North Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a communist country occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. For centuries, the entire Korean Peninsula was an independent kingdom, but it came under Japanese rule from 1910 until the end of World War II (1939–45). The Korean War (1950–53) split the country in two, and North Korea, as it is now known, became communist. In Korean, the country is known as Choson Minjujuui In'min Konghwaguk, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea.

North Korea shares borders with China and Russia on the Asian mainland. To the south is the Republic of Korea, commonly referred to as South Korea. It is bordered by the Sea of Japan (East Sea) on the east and by the Yellow Sea on the west.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: Aside from a very small number of ethnic Chinese and Japanese, North Korea's population is almost completely racially homogenous, as a result of the political and cultural isolation that has existed in North Korea since the late 1940s. This isolation, an outgrowth of the communist regime of the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), deeply influences North Korea's religion, language, and population, the latter of which doubled between 1953 and 1980.

The North Korean government's postwar emphasis on industrialization left many of the country's farms understaffed. Most of the rural population lives in the river valley plains or in the coastal lowlands. Some provinces, such as the Chagang and the Yanggang, have nearly been abandoned because of the land's infertility. The majority of the population now lives in urban centers on or near the coast, particularly the capital, Pyongyang, with few people remaining in the peninsula's mountainous interiors. Most North Koreans live in government-run housing projects, many of which lack basic amenities such as water and heat.

Linguistically, North Korea has attempted to purge the Korean language of any loanwords from other languages, particularly Chinese and English. The Korean script, Choson Muntcha, is rigorously censored by the government to avoid such loanwords. North Korea has also worked to rid the country of any reminders of the Japanese colonial period, which lasted from 1910 until 1945.

Although the government has an official policy of religious freedom, North Korea is also officially an atheist country. Religious practice is discouraged and often intensely persecuted, but some citizens discretely practice Buddhism, Confucianism, and Ch'ondogyo (teaching of the heavenly way)—formerly known as Tonghak (Eastern learning), Ch'ondogyo combines the teachings of Confucius with elements of Buddhism and Christianity. It was founded in 1860 by Confucian teacher Ch'oe Chew.

Indigenous People: There is archaeological evidence of human habitation on the Korean Peninsula as early as seventy thousand years ago. According to legend, the region's first civilization, the kingdom of Gojoseon, was established in 2333 BCE.

What is now North Korea occupies the land of three provinces (P'yongyang, Hwanghae, and Hamgyong) of the Joseon dynasty, which lasted from 1392 to 1910. These provinces were culturally and linguistically distinct, and these distinctions are reflected in the modern population. Today, the country is divided geographically by the Namnim Mountains into east (Kwanbuk) and west (Kwanso). Like the ancient provinces, the two regions are also culturally distinct.

Education: Education is required for all North Korean children between the ages of five and sixteen. Schooling includes one year of preschool, four years of primary education, and six years of secondary education. The first university in the country, Kim Il-sung University in Pyongyang, was named after the country's first leader, Kim Il-sung.

Education in North Korea has a strong emphasis on technology and science, and students are expected to work a job during their studies. The aims of the country's educational system are to promote the nation's communist ideology and to provide adequately trained workers for its industry.

The literacy rate in North Korea was estimated at 100 percent in 2018.

Health Care: Although health care in North Korea is free and there is at least one health clinic in each village, the country suffers from a shortage of doctors and medicine, and care is often inadequate. The centralized government does offer a number of assistance programs, including disability insurance, pensions, and care for the elderly.

Average life expectancy at birth in North Korea is 77 years for women and 70.2 years for men (2024 estimates). The infant mortality rate is 14.7 deaths per 1,000 live births (2025 estimates).

Food: North Korean cuisine is similar to other Asian fare, with the frequent inclusion of rice, noodles, grilled meats, and sweet and spicy sauces. The two staple foods of the Korean diet are rice and kimchi, a spicy dish made of fermented vegetables prepared in endless variations. Other common dishes include bulgogi (a type of barbecued beef), buckwheat noodles, eel, and octopus. However, most ordinary North Koreans rely on a simple diet centered on rice and other staples, with more luxurious foods typically out of reach or reserved for special occasions.

In the mid- to late 1990s, North Korea suffered from an extreme famine that was caused in part by rigid government policies and that resulted in the deaths of between one and two million people. Food insecurity continued to plague the country into the 2020s; in 2005, the United Nations declared a severe shortage of food in North Korea, estimating that approximately three million people were threatened by malnourishment. In 2016 UNICEF announced that twenty-five thousand North Korean children needed "immediate treatment" for malnourishment. North Korea's continued isolation makes it extremely difficult for international aid organizations to penetrate its borders and assist those in need and widespread food insecurity continued into the 2020s. The country is not ranked on the United Nations Human Development Index.

Arts & Entertainment: The arts in North Korea are somewhat anemic, as all artists are employed by the government and are assigned to corresponding national institutes (such as the National Theatre for Arts, the National Orchestra, and the National Dancing Institute). However, all work produced by individual artists must conform to the standards of the Korean Workers' Party standards, and art essentially functions as propaganda. North Korean art typically emphasizes national independence, uniqueness, and the principles of the state-run Communist Party.

There is a tremendous lack of leisure time and privacy within North Korea, so most entertainment tends to consist of group activities, including rallies and visits to museums. Archaeological finds are displayed in the country's well-funded museums, but even these artifacts are used to promote a North Korean national identity. In Pyongyang, there are two major museums, the Korean Revolutionary Museum and the Korean Fine Arts Museum.

All information and media in North Korea is heavily censored by the Korean Central News Agency. The mass media is often used for surveillance and to further the government's ideology. Television has spread throughout the country, also serving as government-approved transmitters of official information.

Holidays: All of the holidays in North Korea represent some significant date of national pride. They include the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (September 9), Kim Jong-il's Birthday (February 16), Kim Il-sung's Birthday (April 15), International Workers' Day (May 1), Victory Day (July 7), the Foundation of the Korean Workers' Party (October 10), and Constitution Day (December 27).

Environment and Geography

Topography: North Korea is split down the middle by the Nangnim Mountains, dividing the country into distinct east and west regions. The highest mountain on the entire peninsula is Mount Paektu, at 2,744 meters (9,003 feet) above sea level. In between the Myohyang and Kangnam mountain ranges are river valley plains.

In general, North Korea's soil is infertile, composed mostly of granitic or crystalline rock with little organic content. The best soil in the country can be found in the alluvial soils of the valleys and coastal plains.

Most rivers in North Korea run into the Yellow Sea. One exception is the Tumen River, which runs north for 521 kilometers (324 miles) to the Sea of Japan. The country's longest river is the Yalu River, also a source of hydroelectric power, which runs 800 kilometers (497 miles) into the Korean Bay from Mount Paektu.

Natural Resources: Minerals are North Korea's most important natural resource. The country has deposits of approximately 200 different valuable minerals and metals, including iron, coal, and gold, as well as lead, zinc, tungsten, and graphite. Iron is mined in the southern Pyongan, the northern and southern Hwanghae, and the southern Hamgyong provinces.

North Korea also has the largest magnesite deposits in the world, concentrated in the southern Hamgyong province.

Plants & Animals: Most of the forests along the coastal slopes of North Korea were cut down during the Japanese occupation in the first half of the twentieth century. Now, most remaining forests of pine, spruce, and larch are located in the northern interior of the country.

Though not completely wiped out, the country's populations of deer, antelope, goats, tigers, and leopards have retreated to the most remote forests.

Herons, cranes, and water fowl are found in the rice fields in North Korea's plains. Eel and carp are commonly found in the country's rivers.

Climate: Climate change has intensified weather variability in North Korea, with rainfall becoming increasingly erratic and extreme. Heavy downpours, particularly during the summer monsoon season, have led to flash floods that damage roads, bridges, farmland, and settlements. During the 2022 monsoon season, rainfall in some regions far exceeded historical averages, resulting in widespread flooding and significant agricultural losses.

Traditionally, winter lasts about four months, from December to March, with average temperatures around 6 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit), while average summer temperatures are about 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). The east coast is generally several degrees warmer than the west coast due to the influence of mountain ranges and ocean currents. North Korea receives an annual average precipitation of approximately 1,000 millimeters (40 inches), most of which falls between June and September during the typhoon season, with substantial snowfall occurring in winter.

Economy

Every aspect of the North Korean economy is controlled by the government. In 1966, faced with declining aid from the Soviet Union, the government developed a state ideology of self-reliance known as Juche. As a result, there has been very little interaction between North Korea and other countries. Frequent food shortages and massive military spending have often left the country in desperate need of foreign aid, including large amounts of financial support from China.

Because North Korea does not release transparent or regularly published official economic statistics, assessments of economic performance rely primarily on external estimates. According to such estimates, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP, purchasing power parity) had contracted by the early 2020s in comparison with levels reported in the early 2010s. This longer-term decline has been attributed to intensified international sanctions imposed during the mid-2010s, as well as prolonged economic disruptions caused by border closures and trade restrictions following the global COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, external estimates suggested a short-term rebound in economic activity. The Bank of Korea reported that North Korea’s economy grew by an estimated 3.7 percent in 2024, marking the fastest annual growth rate in several years. This followed moderate growth in the preceding year and a contraction earlier in the decade. The recovery was linked, in part, to expanded economic exchanges with Russia and a partial normalization of cross-border trade.

Industry: North Korean industry ranges from small cooperative operations, mainly in fish processing, to large state-run enterprises. Iron and steel manufacturing are the largest industries. Chemical processing is also important, as a large amount of fertilizer is necessary to farm the peninsula's generally infertile soil.

Most of the country's electric power is generated by its rivers, especially the Yalu. Though the amount of hydropower has been increasing steadily over the years, there is still not enough to keep up with national industry, and power availability fluctuates according to the country's dry season.

Agriculture: North Korea's agricultural production is also completely state-run. All of the country's farms were centralized into about 3,000 cooperatives by 1958. They are run by management committees that determine what and how much to grow. Crops are delivered to the government and distributed via state-owned stores.

North Korean farmers grow mostly rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, and soybeans. The country has been self-sufficient in rice production since the 1950s. Other important crops include tobacco and cotton.

Contrary to its policy of self-reliance, North Korea imports grain, as well as fuel and machinery. During the 1990s, the country began to depend increasingly on foreign aid to feed its malnourished population.

Tourism: Despite the country’s highly controlled political and social environment, North Korea has periodically allowed limited foreign tourism, primarily from neighboring countries. Visitor numbers have historically remained modest, and the sector has been highly sensitive to geopolitical conditions and public health restrictions. International travel disruptions led to prolonged suspensions of tourism activity, with gradual and selective resumptions occurring under tightly managed conditions.

Visitors' movement and behavior are tightly restricted. In 2016 a US college student, Otto Warmbier, was detained for attempting to steal a propaganda poster while visiting Pyongyang; he was returned to the United States the following year in a coma and subsequently died. At that time, the US State Department banned Americans from visiting North Korea as tourists.

Government

North Korea is a communist dictatorship and is widely considered to have one of the most authoritarian governments in the world. Kim Il-sung became leader of the nation in 1948 with the formation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He held the title of prime minister until 1972, when the executive role was changed from a premiership to a presidency. His cult of personality was so strong that he was referred to only as "Great Leader." In 1998, four years after his death, the constitution was amended to name him "Eternal President of the Republic."

In practice, the various branches of government are controlled by one political party, the Korean Workers' Party (KWP; also called the Workers' Party of Korea), which grew out of prewar communist parties and directs the government through its various bodies. True political power rests with the leader of the KWP, who also holds the titles of chairman of the Central Military Commission of the KWP, chairman of the State Affairs Commission (formerly the National Defense Commission) of North Korea, and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army. Kim led the party, first under the title of chairman of the Central Committee of the KWP and then as general secretary, until his death in 1994; his son Kim Jong-il, who became North Korea's de facto head of state following his father's death, officially succeeded Kim as general secretary of the Central Committee in 1997.

Upon Kim Jong-il's death in 2011, his son (Kim's grandson) Kim Jong-un took over as supreme leader, the official title of the head of state since 2009; the following year, the constitution was amended again to posthumously grant Kim Jong-il the title of "Eternal General Secretary of the Worker's Party," and Kim Jong-un officially became party leader under the newly created title of first secretary of the KWP. In 2016 his title as party leader was changed again, to chairman of the KWP. In 2021 another title change established Kim as the general secretary of the KWP.

The legislative branch consists of the 687-seat Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (Supreme People’s Assembly), whose members are directly elected to five-year terms by absolute majority vote. All candidates for the assembly are chosen by the KWP. The judicial branch, headed by the Central Court, is not considered independent from the Kim regime.

The country is divided into nine provinces and two municipalities. The cities and villages are governed by local people's assemblies, whose movements are overseen by the national government. All political parties are controlled by the KWP. The party also controls all aspects of elections, which typically involve only one candidate.

Military service is compulsory for all North Korean men and for some women. Service usually lasts for three or four years. There is a heavy emphasis placed on military security in North Korea, at the expense of other government services.

In March 2005, North Korean diplomats told international delegates that it would agree to shut down its nuclear weapons facilities in exchange for aid. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors were allowed to observe the shutdown. In the years following this agreement, however, North Korean officials continued to wrangle with international officials over the country's weapons program. North Korea continued to test its weapons technology—doing so in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017—and diplomats continued to criticize the country's unwillingness to negotiate.

US president Donald Trump established cordial relations with Kim Jong-un in 2018, holding a summit that year, and North Korea and South Korea signed the Panmunjom Declaration in September 2018 in an attempt to improve relations between the two countries. However, progress toward North Korean denuclearization remained elusive. Though North Korea pledged to pause missile testing, short-range missile tests resumed in July 2019 and continued to occur into the 2020s; this placed continued strain on North Korea's already contentious relationships with both South Korea and the US, as well as Japan.

Interesting Facts

• North Korea’s first ski resort, Masikryong, was opened in Kangwon Province in 2014 at a reported cost of US$35 million, as part of the government’s efforts to spur tourism.
• Though the culture of North Korea is rigorously guarded by the government from foreign influence, its previous leader, Kim Jong-il, was said to be a devoted film fan, with a library of at least twenty thousand films.
• In 1997, North Korea adopted the Juche calendar, which marks the year of Kim Il-sung's birth in 1912 as year 1.

Bibliography

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