North Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It makes up the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, and South Korea to the south. The capital and largest city is Pyongyang.

The land has been home to people for thousands of years. In 1945, after World War II, Korea was split into two parts. A war began when North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950. Fighting stopped in 1953, but peace was never officially declared.

Today, North Korea is led by the Kim family. The country places great importance on its military and has its own nuclear weapons. Many groups have concerns about how people are treated there.

Etymology

See also: Names of Korea

The name Korea was first written down in 1671 by a Dutch sailor named Hendrick Hamel. After Korea was split into two countries, North and South, they began using different names. North Korea calls itself the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. People in North Korea often just call their country "the Republic." In the rest of the world, people usually say "North Korea" to talk about this country, to tell it apart from South Korea. Both North and South Korea think they are the true government for all of Korea.

History

Main articles: History of Korea and History of North Korea

Korea's history goes back a very long time, with stories of ancient kings and kingdoms. Korea was ruled by different groups over time, including the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. In 1910, Korea was taken over by Japan. This lasted until the end of World War II.

After World War II, Korea was split into two parts. The north was controlled by the Soviet Union, and the south by the United States. This led to two separate countries, North Korea and South Korea. In 1950, fighting began when North Korea invaded the South. This is called the Korean War. The war ended in 1953, but the two countries are still not at peace.

North Korea has been led by the Kim family. Kim Il Sung was the first leader. After he died, his son Kim Jong Il took over. Now, Kim Jong Un is the leader. North Korea has stayed isolated and faced many challenges over the years.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of North Korea and Geology of North Korea

North Korea is in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. It lies between 37° and 43°N latitude and 124° and 131°E longitude. The country covers 120,540 square kilometers.

North Korea has many mountains. Paektu Mountain is the highest, standing at 2,744 meters above sea level. The Amnok (Yalu) River is the longest river, flowing for 790 kilometers.

The country has a humid continental climate. Winters are cold with snow. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy because of monsoon winds from the Pacific Ocean. Spring and autumn are shorter seasons between summer and winter.

Governance and politics

Main article: Politics of North Korea

North Korea is a communist state led by the Kim family. The country's leaders have all been from this family. Kim Jong Un is the current leader. He heads the Workers' Party of Korea, the government, and the military.

The Workers' Party of Korea is the only ruling party. Other smaller parties exist but follow its lead. The party congress chooses the General Secretary and the Central Committee. The Central Committee helps make important decisions.

The Supreme People's Assembly is North Korea's top government group. It has unified power over the government. But the State Affairs Commission and its president have the most real power. The president can make big decisions alone. The Cabinet runs day-to-day government work, and the Supreme Court handles legal matters.

North Korea's official ideas focus on self-reliance, strong military, and independence. The Kim family is widely respected, with many places and days named for them. The country is split into areas for governing.

North Korea talks with many countries, but it often feels alone. It has close ties with China and Russia and a tricky relationship with South Korea across the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

The Korean People's Army is a very large military, with special forces and nuclear weapons. Even with limited supplies, the military uses clever tactics in fighting.

Economy

Main article: Economy of North Korea

North Korea has kept its economy very closed and controlled since the 1940s. For many years, it tried to be self-sufficient, like the Soviet Union. But problems such as not enough skilled workers, energy, and farmland made this hard. By the 1980s, South Korea was wealthier and had higher incomes than North Korea.

In the 1990s, losing trade partners and natural disasters caused big problems, including widespread food shortages. By 2000, help from other countries made things better, but North Korea still has food and energy shortages. The government has allowed some private ownership and market activities, but the economy is still mostly controlled by the state.

North Korea's economy focuses on industry. Almost half of its wealth comes from sectors like machine building, military equipment, chemicals, and mining. The country also has large amounts of iron ore and coal. Agriculture and tourism are part of the economy too, but they have had difficulties in recent years.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of North Korea

See also: Koreans and List of cities in North Korea

North Korea has about 26 million people. Most of them share the same ethnic background. In the 1990s, there was not enough food, so people were hungry. The government and groups from other countries helped bring more food. Things got better, little by little. Today, children’s health and nutrition are good.

People in North Korea usually live in families that stay close. Most people get married. The country has many schools, and most children finish secondary school. Learning is important, and children also learn about the country’s ideas and leaders. The main language is Korean. There are small differences in how people in North and South Korea speak.

Culture

Main article: Culture of North Korea

See also: Culture of Korea

North Korean culture is unique. It was shaped by history and nearby countries. During a time when Japan ruled the area, people had to follow Japanese ways. After World War II, North Korea grew its own culture.

Art in North Korea follows socialist realism. Paintings and sculptures often show leaders like Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. The Mansudae Art Studio, started in 1959, makes paintings, murals, and big statues. Books and stories are chosen by the government. They celebrate the country and its leaders. Music has folk tunes, songs about change, and orchestral music. The Moranbong Band is popular today.