North Korea

North Korea is a country in East Asia that makes up the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. It borders China and Russia in the north, along the Yalu (Amnok) and Tyumen rivers, and South Korea in the south in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Its western border forms the Yellow Sea, and its eastern border forms the Sea of ​​Japan. North Korea, like its southern counterpart, claims to be the legitimate government of the entire peninsula and adjacent islands. Pyongyang is the capital and largest city in the country.

In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Japanese Empire. In 1945, after Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, Korea was divided into two zones along the 38th parallel: the north was occupied by the Soviet Union, and the south by the United States. Reunification negotiations fell through and in 1948 separate governments were formed: the socialist DPRK in the north and the capitalist First Republic of Korea in the south. The DPRK was created by several interim governments: the People's Republic of Korea (PRK), the Soviet Civil Administration (SCA), the North Korea's Provisional People's Committee, and the North Korea's People's Committee. The Korean War began in 1950 with the invasion of North Korea and lasted until 1953. The Korean armistice agreement resulted in a ceasefire and the establishment of a demilitarized zone (DMZ), but a formal peace treaty was never signed.

According to article 1 of the constitution of the state, North Korea is an "independent socialist state." Elections are being held in the country, although independent observers describe them as bogus elections, as North Korea is a totalitarian dictatorship with an elaborate cult of personality around the Kim dynasty: Il Sung, Jong Il, and current leader Jung Eun. The Workers' Party of Korea, led by a member of the ruling family, is the dominant party and leads the Democratic Front for Korean Reunification, of which all politicians must be members.

According to article 3 of the constitution, Juche is the official ideology of North Korea. The means of production belong to the state through state enterprises and collective farms. Most services such as health care, education, housing and food production are subsidized or funded by the government. From 1994 to 1998, North Korea suffered from a famine that killed between 240,000 and 420,000 people, and the population remained malnourished.

With regard to the Korean People's Army, North Korea follows the Songun, or "military first" policy. It possesses nuclear weapons and has the second largest military and paramilitary personnel, with a total of 7.769 million personnel, reserves and paramilitaries, or roughly 30% of its population. Its active army of 1.28 million soldiers is the fourth largest in the world and accounts for 5% of the population. A 2014 United Nations investigation into human rights abuses in North Korea found that “the severity, scope and nature of these abuses indicate a condition unparalleled in the world today,” according to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. similar views. The North Korean government denies these abuses. However, in addition to being a member of the United Nations since 1991, North Korea is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and the ASEAN Regional Forum.