.	+	===Foreign relations===
		+	North Korea has long maintained close relations with the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Russia]]. 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. North Korea continues to have strong ties with its [[socialist]] southeast Asian allies in [[Vietnam]] and [[Laos]], as well as with [[Cambodia]]<ref>[http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/165th_issue/2001072510.htm "Kim Yong Nam Visits 3 ASEAN Nations To Strengthen Traditional Ties"]. ''The People's Korea''. 2001. Retrieved 2007-08-01.</ref>.
−	On July 17, 2007, United Nations inspectors verified the shutdown of five North Korean nuclear facilities, according to the February 2007 agreement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/07/18/nkorea.iaea/index.html |title=U.N. verifies closure of North Korean nuclear facilities |accessdate=2007-07-18 |author=CNN }}</ref>	+	===Military===
		+	[[File:277.jpg|thumb|A couple of North Korean soldiers enjoying a break while patrolling the border.]]
		+	The continued threat of capitalist encirclement and siege has forced North Korea to maintain a large, well-equipped army. Additionally, in 2006, North Korea developed [[nuclear weapon]]s, and may now possess a nuclear deterrent of six to eight deployable warheads.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8098484.stm BBC News]</ref> However, they have sworn an oath to not use them unless someone has nuked them first, therefore they can use it for only nuclear self-defense.
−	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.<ref name=autogenerated3 />	+	[[File:549px-800px-JointSecurityAreaNorthKoreans.jpg|thumb|North Korean Soldiers looking at the South side of the DMZ]]
		+	North Korea has the largest percentage of citizens enlisted on the military (49.03 active troops per thousand citizens). North Korea has an estimation of 1.08 million armed personnel, compared with about 686,000 South Korean troops (and 3.5 million paramilitary forces) plus 29,000 US troops in South Korea.<ref> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_troops#IISS2010 IISS 2010], pp. 319–321</ref>
−	==Military==	+	==Social Services==
−	[[Kim Jong-un]] is the [[Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army]]. The [[Korean People's Army]] (KPA) is the name for the collective armed personnel of the North Korean military. The army has four branches: [[North Korean Ground Force|Ground Force]], [[Korean People's Army Navy|Naval Force]], [[Korean People's Army Air Force|Air Force]], and the [[North Korean Civil Securities Force|Civil Securities Force]].	+	The North Korean government offers a variety of social services, free to all North Korean people.
−	North Korea has the fourth-largest [[military]] in the world, at an estimated 1.21 million armed personnel, with about 20% of men aged 17-54 in the regular armed forces.<ref name="bgn">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm |title=Background Note: North Korea |accessdate=2007-08-01 |author=[[Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs]] |month=April | year=2007 |work=[[United States Department of State]] }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mil_arm_per_percap-military-army-personnel-per-capita |title=Army personnel (per capita) by country |accessdate=2007-08-01 |year=2007 |work=NationMaster }}</ref> Military strategy is designed for insertion of agents and sabotage behind enemy lines in wartime,<ref name="bgn" /> with much of the KPA's forces deployed along the heavily fortified [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]].	+	===Education===
		+	North Korea’s [[education]] system is government-paid and accessible for all<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+kp0055 Library of Congress]</ref>, in contrast to the heavily privatized, tutoring-based system in South Korea. North Korea’s literacy rate is very high, at 99%<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html#Econ CIA World Factbook]</ref>. This is [[File:727px-800px-Mangyondae Schoolchildrens Palace in Pyongyang 04.jpg|thumb|A schoolgirl at the Mangyondae Schoolchildrens Palace in Pyongyang. ]]identical for both North Korean men and women, and is tied for tenth-highest on Earth<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html?countryName=Korea,North&countryCode=kn®ionCode=eas&#kn CIA World Factbook]</ref>.
−	==Economy==	+	The education system is divided into primary and secondary education, much like most other countries, but with the addition of “social education”. This term includes a broad range of extracurricular activities, such as visiting “schoolchildren’s palaces”, with everything from theatres to academic debates<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/322222/North-Korea/34939/Education Encyclopedia Britannica]</ref>.
−	While North Korea is more developed than most [[African]] and [[South Asian]] nations with a Medium [[List of countries by Human Development Index|HDI]] of 0.766 and a [[GDP per capita]] standing at about $2,000, its strong isolation policy means that international trade is highly restricted, hampering a significant potential for future [[economic growth]]. North Korea's large economic potential can be seen when compared with its neighbour, South Korea, who has adopted a [[Capitalism|capitalist]] economy and is now a major [[G20 industrial nations|economic power]] and a highly [[developed country]] in the world. In the aftermath of the [[Korean War]] and throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, the country's state-controlled economy grew at a significant rate before collapsing. 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.	+
−	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.	+	North Korea also has a post-secondary education system, with traditional university and college campuses, as well as specialized technical schools. In October 2010, the North Koreans completed the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology<ref>http://pust.kr/</ref>.
−	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 infrastructure, and, as is similar to the National Guard in the United States, assisting during natural disasters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.icons.umd.edu/reslib/country.output_country_page?simnum=&name=&v_country_id=94#statistics |title=Research Library: Korea, South |accessdate=2007-08-01 |date=2007-05-29 |work=ICONS Project }}</ref><ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html#Econ CIA - The World Factbook - Korea, South]</ref>	+	===Health Care===
		+	The North Korean government provides universal health care to all citizens. In fact, the World Health Organization has described North Korea’s health care system as “the envy of the developing world”, and described those who said otherwise as having “no science” <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10665964 BBC]</ref>. The World Health Organization did note, however, the lack of medicines in the country, possibly related to the economic sanctions.
−	===Foreign commerce===	+	===Welfare===
−	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.<ref name="assistance"/> In 2005, China and South Korea combined to provide 1 million tons of food aid, each contributing half.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/10/10/nkorea14381.htm |title=North Korea: Ending Food Aid Would Deepen Hunger |accessdate=2007-08-02 |date=2006-10-11 |work=[[Human Rights Watch]] }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/10/26/200610260049.asp |title=China's N.K. policy unlikely to change |accessdate=2007-08-02 |author=Nam, Sung-wook |date=2006-10-26 |work=The [[Korea Herald]] }}</ref>	+	North Korea offers free food donatives to all the people who are unable to afford it<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/North_Korea.pdf Library of Congress]</ref>. It also provides housing and clothing<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 2, Article 25]</ref>.
−	On September 19, 2005, North Korea was promised fuel aid and various other non-food incentives from South Korea, the U.S., Japan, Russia, and China in exchange for abandoning its nuclear weapons program and rejoining the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]]. 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".<ref name="cankor">{{cite web |url=http://www.cankor.ca/issues/220.htm |title=Fourth round of Six-Party Talks |accessdate=2007-08-01 |date=2005-09-27 |work=CanKor, on Korean Peace and Security }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/13/AR2006071300751.html |title=S. Korea Suspends Food Aid to North |accessdate=2007-08-02 |author=Faiola, Anthony |date=2006-07-14 |work=[[Washington Post]] }}</ref> There have also been aid disruptions due to widespread theft of [[locomotive|railroad cars]] used by mainland China to deliver food relief.<ref name="FT">{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bfc9a8a8-7d9c-11dc-9f47-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 |title=China halts rail freight to North Korea|accessdate=2007-10-18 |date=2007-10-18 |work=Financial Times}}</ref>	+	==Geography and Climate==
−	[[Image:MetroPyongyang.jpg|thumb|right|[[Pyongyang Metro]].]]	+	[[File:570px-Bdsan.jpg|thumb|Baekdu Mountain]]
−	In July 2002, North Korea started experimenting with capitalism in the [[Kaesong Industrial Region]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9407E0D91239F936A1575AC0A9649C8B63 |title=North Korea to Let Capitalism Loose in Investment Zone |accessdate=2007-08-02 |author=French, Howard W. |date=2002-09-25 |work=[[The New York Times]] }}</ref> A small number of other areas have been designated as [[Special cities of Korea#North Korea|Special Administrative Regions]], including [[SinÅ­iju Special Administrative Region|SinÅ­iju]] along the China-North Korea border. China and South Korea are the biggest trade partners of North Korea, with trade with China increasing 15% to US$1.6 billion in 2005, and trade with South Korea increasing 50% to over 1 billion for the first time in 2005.<ref name="cankor" /> It is reported that the number of mobile phones in [[Pyongyang]] rose from only 3,000 in 2002 to approximately 20,000 during 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=5145 |title=Chinese Cell Phone Breaches North Korean Hermit Kingdom |accessdate=2007-08-02 |author=MacKinnon, Rebecca |date=2005-01-17 |work=Yale Global Online }}</ref> As of June 2004, however, mobile phones became forbidden again.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/04/1086203598828.html |title=North Korea recalls mobile phones |accessdate=2007-08-02 |date=2004-06-04 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] }}</ref> 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.	+	North Korea is a mountainous country, formed by the activity of the Pacific Rim of Fire. The natural beauty of the country hides the truth, though, that only 18% of the surface area is arable (farm-able) land.
−	===Tourism===	+	North Korea’s highest point is Baekdu Mountain, at 2,744 metres. This volcano is famous for the caldera lake at the summit.
−	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.  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]].	+
−	In the area of the [[KÅ­mgangsan]]-mountains, the company [[Hyundai]] established and operates a special Tourist area. 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. A special administrative region known as the [[KÅ­mgangsan Tourist Region]] exists for this purpose.	+	North Korea’s climate is a temperate, and it includes a summer monsoon.
−	==Demographics==	+	==Demographics and Transportation==
−	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 people|Chinese]], [[Japanese people in North Korea|Japanese]], [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]], South Korean and European expatriate minorities.	+	As of 2010, North Korea has a population of 23,991,000<ref>[http://esa.un.org/UNPP/p2k0data.asp UN: Development]</ref>. They are spread out in the lowlands, in both rural communities and large cities. For example, the capital city of Pyongyang had a population of 3,255,388. Few people live in the more mountainous areas in the eastern part of the country. North Korea has a relatively sustainable population growth rate, just 0.34%.
	===Religion===		===Religion===
−	{{bar box	+	North Korea is a governed by an political party which supports rational, scientific thought, but this view is not imposed on the population. Although 64.4% of North Koreans are [[atheism|not religious]], a number are, including 16.0% who practice shamanism, 13.5% who practice Cheondoism, and 4.5% who practice [[Buddhism]], among others<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071013201130/http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=37 Religious Intelligence]</ref>.
−	|title=Religion in North Korea	+
−	|titlebar=#ddd	+
−	|left1=religion	+
−	|right1=percent	+
−	|float=right	+
−	|bars=	+
−	{{bar percent|[[Atheist]]|gray|71.2}}	+
−	{{bar percent|[[Cheondoism]]|violet|12.9}}	+
−	{{bar percent|[[Korean shamanism]]|purple|12.3}}	+
−	{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|blue|2.1}}	+
−	{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|orange|1.5}}	+
−	}}	+
−	{{main|Religion in North Korea}}	+
−	Both Koreas share a [[Korean Buddhism|Buddhist]] and [[Korean Confucianism|Confucian]] heritage and a recent history of [[Christianity in Korea|Christian]] and [[Cheondoism]] ("religion of the Heavenly Way") movements. The North Korean constitution states that freedom of religion is permitted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/061st_issue/98091708.htm |title=Chapter 5, Article 68 of the DPRK constitution}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/08/nkorea9040.htm |title=Human Rights in North Korea |accessdate=2007-08-02 |month=July | year=2004 |work=[[Human Rights Watch]] }}</ref>	+
−	Pyongyang was the centre of Christian activity in Korea before the Korean War. Today, four state-sanctioned churches exist, which [[freedom of religion]] advocates say are showcases for foreigners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nautilus.org/fora/security/0434A_ReligionI.html |title=Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom |accessdate=2007-08-02 |author=[[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] |date=2004-09-21 |work=Nautilus Institute }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4431321.stm |title=N Korea stages Mass for Pope |accessdate=2007-08-02 |date=2005-04-10 |work=[[BBC News]] }}</ref> Official government statistics report that there are 10,000 [[Protestantism|Protestants]] and 4,000 [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] in North Korea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asia.msu.edu/eastasia/NorthKorea/religion.html |title=North Korean Religion |accessdate=2007-08-02 |work=Windows on Asia }}</ref>	+	===Transportation===
		+	North Korea’s transportation networks are large and well-organized blend of systems. Railways and subways occupy a prominent role, the latter mainly in Pyongyang. The Pyongyang Metro has a high ridership rate, about [[File:545px-800px-Sunan International Airport, Pyongyang, North Korea.jpg|thumb|The Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang.]]700,000<ref name=Transcript>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0805/11/siu.01.html Transcripts.CNN]</ref>, and it has two lines, totalling about 22 km in length. The architecture of the subway stations is often considered to be quite spectacular<ref name=Transcript/>. The railways are more utilitarian, but possess 5200 km of track, or 43.1 metres per square kilometre. For comparison, the United States has just 8.23 metres of highway for every square kilometre.
−	According to a ranking published by [[Open Doors]], an organization that supports persecuted [[Christian]]s, North Korea is currently the country with the most severe persecution of Christians in the world.<ref>[http://sb.od.org/index.php?supp_page=wwl_top_ten&supp_lang=en Open Doors International : WWL: Focus on the Top Ten<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Human rights groups such as [[Amnesty International]] also have expressed concerns about religious persecution in North Korea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.amnesty.org/web/ar2002.nsf/asa/democratic+people's+republic+of+korea |title=Korea Report 2002 |accessdate=2007-08-02 |year=2001 |work=[[Amnesty International]] }}</ref>	+	North Korea also possesses a road network, which includes three major highways. In addition to privately owned vehicles, the government operates a fleet of electric buses and trams<ref>[http://www.pyongyang-metro.com/metrotrams.html The Pyongyang Metro]</ref>.
−	According to government's statistics, as of 2000 [[Cheondoism]] is the largest organized religion in North Korea, which adherents constitute about 12.9% of the total population.<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Korea_North.htm |title=Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) |publisher=worldstatesmen.org |accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref> Cheondoists are followed by [[Christians]] (2.1%) and [[Buddhists]] (1.5%).<ref name=autogenerated4 /> [[Korean shamanism]], an unorganized system of beliefs, is followed by 12.3% of the North Koreans.<ref name=autogenerated4 />	+	North Korea also makes use of air travel, through state airline Air Koryo, and water transport, with 167 ships of more than 1000 tonnes. Air Koryo presently operates 59 aircraft, and is hoping to acquire new Ilyushin Il-96 and Tupolev Tu-204 jetliners, as well as lighter Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jets.
−	===Language===	+	==Economy==
−	North Korea shares the [[Korean language]] with South Korea. 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 character]]s) are no longer used in North Korea, although still occasionally used in South Korea. 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]].	+	North Korea is a planned economy<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 2, Article 34]</ref> with GDP growth of 3.7% in 2009<ref>[http://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/06/123_47603.html Korea Times]</ref>. The economy remains based on [[File:1257220805.jpg|thumb|North Korean farmers working in a rice farm. ]]industry, accounting for 43.1% of the economy<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html CIA World Factbook]</ref>, followed by the services/ retail sector.
−		+
−	==Culture==	+
−		+
−	A popular event in North Korea is the [[Mass games|Mass Games]]. The most recent and largest Mass Games was called "[[Arirang Festival|Arirang]]". 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]], [[gymnastics|gymnastic]], and [[choreography|choreographic]] routines which celebrate the history of North Korea and the Workers' Party Revolution. 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.	+
−		+
−	Korean culture came under attack during the [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese rule]] from 1910-1945. Japan enforced a [[cultural assimilation]] policy. 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.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/kptoc.html | chapter=The Rise of Korean Nationalism and Communism | first=Bruce G. | last=Cumings | title=A Country Study: North Korea | publisher=Library of Congress | id=Call number DS932 .N662 1994}}</ref> In addition, the Japanese altered or destroyed various Korean monuments including [[Gyeongbokgung|Gyeongbok Palace]] and documents which portrayed the Japanese in a negative light were revised.	+
−		+
−	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 Site]]s.	+
−		+
−	In February 2008, The [[New York Philharmonic Orchestra]] became the first US musical group ever to perform in North Korea.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/26/nyphilharmonic.nkorea/index.html |title=Americans in Pyongyang Perform |accessdate=2008-02-26 |author=CNN }}</ref>	+
−		+
−	==Administrative divisions==	+
−	{{main|Administrative divisions of North Korea|Cities of North Korea}}	+
−	{{seealso|Provinces of Korea|Special cities of Korea}}	+
−	[[Image:Provinces of North Korea.PNG|thumb|right|300px|Principal divisions of North Korea.]]	+
−	{| class="wikitable"	+	North Korea’s economy is, however, limited by the country’s inability to trade with other countries for natural resources not found in the country, such as fossil fuels and foodstuffs<ref>[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4c174a222.html UNHCR]</ref>, in exchange for industrial products.
−	! !! Name<sup><small>a</small></sup> !! hangul !! hanja	+
−	|-	+
−	!colspan="4"| Directly-governed cities (''T'Å­kbyŏlsi'')<sup><small>a</small></sup>	+
−	|-	+
−	| 1 || [[Pyongyang|Pyongyang (National Capital)]] ||평양 직할시|| 平壤直轄市	+
−	|-	+
−	| 2 || [[Rason]] ||라선 직할시|| 羅先直轄市	+
−	|-	+
−	!colspan="32"| Special Administrative Regions (''T'Å­kbyŏl Haengjeonggu'')<sup><small>a</small></sup>	+
−	|-	+
−	| 3 || [[Kaesŏng Industrial Region]] ||개성 공업 지구|| 開城工業地區	+
−	|-	+
−	| 4 || [[Kumgangsan Tourist Region]] ||금강산 관광 지구|| 金剛山觀光地區	+
−	|-	+
−	| 5 || [[Sinuiju Special Administrative Region]] ||신의주 특별 행정구|| 新義州特別行政區	+
−	|-	+
−	!colspan="4"| Provinces	+
−	|-	+
−	| 6 || [[Chagang]] ||자강도 ||慈江道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 7 || [[North Pyongan|Pyongbuk]] ||평안 북도||平安北道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 8 || [[South Pyongan|Pyongnam]] ||평안 남도||平安南道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 9 || [[South Hwanghae|Hwangnam]] ||황해 남도||咸鏡南道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 10 || [[North Hwanghae|Hwangbuk]] ||황해 북도||咸鏡北道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 11 || [[Kangwon-do (North Korea)|Kangwon]] ||강원도 ||江原道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 12 || [[South Hamgyong|Hamnam]] ||함경 남도||咸鏡南道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 13 || [[North Hamgyong|Hambuk]] ||함경 북도||咸鏡北道	+
−	|-	+
−	| 14 || [[Ryanggang]] <cite id = "Ad_1></cite>[[#Ad 2|*]] ||량강도 ||兩江道	+
−	|-	+
−	|colspan="4"|<cite id="Ad_2></cite>[[#Ad 1|*]] - Sometimes rendered "Yanggang".	+
−	|}	+
−	===Major cities===	+	The efficiency of North Korea’s government-run industries is such that the country has not levied taxes since 1974, as government revenues from the economy have met or exceeded the annual budget<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 2, Article 25]</ref>.
−	{{columns	+
−	|col1 =	+
−	* [[Pyongyang]]	+
−	* [[Sinuiju]]	+
−	* [[Kaesong]]	+
−	* [[Nampho]]	+
−	* [[Chongjin]]	+
−	* [[Wonsan]]	+
−	* [[Sariwon]]	+
−	|col2 =	+
−	* [[Hoeryong]]	+
−	* [[Hamhung]]	+
−	* [[Haeju]]	+
−	* [[Kanggye]]	+
−	* [[Hyesan]]	+
−	* [[Kimchaek]]	+
−	* [[Kangso]]	+
−	}}	+
−	==Notes and references==	+	North Korea does, however, recognize [[private property]]<ref>[http://www.novexcn.com/dprk_constitution_98.html Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Chapter 2, Article 24]</ref> and operates Special Economic Zones with conditions less planned by North Korea’s government.
−	{{Reflist|2}}	+
−	==Further reading==	+	==Criticism==
−	* Jasper Becker ''Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea'' Oxford University Press (2005) , hardcover, 328 pages, ISBN 13: 9780195170443	+	{{main|Criticism of Juche}}
−	* Gordon Cucullu, ''Separated At Birth: How North Korea Became The Evil Twin'' Globe Pequot Press (2004) , hardcover, 307 pages, ISBN 1-59228-591-0	+	Although North Korea is officially a [[socialist]] republic<ref>[[wikisource:Constitution of North Korea (1972)|Constitution of North Korea]], Chapter I, Article 1: "The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is an independent socialist State".</ref>, many outside media organizations report that it is a [[Stalinist]] [[dictatorship]] <ref> [http://freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2006&country=6993 "Freedom in the World, 2006"]. Freedom House. Retrieved 2007-02-13. "Citizens of North Korea cannot change their government democratically. North Korea is a totalitarian dictatorship and one of the most restrictive countries in the world."</ref><ref>[http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11465278 "A portrait of North Korea's new rich"]. ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist The Economist]''. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2009-06-18. "EVERY developing country worth its salt has a bustling middle class that is transforming the country and thrilling the markets. So does Stalinist North Korea."</ref>. Some non- stalinist [[communist]]s, also think it cannot be labeled as ''truly communist'', since the DPRK supports self- sufficiency and isolationism,<ref>Cumings, Bruce. Korea's Place in the Sun: a Modern History. New York: W.W. Norton, 2005. 414. Print.</ref> therefore not ''internationalism''. Kim Il-sung's policy statements and speeches from the 1940s and 1950s confirm that the North Korean government accepted [[Joseph Stalin]]'s 1924 theory of ''[[socialism in one country]]'' and its model of centralized autarkic economic development<ref>[http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/north%20korea/pro-religion.htm DPRK Religion]</ref>.
−	* Bruce Cumings, <cite>Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History</cite>, [[W.W. Norton & Company]], 1998, paperback, 527 pages, ISBN 0-393-31681-5	+
−	* Bruce Cumings, <cite>Origins of the Korean War (Vol. 1) : Liberation and the Emergence of Separate Regimes 1945-1947</cite>, [[Princeton University Press]], 1981, paperback, ISBN 0-691-10113-2	+
−	* Bruce Cumings, <cite>Origins of the Korean War (Vol. 2) : The Roaring of the Cataract 1947-1950</cite>, [[Cornell University Press]], 2004, hardcover, ISBN 89-7696-613-9	+
−	* Bruce Cumings, <cite>North Korea: Another Country</cite>, [[New Press]], 2004, paperback, ISBN 1-56584-940-X	+
−	* Bruce Cumings, <cite>Living Through The Forgotten War: Portrait Of Korea</cite>, [[Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies]], 2004, paperback, ISBN 0-9729704-0-1	+
−	* Bruce Cumings, <cite>Inventing the Axis of Evil: The Truth About North Korea, Iran, and Syria</cite>, [[New Press]], 2006, paperback, ISBN 1-59558-038-7	+
−	* Delisle, Guy, <cite>Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea</cite>, [[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, <cite>North Korea South Korea: U.S. Policy at a Time of Crisis</cite>, [[Seven Stories Press]], 2003, paperback, 197 pages, ISBN 1-58322-603-6	+
−	* Ron Goodden, [http://www.mdjonline.com/content/index/showcontentitem/area/1/section/15/item/60013.html North Korea commentary (August, 2007)]	+
−	* Michael Harrold, <cite>Comrades and Strangers: Behind the Closed Doors of North Korea</cite>, Wiley Publishing, 2004, paperback, 432 pages, ISBN 0-470-86976-3	+
−	* Helen-Louise Hunter, ''Kim Il-song's North Korea.'' Praeger, 1999. ISBN 0-275-96296-2.	+
−	* {{cite book |author=Kang, Chol-Hwan |title=[[The Aquariums of Pyongyang]] |publisher=Basic Books, 2001 |year=2001 |id=ISBN 0-465-01102-0}}	+
−	* Mitchell B. Lerner, <cite>The Pueblo Incident: A Spy Ship and the Failure of American Foreign Policy</cite>, University Press of Kansas, 2002, hardcover, 408 pages, ISBN 0-7006-1171-1	+
−	* Andrei Lankov, <cite>'North of the DMZ: Essays on Daily Life in North Korea'' </cite>, McFarland & Company (April 24, 2007), paperback, 358 pages, ISBN 978-0786428397	+
−	* John Feffer, <cite>North Korea South Korea: U.S. Policy at a Time of Crisis</cite>, [[Seven Stories Press]], 2003, paperback, 197 pages, ISBN 1-58322-603-6	+
−	* Oberdorfer, Don. <cite>The two Koreas : a contemporary history</cite>. 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.'' 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, <cite>Inside North Korea: Diary of a Mad Place</cite>, 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==	+	==See Also==
−	* [[Christian Kracht]], [[Eva Munz]], [[Lukas Nikol]], "The Ministry Of Truth: Kim Jong Il's North Korea", Feral House, Oct 2007, 132 pages, 88 color photographs, ISBN 978-932595-27-7	+	*[[Juche]]
		+	*[[Kim Il-sung]]
		+	*[[Kim Jong-il]]
		+	*[[Korean War]]
−	==External links==	+	==References==
−	* [http://www.korea-dpr.com/ Official Website of the DPR Korea]	+	{{reflist|2}}
−	* [http://www.korea-dpr.com/users/switzerland Official Website of the DPR Korea in Switzerland]	+
−	* [http://www.kcna.co.jp/ KCNA] - Korean Central News Agency, the official news agency of the DPRK	+
−	* [http://www.naenara.kp/ Naenara] - ("My country") DPRK's Official Web Portal run by Korea Computer Company	+
−	[[Category:Countries]]	+	{{DEFAULTSORT:Korea, North}}
		+	[[Category:North Korea| ]]
		+	[[Category:Juche]]
		+	[[Category:Socialist states]]
		+	[[Category:East Asian countries]]

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Revision as of 21:52, 5 January 2012

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia. The country follows a form of left-nationalist ideology called Juche, or self-sufficiency^[1]. North Korea’s claims to control over the entire Korean peninsula are contested by South Korea, a capitalist nation originally ruled by dictator Syngman Rhee^[2]. From 1950-1953, the two sides fought the Korean War, which failed to result in a decisive victory for either side.

The highest organ of state power in North Korea is the Supreme People’s Assembly. The other bodies are the National Defence Commission, chaired by Kim Jong-il, the Presidium, chaired by Kim Yong-nam, and the cabinet (government ministers), chaired by Choe Yong-rim^[3].

History

North Korea’s fate first diverged from South Korea in 1945. In that year, the Soviet Army liberated North Korea from Japanese colonial occupation^[4] and agreed with the United States to hold elections for a unified Korean government. However, in 1948 the elections in the South were rigged, installing American puppet^[5] Syngman Rhee. The North declined to participate, and held separate elections in won by the Korean Workers' Party and Kim Il-sung.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, Syngman Rhee’s dictatorship was characterized by immense repressions, actively aided by American forces under Lt. Gen. John R. Hodge^[6]. For example, in April 1948 Syngman Rhee’s forces laid waste to Jeju Island as a punishment for an anti-government demonstration, killing 60,000 islanders^[7]. Outraged, massive guerrilla resistance movements were founded across South Korea, under the leadership of the Workers' Party of South Korea’s Pak Hon-yong. Watching all this with concern were the North Koreans, who intervened in support of Pak’s guerrillas in 1950, beginning the Korean War.

The demoralized and under-equipped South Korean army was swiftly defeated, and the survivors were penned into a small pocket around Pusan^[8]. However, the Soviets were at that time boycotting the United Nations security council in protest over the continued presence of Chiang Kai-shek’s dictatorship, which allowed the Western powers to pass a resolution to support the Syngman Rhee regime by military force^[9].

Badly outnumbered, the North Koreans now strategically retreated to the Chinese border, the Communist government of which intervened in support of North Korea beginning on October 25^th, 1950^[10]. The forces supporting Syngman Rhee then retreated back to the border, and eventually peace was agreed in 1953.

Kim Il-sung now set about making North Korea a major industrial power out of the ruins of war, and through the use of economic planning^[11] created an advanced, industrial economy. In fact, the North Korean economy was comparable or larger by per capita GDP until the 1970s and 1980s^[12], and this was based more on industry than South Korea’s largely agrarian economy at the time.

However, with the fall of the Soviet Union (which left North Korea almost isolated), and because of western economic sanctions, North Korea has been prevented from exporting these industrial products in exchange for foodstuffs, as was the previous system. This has caused poverty amongst the North Korean people.

In 1994, Kim Il-sung died, and was made Honorary President. Power was divided between the three agencies of government, under the guidance of the Supreme People’s Assembly^[13]. In particular, though, Kim-Jong il is believed to govern the country. From this time until 2008, North and South Korea lived in relative peace, with a democratic government taking power in the South for the first time. However, in 2008 South Korea saw the return of dictatorial capitalism with Lee Myung-bak.^[14][15] Since then, North Korea has returned to a policy of Juche isolation.

Government

The government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is based on a legislative branch, specifically the Supreme People’s Assembly. This body has vast authority, similar to other Parliaments, such as electing people to posts in the courts and the executive branches of government. It is elected every five years by “universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot”^[16]. In addition to the Supreme People’s Assembly deputies, there is also an SPA Presidium, the “upper house” of the Assembly.&nbsp The Supreme People’s Assembly also appoints a cabinet, a council of ministers, which is in charge of directing many economic matter, and reporting to the SPA on the rest. The cabinet also is empowered to direct commissions, among other things.

Finally, the last major body of the government is the National Defence Commission, which is charged with organizing the military to defend North Korea from external threat^[17].

By far, the largest political party in North Korea is the Korean Workers' Party. Other parties, however, do exist, including the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party^[18]. Neither is repressed by the North Korean government.

Foreign relations

North Korea has long maintained close relations with the People's Republic of China and Russia. 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. North Korea continues to have strong ties with its socialist southeast Asian allies in Vietnam and Laos, as well as with Cambodia^[19].

Military

The continued threat of capitalist encirclement and siege has forced North Korea to maintain a large, well-equipped army. Additionally, in 2006, North Korea developed nuclear weapons, and may now possess a nuclear deterrent of six to eight deployable warheads.^[20] However, they have sworn an oath to not use them unless someone has nuked them first, therefore they can use it for only nuclear self-defense.

North Korea has the largest percentage of citizens enlisted on the military (49.03 active troops per thousand citizens). North Korea has an estimation of 1.08 million armed personnel, compared with about 686,000 South Korean troops (and 3.5 million paramilitary forces) plus 29,000 US troops in South Korea.^[21]

Social Services

The North Korean government offers a variety of social services, free to all North Korean people.

Education

North Korea’s education system is government-paid and accessible for all^[22], in contrast to the heavily privatized, tutoring-based system in South Korea. North Korea’s literacy rate is very high, at 99%^[23]. This is identical for both North Korean men and women, and is tied for tenth-highest on Earth^[24].

The education system is divided into primary and secondary education, much like most other countries, but with the addition of “social education”. This term includes a broad range of extracurricular activities, such as visiting “schoolchildren’s palaces”, with everything from theatres to academic debates^[25].

North Korea also has a post-secondary education system, with traditional university and college campuses, as well as specialized technical schools. In October 2010, the North Koreans completed the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology^[26].

Health Care

The North Korean government provides universal health care to all citizens. In fact, the World Health Organization has described North Korea’s health care system as “the envy of the developing world”, and described those who said otherwise as having “no science” ^[27]. The World Health Organization did note, however, the lack of medicines in the country, possibly related to the economic sanctions.

Welfare

North Korea offers free food donatives to all the people who are unable to afford it^[28]. It also provides housing and clothing^[29].

Geography and Climate

North Korea is a mountainous country, formed by the activity of the Pacific Rim of Fire. The natural beauty of the country hides the truth, though, that only 18% of the surface area is arable (farm-able) land.

North Korea’s highest point is Baekdu Mountain, at 2,744 metres. This volcano is famous for the caldera lake at the summit.

North Korea’s climate is a temperate, and it includes a summer monsoon.

Demographics and Transportation

As of 2010, North Korea has a population of 23,991,000^[30]. They are spread out in the lowlands, in both rural communities and large cities. For example, the capital city of Pyongyang had a population of 3,255,388. Few people live in the more mountainous areas in the eastern part of the country. North Korea has a relatively sustainable population growth rate, just 0.34%.

Religion

North Korea is a governed by an political party which supports rational, scientific thought, but this view is not imposed on the population. Although 64.4% of North Koreans are not religious, a number are, including 16.0% who practice shamanism, 13.5% who practice Cheondoism, and 4.5% who practice Buddhism, among others^[31].

Transportation

North Korea’s transportation networks are large and well-organized blend of systems. Railways and subways occupy a prominent role, the latter mainly in Pyongyang. The Pyongyang Metro has a high ridership rate, about 700,000^[32], and it has two lines, totalling about 22 km in length. The architecture of the subway stations is often considered to be quite spectacular^[32]. The railways are more utilitarian, but possess 5200 km of track, or 43.1 metres per square kilometre. For comparison, the United States has just 8.23 metres of highway for every square kilometre.

North Korea also possesses a road network, which includes three major highways. In addition to privately owned vehicles, the government operates a fleet of electric buses and trams^[33].

North Korea also makes use of air travel, through state airline Air Koryo, and water transport, with 167 ships of more than 1000 tonnes. Air Koryo presently operates 59 aircraft, and is hoping to acquire new Ilyushin Il-96 and Tupolev Tu-204 jetliners, as well as lighter Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional jets.

Economy

North Korea is a planned economy^[34] with GDP growth of 3.7% in 2009^[35]. The economy remains based on industry, accounting for 43.1% of the economy^[36], followed by the services/ retail sector.

North Korea’s economy is, however, limited by the country’s inability to trade with other countries for natural resources not found in the country, such as fossil fuels and foodstuffs^[37], in exchange for industrial products.

The efficiency of North Korea’s government-run industries is such that the country has not levied taxes since 1974, as government revenues from the economy have met or exceeded the annual budget^[38].

North Korea does, however, recognize private property^[39] and operates Special Economic Zones with conditions less planned by North Korea’s government.

Criticism

Main article: Criticism of Juche

Although North Korea is officially a socialist republic^[40], many outside media organizations report that it is a Stalinist dictatorship ^[41][42]. Some non- stalinist communists, also think it cannot be labeled as truly communist, since the DPRK supports self- sufficiency and isolationism,^[43] therefore not internationalism. Kim Il-sung's policy statements and speeches from the 1940s and 1950s confirm that the North Korean government accepted Joseph Stalin's 1924 theory of socialism in one country and its model of centralized autarkic economic development^[44].

See Also

• Juche
• Kim Il-sung
• Kim Jong-il
• Korean War

References