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North Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is an East Asia East Asia

East Asia is a subregion [i] of Asia [i] that can be defined in either geographical [i] or cul ... 

n country occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula Korean Peninsula

! colspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Korean Peninsula ... 

. Its government defines itself as a Communist Communism

Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a future classless [i], stateless [i] ... 

-led democratic multi-party state of the Juche Juche

The Juche Idea is the official state ideology [i] of North Korea [i] and the political system based on i ... 

 political ideology, although the American United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 and South Korean South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

 governments claim that, in practice, it functions as a dictatorship. North Korea is often referred to by global media sources as a Stalinist Stalinism

Stalinism is the political [i] and economic system [i] named after Joseph Stalin [i], w ... 

, isolationist, and authoritarian country; it uses repressive central planning to implement its economic and social policies.

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Timeline

1948   Last Soviet Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 troops withdraw from North Korea.

1950   Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

 - North Korean forces capture Seoul Seoul

Seoul listen) is the capital [i] and largest city of South Korea [i] . ... 

1950   Allied troops land in Inchon Incheon

Incheon Metropolitan City is a metropolitan city [i] and major seaport on the we ... 

, occupied by North Korea, to begin the Battle of Inchon Battle of Inchon

The Battle of Inchon was a decisive invasion and battle [i] during the Korean War [i]. ... 

.

1950   Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

: While in an F-80 P-80 Shooting Star

The Lockheed [i] P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet [i] fighter [i] ... 

, United States Air Force United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerospace [i] branch of the United States armed forces [i] and one o ... 

 Lt. Russell J. Brown intercepts two North Korean MiG-15 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15

The Mikoyan-Gurevich [i] MiG-15 was a jet [i] fighter [i] developed for th ... 

s near the Yalu River and shoots them down in the first jet Jet aircraft

Jet aircraft are aircraft [i] with jet engine [i]s. ... 

-to-jet dog fight Dogfight

A dogfight or dog fight is a common term used to describe close-range aerial combat [i] between mi ... 

 in history.

1950   Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

: Troops from the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 move into North Korea and launch a massive counterattack against South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

n and American United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 forces, ending any thought of a quick end to the conflict.

1950   Korean War: North Korean and Chinese People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 troops force a desperate retreat of United Nations United Nations

name = United Nations Nations Unies ... 

 forces from North Korea.

1951   Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

: Chinese People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 and North Korean forces capture Seoul Seoul

Seoul listen) is the capital [i] and largest city of South Korea [i] . ... 

.

1953   Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

 ends: The United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

, People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

, North Korea, and South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

 sign an armistice Armistice

An armistice is the effective end of a war [i], when the warring parties agree to stop fighting. ... 

 agreement.

1968   North Korea seizes the ''USS Pueblo USS Pueblo (AGER-2)

USS Pueblo is a United States [i] ship [i] whose mission was to spy on the military of other nations ... 

'', claiming the ship violated its territorial waters while spying.

1976   In North Korea at Panmunjom, two US United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 soldiers are killed while trying to chop down part of a tree in the Demilitarized Zone Korean Demilitarized Zone

The Demilitarized Zone in Korea is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula [i] that se ... 

 which had obscured their view.

   More Events >>



Encyclopedia

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is an East Asia East Asia

East Asia is a subregion [i] of Asia [i] that can be defined in either geographical [i] or cul ... 

n country occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula Korean Peninsula

! colspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Korean Peninsula
... 

. Its government defines itself as a Communist Communism

Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a future classless [i], stateless [i] ... 

-led democratic multi-party state of the Juche Juche

The Juche Idea is the official state ideology [i] of North Korea [i] and the political system based on i ... 

 political ideology, although the American United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 and South Korean South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

 governments claim that, in practice, it functions as a dictatorship. North Korea is often referred to by global media sources as a Stalinist Stalinism

Stalinism is the political [i] and economic system [i] named after Joseph Stalin [i], w ... 

, isolationist, and authoritarian country; it uses repressive central planning to implement its economic and social policies. Its ideological stance on issues such as the mass line, the role of intellectuals, and the source of revolutionary fervor mark North Korea's government as different from the Leninist Leninism

Leninism refers to various related political [i] and economic [i] theories ... 

 Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 or Maoist Maoism

Maoism or Mao Zedong Thought , is a variant of Marxism-Leninism [i] derived from the teachings of ... 

 China People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

.

North Korea has been characterized by a professor at the American Strategic Studies Institute as: "Highly repressive, heavily militarized, strongly resistant to reform, and ruled by a dynastic dictatorship that adheres to a hybrid ideology, North Korea might be 'the strangest political system in existence.' While distinctive, North Korea is an orthodox communist party-state best classified as an eroding totalitarian regime."

Its northern border is predominantly shared with the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

. Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

 shares an 18.3 kilometre  border along the Tumen River in the far northeast corner of the country. To the south, it is bordered by South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

, with which it formed a single territorial unit known as Korea Korea

Korea
One of the world's oldest civilization [i]s, Korea began with the founding of Gojoseon [i] in 2333 ... 

 until 1945.

Name

North Korea's official name is Choson Minjujuui Inmin Konghwaguk or, more commonly, Pukchoson or simply Choson . Choson is a reference to the Kojoson Gojoseon

Gojoseon was an ancient Korea [i]n kingdom.... 

.

History


In the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea which ended with World War II World War II

World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide [i] conflict [i] fought betwe ... 

 in 1945, Korea was left occupied by the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 north of the 38th Parallel and by the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 south of the 38th parallel 38th parallel north

The 38th parallel north is a line of latitude [i] that cuts across Asia [i], the Mediterranean [i] and t ... 

. The Korean people were not consulted by either power prior to this division. While virtually all Koreans welcomed liberation from Japanese imperial rule, they objected to the reimpostion of foreign rule over the peninsula. The Soviets and Americans were unable to agree on the implementation of Joint Trusteeship over Korea. This led in 1948 to the establishment of separate governments in the north and south, each claiming to be the legitimate government of all of Korea.

Growing tensions between the governments in the north and south and border skirmishes eventually led to a civil war called the Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

, when on June 25, 1950 the Korean People's Army attacked across the 38th Parallel in a move to reunify the peninsula under their political system. The war continued until July 27, 1953, when the United Nations United Nations

name = United Nations
Nations Unies
... 

 Command, the Korean People's Army, and the Chinese People's Volunteers Chinese People\'s Volunteers

Sorry, no overview for this topic 

 signed the Korean War Armistice Agreement. The DMZ Korean Demilitarized Zone

The Demilitarized Zone in Korea is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula [i] that se ... 

 has separated the North and South ever since.


North Korea was led by Kim Il-sung Kim Il-sung

Kim Il-sung was the leader of North Korea [i] from its founding in 1948 until his death, when he was su ... 

 from 1948 until his death on July 8, 1994, having delegated most domestic matters to his son, Kim Jong-il Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il has been the leader of Democratic People's Republic of Korea [i] since 1994 [i]. ... 

, toward the end of his life. Three years after his father's death, on October 8, 1997, Kim Jong-il was named General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party. In 1998, the legislature reconfirmed him as Chairman of the National Defence Commission and declared that position as the "highest office of state." International relations generally improved, and there was a historic North-South summit between the two Koreas in June 2000. However, tensions with the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 have increased recently as North Korea resumed the development of a nuclear weapons program North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

North Korea [i] claims to possess nuclear weapon [i]s, and it is widely believed to have a substantial arsenal ... 

 and, on July 5, 2006, conducted a series of missile tests North Korean missile test, 2006

Two rounds of North Korean missile tests were conducted on July 5, 2006.... 

. The UN called an emergency meeting to consider what response will be called for.

During the 1960s and 1970s the country's economy grew at a significant rate and, until 1975, was considered to be stronger than that in the South. However, under Kim Jong-il Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il has been the leader of Democratic People's Republic of Korea [i] since 1994 [i]. ... 

's rule in the mid-to-late 1990s, the country's economy declined significantly, and food shortages developed in many areas. According to aid groups, millions of people in rural areas starved to death due to famine Famine

A famine is a phenomenon in which a large percentage of the population of a region or country is so unde... 

, exacerbated by a collapse in the food distribution system . Large numbers of North Koreans illegally entered the People's Republic of China in search of food. Hwang Jang-yop, International Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party, defected to South Korea in 1997.

In August of 2006, the DPRK declared the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War "null and void."

See also: History of Korea History of Korea

This article is about the history of Korea [i], through the division of Korea [i] before the Korean War [i] ... 

, Division of Korea Division of Korea

The division of Korea [i] into North Korea [i] and South Korea [i] stems from the 1945 Allied [i] ... 



Politics and government



North Korea is widely considered to be one of the few Communist state Communist state

A Communist state is a state which declares its allegiance to the principles of Marxism-Leninism [i]. ... 

s. The government is dominated by the Korean Workers' Party Workers' Party of Korea

The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea [i], common ... 

, to which 80 percent of government officials belong. The official ideology of the KWP is known as Juche Juche

The Juche Idea is the official state ideology [i] of North Korea [i] and the political system based on i ... 

 , a political philosophy first developed by Kim Il-Sung and then expanded upon by his son, the current leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-il. Although the KWP replaced mentions of Marxism-Leninism in the North Korean constitution with Juche in 1977, the constitution retains mentions of Socialism Socialism

Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic [i]... 

 and Communism Communism

Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a future classless [i], stateless [i] ... 

 and Kim Jeong Il and the Korean Workers Party continue to claim to be Marxist-Leninists. Many Communists Communism

Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a future classless [i], stateless [i] ... 

 outside North Korea deny that the KWP is still a communist organisation or that North Korea is still socialist, although it should be noted that every socialist state's status as such has been disputed by various Communist factions. Minor political parties also participate in elections, although in practice present no opposition. The exact power structure of the country is debated by outside observers.

The Premier is the head of government, although many observers consider that effective power lies with Kim Jong-il Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il has been the leader of Democratic People's Republic of Korea [i] since 1994 [i]. ... 

, head of the KWP and the military. Kim holds several official titles, the most important being General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. Kim is not the Head of State or the Head of Government, positions held by Kim Yong Nam and Pak Pong-ju respectively. Kim Jong-il is referred to with the honorific "Great Leader" as part of a personality cult Cult of personality

A cult of personality is a political [i] institution in which a country's leader uses mass media [i] to ... 

 and is referred to as such by some of his western supporters. The phrase "Dear Leader" was formerly used for Kim Jong-il.

In English-language news sources from North Korea, it is very rarely used except when quoting someone refering to him affectionately as such . Kim Jong Il's western supporters in the Korean Friendship Association Korean Friendship Association

The Korean Friendship Association is an organization working with the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries [i]... 

 however, frequently refer to Kim Jong Il as "Dear Leader" or "Great Leader." .

The 1998 constitution refers to the late Kim Il-sung Kim Il-sung

Kim Il-sung was the leader of North Korea [i] from its founding in 1948 until his death, when he was su ... 

 as the "eternal president of the republic," as the post of president was abolished after his death. The constitution gives many of the functions normally accorded to a head of state Head of State

Head of State or Chief of State is the generic term for the individual or collective office that s... 

 to the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium, whose president, currently Kim Yong Nam "represents the State" and receives credentials from foreign ambassadors. The government of the republic is led by the Prime Minister, currently Pak Pong-ju and a cabinet called the Central People's Committee , the government's top policymaking body. The CPC is headed by the President, a post which was abolished after Kim Il-sung's death, who also nominates the other committee members. The CPC makes policy decisions and supervises the Cabinet, or State Administration Council . The SAC is headed by a Premier and is the dominant administrative and executive agency.

The parliament Parliament

A parliament is a legislature [i], especially in those countries whose system of government is based on ... 

, the Supreme People's Assembly , is the highest organ of state power. Its 687 members are elected every five years by popular vote. In every district there is only one candidate for whom voters can vote. The People's Assembly usually holds two annual meetings, each lasting a few days, during which it elects a standing committee. The Assembly is viewed by the west as typically ratifing decisions made by the ruling KWP . A standing committee elected by the Assembly performs legislative Legislature

A legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly [i] with the power to adopt law [i]s. ... 

 functions when the Assembly is not in session.

See also: Foreign relations of North Korea, Military of North Korea, North Korea and weapons of mass destruction North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

North Korea [i] claims to possess nuclear weapon [i]s, and it is widely believed to have a substantial arsenal ... 


Foreign relations and military


Military

According to Western estimates, North Korea has the fifth-largest military Military

A military or military force has seen many different incarnations throughout time.... 

 in the world, with the largest percentage of citizens enlisted . The North has an estimated 1.08 million armed personnel, compared to about 686,000 South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

n troops plus 29,000 US troops in South Korea. Military spending is about $5 billion USD United States dollar

For details of current paper money [i] and coins, see Federal Reserve Note [i] and United States coinage [i] ... 

. The North has perhaps the world's second-largest special operations force , designed for insertion behind enemy lines in wartime. While the North has an adequate fleet of submarine Submarine

A submarine is a specialized watercraft [i] that can operate underwater [i].... 

s, its surface fleet has a very limited capability.

As of 1992, the North Korean Air Force comprised about 1,620 aircraft and 70,000 personnel, with roughly twice the number of aircraft as the South. Most of its aircraft are obsolete Soviet and Chinese models, but it has been modernizing since the 1980s. Modern aircraft include 150 MiG-21 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 is a fighter aircraft [i], originally built by the Mikoyan [i] and Gurevich De ... 

s, 60 MiG-23 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 is a variable geometry, swept-wing fighter aircraft [i], originally built by ... 

s, and 40 Q-5 Fantan Nanchang Q-5

The Nanchang Q-5, also known as the A-5 in its export versions, is a Chinese [i] ... 

s. Since the 1980s, the air force has expanded its inventory of helicopters from 40 to 275. This inventory includes Mi-2 Mil Mi-2

The Mil [i] Mi-2 was a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that coul ... 

/HOPLITEs, Mi-4 Mil Mi-4

The Mil [i] Mi-4 was a Soviet [i] transport [i] helicopter [i] ... 

/HOUNDs, and Mi-8 Mil Mi-8

The Mil [i] Mi-8 is a large twin-turbine transport helicopter [i] that can a ... 

/HIPs. In 1985, the DPRK circumvented U.S. export controls to buy 87 U.S.-manufactured civilian model Hughes helicopters, which are more advanced than the Russian models and have probably been armed with guns and rockets. North Korea does not manufacture its own aircraft, but it does produce spare parts. The overall assessment is that the air force "has a marginal capability for defending North Korean airspace and a limited ability to conduct air operations against South Korea."

Foreign relations


The foreign relations of the DPRK with the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 are often regarded as relatively tense and unpredictable. Since the end of the Korean War Korean War

The Korean War began on June 25 [i], 1950 [i] and ended with a truce [i] on July 27 [i], 1953 [i] . ... 

 in 1953, the North Korean government has been at odds with the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

, Japan Japan

is an island country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 and to a lesser degree South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

, with which it is still technically at war. Since 2000 its relations with the US have greatly deteriorated, and it was called a part of the "axis of evil Axis of evil

The term axis of evil was used by United States [i] President [i] George W. Bush [i] ... 

" and an "outpost of tyranny Outposts of tyranny

Outposts of tyranny was a term used by United States Secretary of State [i] Condoleezza Rice [i] in a 20 ... 

" by US President George W. Bush George W. Bush

This page is monitored by many people and bots, and joke edits are removed quickly.
... 

. North Korea does not have diplomatic relations with the US at present, and the United States maintains economic sanctions against the DPRK under the Trading with the Enemy Act.

North Korea has maintained close relations with the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 and Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

, but the fall of communism Revolutions of 1989

The Revolutions of 1989, sometimes called the Autumn of Nations, were a revolutionary wave [i] in ... 

 in eastern Europe Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe is the east [i]ern region [i] of Europe [i] variably defined. ... 

 in 1989 and the disintegration of the Soviet Union Soviet Union

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , more commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a Communist state [i] ... 

 in 1991 resulted in a significant drop in communist aid to North Korea from Russia, although China continues to provide substantial assistance.

Although still technically at war, both North and South Korea proclaim that they are seeking eventual reunification Korean reunification

Korean reunification is the possible future unification of North Korea [i] and South Korea [i] under a s ... 

 as a goal. North Korea's policy is to seek reunification without what it sees as outside interference, through a federal structure retaining each side's leadership and systems. Both North and South Korea signed the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration in which both sides made promises to seek out a peaceful reunification.

Venezuela Venezuela

Venezuela is a country on the northern tropical [i] Caribbean [i] coast of South America [i] ... 

 has strengthened its ties with North Korea.

The DPRK continues to have strong ties with its socialist asian allies in Vietnam Vietnam

Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia [i]. ... 

, Laos Laos

Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic [i], is a landlocked [i] socialist republic [i] ... 

 and Cambodia Cambodia

The Kingdom of Cambodia is a country in Southeast Asia [i] with a population of more than 13 million. ... 

.

North Korea is a member of several multilateral organizations. It became a member of the United Nations United Nations

name = United Nations
Nations Unies
... 

 in September 1991. North Korea also belongs to the Food and Agriculture Organization Food and Agriculture Organization

The Food and Agriculture Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations [i] that works to r... 

; the International Civil Aviation Organization International Civil Aviation Organization

The International Civil Aviation Organization , an agency of the United Nations [i], codifies the princi ... 

; the International Postal Union Universal Postal Union

The Universal Postal Union is an international organization [i] that coordinates postal policies betwee ... 

; the UN Conference on Trade and Development; the ITU International Telecommunication Union

The International Telecommunication Union is an international organization [i] established to standardi ... 

; the UN Development Programme; the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization UNESCO

UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations [i] established in 1945. ... 

; the World Health Organization World Health Organization

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations [i], acting as a coordinati... 

; the World Intellectual Property Organization World Intellectual Property Organization

The World Intellectual Property Organization is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations [i] ... 

; the World Meteorological Organization World Meteorological Organization

The World Meteorological Organization is an intergovernmental organization [i] with a membership of 187 ... 

; the International Maritime Organization International Maritime Organization

International Maritime Organization : Formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Org... 

; the International Committee of the Red Cross International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian [i] institution b ... 

; and the Nonaligned Movement Non-Aligned Movement

The Non-Aligned Movement, or NAM, is an international organization [i] of over 100 states [i] ... 

.

The highest level contact with the American government was Madeleine Albright Madeleine Albright

Madeleine Korbel Albright served as the 64th United States Secretary of State [i]. ... 

's 2000 visit to Pyongyang; the US and DPRK do not have formal diplomatic relations [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/kn.html#Govt] and technically remain at war as the armistice never resulted in a peace treaty. Nearly 30,000 American soldiers remain in South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

, a military presense that the north Koreans consider aggressive and a means of preventing north/south reconciliation.

Missiles, nuclear weapons program, and the six-party talks


North Korea has stated that it has produced nuclear weapon Nuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon derives its destructive force from nuclear reaction [i]s of fission [i] ... 

s and according to many intelligence and military Military

A military or military force has seen many different incarnations throughout time.... 

 officials it has produced, or has the capability to produce, up to six or seven such devices. It also has certain quantity of Nodong 1 and 2, SCUD Scud

Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles [i] developed by the Soviet Union [i] during the Cold War [i] ... 

, and the long-range Taepodong 1 and 2 missiles. It has test-fired each of these missiles more than once, despite the Six-party talks, initiated in 2003. The Six-party talks have been the diplomatic route used to resolve the concern brought about by North Korea's nuclear weapons program. These talks are a series of meetings with six participating states - the People's Republic of China, South Korea, North Korea, the United States of America, the Russian Federation and Japan and were a result of North Korea withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is ... 

 in 2003. The aim of these talks is to find a peaceful resolution to the security concerns raised by the North Korean nuclear weapons program.

According to Richard Saccone, an expert on Korea, in April 2006 : "After decades of hostile exchanges and months of stalled negotiations about its nuclear weapons, North Korea quietly put forward a positive signal that it is prepared to talk." North America called the Tae Po Dong. This among other comments made by Kim Jong Il suggest they are actually not willing to co-operate

North Korea is not a signatory of the Missile Technology Control Regime and states that it has the sovereign right to test its missiles and pursue its weapons program. The DPRK's stance on the 2002 Pyongyang Declaration with Japan is that the agreement is now void due to Japan's failure to normalize relations with the regime. US sanctions following the six-party talks are also cited by North Korea as a reason to continue missile tests and other aspects of its weapons program.

Human rights

Amnesty International Amnesty International

Amnesty International is an international [i] non-governmental organization [i] with the stated purpose ... 

 and other human rights organizations accuse North Korea of having one of the worst human rights records of any nation, severely restricting most freedoms, including freedom of speech Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship [i].... 

 and freedom of movement Freedom of movement

Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human rights [i] concept wh ... 

, both inside the country and abroad.

North Korean exiles have testified as to the existence of detention camp Internment

"Internment" is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without due process... 

s with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 inmates, and have reported torture Torture

Torture is any act by which severe pain, whether physical or psychological [i], is intentiona... 

, starvation Starvation

Symptoms
Starved individuals lose substantial fat [i] and muscle [i] mass as the body breaks down these tissu ... 

, rape, murder and forced labour . . Japanese television aired what it said was footage of a prison camp . In some of the camps, US officials and former inmates say the annual mortality rate approaches 20% to 25% . The present regime has been compared to a Stalin Joseph Stalin

Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin , alternatively transliterated Josef Stalin, was the de facto [i] ... 

ist approach, where an estimated two million civilians have been killed by the government A former prison guard and army intelligence officer said that in one camp, chemical weapons were tested on prisoners in a gas chamber . According to a former prisoner, pregnant women inside the camps are often forced to have abortions or the newborn child is killed . A recent documents a young woman's forced abortion in a prison camp and subsequent escape from North Korea. The government of North Korea refuses to admit independent human rights observers to the state.

The government of North Korea has also been implicated in terrorist attacks in South Korea as well as assassinations of dissidents in nearby states

Geography

North Korea is on the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula Korean Peninsula

! colspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Korean Peninsula
... 

. North Korea shares land borders with China China

China is a cultural region [i] and ancient civilization [i] in East Asia [i]. ... 

 and Russia Russia

Russia , also the Russian Federation , is a country [i] that stretches over a vast expanse of Eurasia [i] ... 

 to the north, and with South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

 to the south. To its west are the Yellow Sea Yellow Sea

The Yellow Sea, occasionally called "West Sea" in North [i] and South Korea [i], is the nort ... 

 and Korea Bay Korea Bay

The Korea Bay, also called the West Korea Bay, is located at the north of the Yellow Sea [i], betw... 

, and to its east is the Sea of Japan . Japan lies east of the peninsula across the Sea of Japan.

The highest point in Korea is the Paektu-san Baekdu Mountain

Baekdu Mountain is a volcanic mountain [i] on the border between China [i] and North Korea [i], located... 

 at 2,744 metres , and major rivers include the Tumen and the Yalu.

The local climate Climate

The climate is commonly considered to be the weather [i] averaged over a long period of time, typically ... 

 is relatively temperate, with precipitation heavier in summer during a short rainy season called changma, and winters that can be bitterly cold on occasion. The DPRK's capital and largest city is P'yongyang Pyongyang

Pyongyang is the capital [i] city [i] of North Korea [i], located on the Taedong River [i], at .... 

; other major cities include Kaesong Kaesong

colspan=2 align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC>Kaesong City
... 

 in the south, Sinuiju in the northwest, Wonsan Wonsan

Wonsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea [i]. ... 

 and Hamhung in the east and Ch'ongjin in the northeast.

See also: Korean Peninsula Korean Peninsula

! colspan="2" bgcolor="#CCCCCC" | Korean Peninsula
... 


Economy



North Korea's socialist Socialism

Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic [i]... 

 economy Economics

In the social science [i]s, economics is the study of the production [i], ... 

 has been relatively stagnant since the 1970s. Publicly owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods. The government focuses on heavy military industry, with an estimated 25% of the nation's GDP Gross domestic product

A region's gross domestic product, or GDP, is one of the several measures [i] ... 

 being spent on the military as of 2005 2005

2005 was a common year starting on Saturday [i] of the Gregorian calendar [i].
... 

. By comparison, neighboring South Korea spent 2.5% on its military. The government does not release economic data.

In the 1990s North Korea faced significant economic disruptions, including a series of natural disasters, political mismanagement, serious fertilizer Fertilizer

Fertilizers or fertilisers are compounds given to plant [i]s with the intention of promoting grow ... 

 shortages, and the collapse of the Soviet bloc. These resulted in a shortfall of staple grain Cereal

Cereal crops [i] are mostly grasses [i] cultivated for their edible grains or seed [i] ... 

 output of more than 1 million tons from what the country needs to meet internationally-accepted minimum requirements. The resulting famine killed between 600,000 and 3.5 million people in the DPRK during the 1990s. By 1999, foreign aid reduced the number of famine deaths, but North Korea's continuing nuclear program North Korea and weapons of mass destruction

North Korea [i] claims to possess nuclear weapon [i]s, and it is widely believed to have a substantial arsenal ... 

 led to a decline in international food and development aid. In the spring of 2005, the World Food Program reported that famine conditions were in imminent danger of returning to North Korea, and the government was reported to have mobilized millions of city-dwellers to help rice farmers. Recent evidence suggests serious food shortages continue. . In spite of the massive food donations from other countries, over 22 percent of the population of North Korea is classified as malnourished Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet [i] ... 

.

North Korea has previously received international food and fuel aid from China, South Korea, and the United States in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. In June 2005, the U.S. announced that it would give 50,000 metric tons of food aid to North Korea. The United States gave North Korea 50,000 tons in 2004 and 100,000 tons in 2003. On 19 September 2005, North Korea was promised food and fuel aid from South Korea, the U.S.A., Japan, Russia, and the PRC in exchange for abandoning its nuclear weapons program and rejoining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is ... 

.

China is currently the world's third largest food donor, with most of its donations destined for North Korea. Approximately 92% of 577,000 tonnes of food aid donated by China in 2005 was to North Korea, making up 49% of the food aid North Korea receives. South Korea was the second biggest donor in 2005, contributing 36% on top of China's 49%.

In July 2002, North Korea started experimenting with capitalism in the Kaesong Industrial Region Kaesong Industrial Region

colspan=2 align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC>Kaesong Industrial Region
... 

. A small number of other areas have been designated as Special Administrative Regions, including Sinuiju Sinuiju Special Administrative Region

colspan=2 align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC>Sinuiju Special Administrative Region
... 

 along the China-North Korea border. Mainland China Mainland China

Mainland China is term which is usually synonymous with the area currently administered by the People's Republic of China [i] ... 

 and South Korea South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asia [i]n state [i] on the southern half ... 

 are the biggest trade partners of North Korea, with trade with China increasing 38% to $1.02 billion in 2003, and trade with South Korea increasing 12% to $724 million in 2003. It is reported that the number of mobile phones in P'yongyang Pyongyang

Pyongyang is the capital [i] city [i] of North Korea [i], located on the Taedong River [i], at .... 

 rose from only 3,000 in 2002 to approximately 20,000 during 2004. As of June 2004, however, mobile phones became forbidden again. A small amount 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 Kaesong

colspan=2 align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC>Kaesong City
... 

, P'yongyang Pyongyang

Pyongyang is the capital [i] city [i] of North Korea [i], located on the Taedong River [i], at .... 

, as well as along the China-North Korea border, bypassing the food rationing system.

According to the Ministry of Unification of South Korea, the GDP grew by 6.2% in 1999, but only 1.3% in 2000, 3.2 % in 2001, 1.2% in 2002 and 1.8 % in 2003.

In a 2003 event dubbed the "Pong Su incident Pong Su incident

The Pong Su incident occurred during April 2003 when members of the Australian Special Operations Command [i] ... 

", a North Korean cargo ship allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia was seized by Australian officials, strengthening Australian and United States suspicions that Pyongyang engages in international drug smuggling. The North Korean government denied any involvement.

See also: List of North Korean companies, Communications in North Korea, Transportation in North Korea, Tourism in North Korea

Demographics

North Korea's estimated population of 23,000,000 is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous places in the world, with small numbers of