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NKPN North Korea Politics News
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the DPRK ),
is a country in East Asia in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, with its
capital in the city of Pyongyang. At its northern border are China on the Yalu
River and Russia on the Tumen River, in the far northeastern corner of the
country. To the south, it is bordered by South Korea, with which it formed one
nation until the division following World War II.
North Korea follows the Juche ideology, developed by Kim Il-sung, the country's
first president. The current head of state is Kim Jong-il, the former
President's son. The Juche government focuses on self-reliance, but relations
are strong with other traditional socialist states, Vietnam, Laos, and, often,
China, as well as with Cambodia and Burma. Following a major famine in the early
1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a major economic partner, leader
Kim Jong-il instated the "Military-First" policy in 1995, increasing economic
concentration and support for the military.
Multiple international human rights organizations, including Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch, have accused North Korea of having one of
the worst human rights records of any nation. Defectors have testified to the
existence of detention camps, reporting torture, murder, and medical
experimentation.
North Korea's culture is officially protected and heavily promoted by the
government. The Mass Games are government-organized events glorifying its two
leaders, involving over 100,000 performers. In July 2004, the Complex of
Goguryeo Tombs became the first site in the country to be included in the UNESCO
list of World Heritage Sites.
History
History of North Korea
History of Korea and Division of Korea
Emergence of North Korea
In the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea, which ended with Japan's
defeat in World War II in 1945; the Soviet Union took the surrender of Japanese
forces and controlled the area north of the 38th parallel and the United States
likewise the area south of the parallel. Virtually all Koreans welcomed
liberation from Japanese imperial rule, yet objected to re-imposition of foreign
rule upon the peninsula. The Soviets and Americans disagreed on the
implementation of Joint Trusteeship over Korea, with each establishing its
socio-economic and political system upon its jurisdiction, leading, in 1948, to
the establishment of ideologically opposed governments. The United States and
the Soviet Union then withdrew their forces from Korea. Growing tensions and
border skirmishes between north and south led to the civil war called the Korean
War.
On June 25, 1950, the (North) Korean People's Army crossed the 38th Parallel in
a war of peninsular reunification under their political system. The war
continued until July 27, 1953, when the United Nations Command, the Korean
People's Army, and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army signed the Korean War
Armistice Agreement. Since that time the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has
separated the North and South.
Economic evolution
In the aftermath of the Korean War and throughout the 1960s and '70s, the
country's state-controlled economy grew at a significant rate and, until the
late 1970s, was considered to be stronger than that of the South . The apparent
wealth, however, was hardly distributed to the majority of the general
population . The country struggled throughout the 1990s, primarily due to the
loss of strategic trade arrangements with the USSR and strained relations with
China following China's normalization with South Korea in 1992. In addition,
North Korea experienced record-breaking floods (1995 and 1996) followed by
several years of equally severe drought beginning in 1997. This, compounded with
only 18 percent arable land and an inability to import the goods necessary to
sustain industry, led to an immense famine and left North Korea in economic
shambles. Large numbers of North Koreans illegally entered the People's Republic
of China in search of food. Faced with a country in decay, Kim Jong-il adopted a
"Military-First" policy to strengthen the country and reinforce the regime.
Government and politics
The Tower of Juche Idea in Pyongyang. Politics of North Korea
North Korea is officially described as a Juche (self-reliance) State. Government
is organized as a dictatorship. Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea, was the
country's first and only president. Following his death in 1994 he was not
replaced, instead receiving the designation of "Eternal President", and rests in
the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in central Pyongyang. The active position has been
abolished in deference to the memory of Kim Il-sung.
The de facto head of state is Kim Jong-il, who is Chairman of the National
Defense Commission as well as the former President's son. The legislature of
North Korea is the Supreme People's Assembly, currently led by President Kim
Yong-nam. The other senior government leader is Premier Kim Yong-il.
North Korea is a single-party state with a Stalinist, authoritarian, and
totalitarian regime. The governing party is the Democratic Front for the
Reunification of the Fatherland, a coalition made up of three smaller parties,
the Workers' Party of North Korea, the North 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.
Human rights
Human rights in North Korea
Multiple international human rights organizations, including Amnesty
International and Human Rights Watch, accuse North Korea of having one of the
worst human rights records of any nation. North Koreans have been referred to as
"some of the world's most brutalized people", regarding their severe
restrictions on political and economic freedoms. North Korean defectors have
testified to the existence of prison and detention camps with an estimated
150,000 to 200,000 inmates, and have reported torture, starvation, rape, murder,
medical experimentation, forced labor, and forced abortions.
Foreign relations
Kim Jong-il (left), with his father Kim Il-sung around 1986. Foreign relations
of North Korea
Since the ceasefire of the Korean War in 1953, the relations between the North
Korean government and South Korea, the United States, and Japan have remained
tense. Fighting was halted in the ceasefire, however both Koreas are still
technically at war. Both the North and South Korean governments proclaim that
they are seeking eventual reunification 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 2000, in which
both sides made promises to seek out a peaceful reunification.
In 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush labeled North Korea part of an "axis of
evil" and an "outpost of tyranny". The highest-level contact the government has
had with that of the United States was with U. S. Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, who made a visit to Pyongyang in 2000, but the two countries do not
have formal diplomatic relations. In 2006, approximately 37,000 American
soldiers remained in South Korea, with plans to reduce the number to 25,000 by
2008. Despite the foreign troops, Kim Jong-il has privately stated his
acceptance of U.S. troops on the peninsula, even after a possible reunification.
It is claimed by U.S sources that if North Korea and the U.S. normalize
relations, both Koreas would wish to maintain the presence of U.S. troops out of
fear of China and Japan but North Korea strongly denies that and requests the
removal of American troops (see North Korea-United States relations).
North Korea has long maintained close relations with the People's Republic of
China and Russia. The fall of communism in eastern Europe in 1989 and the
disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in a devastating drop in aid
to North Korea from Russia, although China continues to provide substantial
assistance. North Korea continues to have strong ties with its socialist
southeast Asian allies in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. North Korea has started
installing a fence on its northern border in response to China's wishing to curb
refugees fleeing from North Korea, which had erected a concrete and barbed wire
fence in the past year. Previously the shared border with China and North Korea
had only been lightly patrolled.
As a result of the North Korean nuclear weapons program, the Six-party talks
have been established to find a peaceful solution for the growing unrest between
the two Koreas, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China, Japan,
and the United States.
Military
Military Parade Korean People's Army
Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of
the National Defense Commission. The Korean People's Army is the name for the
collective armed personnel of the North Korean military. The army has four
branches: Ground Force, Naval Force, Air Force and the Civil Securities Force.
According to the U.S. Department of State, North Korea has the fourth-largest
military in the world, at an estimated 1.21 million armed personnel, with about
20% of men ages 17-54 in the regular armed forces. 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. Annual military spending
is estimated as high as US$5 Billion (20% of GDP), compared with South Korea's
$24 Billion (2.7% of GDP). Military strategy is designed for insertion and
sabotage behind enemy lines in wartime, with much of the KPA's forces deployed
along the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone.
Nuclear weapons program
North Korea and weapons of mass destruction
On October 9, 2006, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. The blast was
smaller than expected and U.S. officials suggested that it may have been an
unsuccessful test or a partially successful fizzle. North Korea has previously
stated that it has produced nuclear weapons and according to U.S. intelligence
and military officials it has produced, or has the capability to produce, up to
six or seven such devices. As of October 2006, North Korea is not believed to
have the capability to deliver a nuclear warhead by affixing to a missile or
other nuclear weapons delivery system. The most likely means of transport would
be aircraft, which could be monitored.
On March 17, 2007, North Korea told delegates at international nuclear talks it
would begin shut down preparations for its main nuclear facility. This was later
confirmed on July 14 as IAEA inspectors observed the initial shutdown phases of
the Yongbyon nuclear reactor despite there being no official timeline declared.
In return, the reclusive nation has received 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil
shipped from South Korea. Once the nuclear reactor is permanently shut down,
North Korea will receive the equivalent of 950,000 tons of fuel oil when the
six-nation talks reconvene.Following breakthrough talks held in September 2007,
aimed at hastening the end of North Korea's nuclear programme, North Korea will
"disable all its nuclear facilities" by the end of the year, according to the US
assistant secretary of state. The details of such an agreement are due to be
worked out in a session held in China which will involve South Korea, China,
Russia and Japan. Terms for the agreement have thus far not been disclosed, nor
has it been disclosed what offer was made on the US's part in exchange. The
possibility of removing North Korea from the US list of state sponsors of
terrorism has been discussed, which imposes a ban on all arms related trade with
countries on the list, along with withholding US aid. Should these bans be
lifted, the US may help North Koreans following devastating floods earlier this
year.
Geography
Map of North Korea Geography of North Korea
Korean Peninsula
North Korea is on the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula, covering an area
of 120,540 km2 (46,541 sq mi). 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 is the Sea
of Japan. Japan lies east of the peninsula across the Sea of Japan.
North Korea's highest point is Baekdu Mountain at 2,744 metres (9,003 ft). The
longest river is the Yalu River which flows for 790 kilometres (491 mi).
The local climate is relatively temperate, with precipitation heavier in summer
during a short rainy season called changma, and winters that can be bitterly
cold on occasion. From 7 to 12 August, 2007, the most devastating floods in 40
years incited the North Korean Government to ask for international help. NGOs,
such as the Red Cross, asked people to raise funds because they feared a
humanitarian catastrophe.
North Korea's 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.
Economy
A satellite photo of the Korean Peninsula at night illustrates the large
differences between North Korea and South Korea as well as a similar contrast
between North Korea and China.
Pyongyang Metro. Economy of North Korea
Communications in North Korea, Transportation in North Korea, and Tourism in
North Korea
In the aftermath of the Korean War and throughout the 1960s and '70s, the
country's state-controlled economy grew at a significant rate and, until the
late 1970s, was considered to be stronger than that of the South. State-owned
industry produces nearly all manufactured goods. The government focuses on heavy
military industry, following Kim Jong-il's adoption of a "Military-First"
policy. Estimates of the North Korea economy cover a broad range, as the country
does not release official figures and the secretive nature of the country makes
outside estimation difficult. According to accepted estimates, North Korea
spends US$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.
1990s famine
North Korean famine
In the 1990s North Korea faced significant economic disruptions, including a
series of natural disasters, economic mismanagement, serious fertilizer
shortages, and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. These resulted in a shortfall
of staple grain output of more than 1 million tons from what the country needs
to meet internationally-accepted minimum dietary requirements. The North Korean
famine resulted in the deaths of between 300,000 and 800,000 North Koreans per
year during the three year famine, peaking in 1997, with 2.0 million total being
"the highest possible estimate." The deaths were most likely caused by
famine-related illnesses such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and diarrhea rather
than starvation.
In 2006, Amnesty International reported that a national nutrition survey
conducted by the North Korean government, the World Food Programme, and UNICEF
found that 7 percent of children were severely malnourished; 37 percent were
chronically malnourished; 23.4 percent were underweight; and one in three
mothers was malnourished and anaemic as the result of the lingering effect of
the famine. The inflation caused by some of the 2002 economic reforms, including
the "Military-first" policy, was cited for creating the increased price of basic
foods.
Beginning in 1997, the U.S. began shipping food aid to North Korea through the
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to combat the famine. Shipments peaked
in 1999 at nearly 700,000 tons making the U.S. the largest foreign aid donor to
the country at the time. Under the Bush Administration, aid was drastically
reduced year after year from 350,000 tons in 2001 to 40,000 in 2004. The Bush
Administration took criticism for using "food as a weapon" during talks over the
North's nuclear weapons program, but insisted the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) criteria were the same for all countries and the situation
in North Korea had "improved significantly since its collapse in the mid-1990s."
Agricultural production had increased from about 2.7 million metric tons in 1997
to 4.2 million metric tons in 2004.
Foreign commerce
Collective farm in Hamhung.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. In 2005, China and South Korea combined
to provide 1 million tons of food aid, each contributing half. 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.
On 19 September 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". 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.
North Korea's high-tech industrial activity has increased in the past decade.In
July 2002, North Korea started experimenting with capitalism in the Kaesong
Industrial Region. A small number of other areas have been designated as Special
Administrative Regions, including Sin?iju along the China-North Korea border.
China and South Korea are the biggest trade partners of North Korea, with trade
with China increasing 38% to US$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 Pyongyang 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 and Pyongyang, as well as along the China-North Korea
border, bypassing the food rationing system.
In an event in 2003 dubbed the "Pong Su incident", a North Korean cargo ship
allegedly attempting to smuggle heroin into Australia was seized by Australian
officials, strengthening Australian and United States' suspicions that Pyongyang
engages in international drug smuggling. The North Korean government denied any
involvement.
Demographics
Demographics of North Korea
North Korea's population of roughly 23 million is one of the most ethnically and
linguistically homogeneous in the world, with very small numbers of Chinese,
Japanese, Vietnamese and European expatriate minorities.
Religion
View of the Daedong River overlooking Pyongyang. Religion in North Korea
North Korea shares with South Korea a Buddhist and Confucian heritage and recent
history of Christian and Chondogyo ("Heavenly Way") movements. The North Korean
Constitution allows freedom of religion, however, according to Human Rights
Watch, ever since the rise of communism, free religious activities no longer
exist as the government sponsors religious groups only to create an illusion of
religious freedom. In practical terms all religion in North Korea is superseded
by a cult of personality devoted to the rulers Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il.
Pyongyang was the center of Christian activity in Korea before the Korean War.
Today, two state-sanctioned churches exist, which freedom of religion advocates
allege are showcases for foreigners. Official government statistics report that
there are 10,000 Protestants and 4,000 Roman Catholics in North Korea.
According to a ranking published by Open Doors, an organization that supports
persecuted Christians, North Korea is currently the country with the most severe
persecution of Christians in the world. Human rights groups such as Amnesty
International also have expressed concerns about religious persecution in North
Korea.
Language
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. The adoption of modern terms from foreign
languages has been limited in North Korea, while prevalent in the South. Hanja
(Chinese characters) are no longer used in North Korea, although still
occasionally used in South Korea. Both Koreas share the Hangul writing system,
called Chosongul in North Korea. 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.
Culture
Scene from Mass Games in Pyongyang.Main articles: Culture of Korea and
Contemporary culture of North Korea
There is a vast cult of personality around Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il and much
of North Korea's literature, popular music, theater, and film glorify the two
men.
A popular event in North Korea is the Mass Games. The most recent and largest
Mass Games was called "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, gymnastic, and
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.
Grand People's Palace of StudiesCulture 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
Yoco. Outside the capital, there's a major theatre in Hamhung and in every city
there are State-run theatres and stadiums.
Hamhung Theatre, the largest in North Korea.Korean culture came under attack
during the 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. In addition, the
Japanese altered or destroyed various Korean monuments including Gyeongbok
Palace and documents which portrayed the Japanese in a negative light were
revised. This methodical alteration process was done by the Editing Agency of
Korean History.
In July 2004, the Complex of Goguryeo Tombs became the first site in the country
to be included into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Administrative divisions
Main articles: Administrative divisions of North Korea and Cities of North Korea
Provinces of Korea and Special cities of Korea
North Korea is divided into nine provinces, three special regions, and two
directly-governed cities (chikhalsi, ???, 直轄市):
Provinces
Division Transliteration Hangul Hanja
Province
Chagang Chagang-do ??? 慈江道
North Hamgyong Hamgy?ng-pukto ???? 咸鏡北道
South Hamgyong Hamgy?ng-namdo ???? 咸鏡南道
North Hwanghae Hwanghae-pukto ???? 黃海北道
South Hwanghae Hwanghae-namdo ???? 黃海南道
Kangwon Kangw?ndo ??? 江原道
North Pyongan P'y?ngan-pukto ???? 平安北道
South Pyongan P'y?ngan-namdo ???? 平安南道
Ryanggang * Ryanggang-do ??? 兩江道
Special regions
Kaes?ng Industrial Region Kaes?ng Kong-?p Chigu ?????? 開城工業地區
Kumgangsan Tourist Region K?mgangsan Kwangwang Chigu ??????? 金剛山觀光地區
Sinuiju Special Administrative Region Sin?iju T'?kpy?l Haengj?nggu ????????
新義州特別行政區
Directly-governed cities
Pyongyang P'y?ngyang Chikhalsi ????? 平壤直轄市
Rason Ras?n (Rajin-S?nbong) Chikhalsi ??(??-??)??? 羅先(羅津-先鋒)直轄市
* - Sometimes rendered "Yanggang" (???).
Major cities
Sinuiju
Kaesong
Nampho
Chongjin
Wonsan
Sariwon
Hoeryong
Hamhung
Haeju
Kanggye
Hyesan
Kimchaek
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