by Stacey Janota, CTV News staff
Introduction to North Korea: Shortly after the Second World War, a communist
government was set up in the northern portion of Korea. After South Korea
achieved its independence, the North invaded the south, allied with the
Chinese. The war came to a halt in 1953 when the two countries agreed to
a ceasefire and a demilitarized zone between the warring countries was established.
A permanent resolution was never reached. Technically, the two countries
are still at war.
Kim Il-Sung, the founding father of North Korea, shaped the country's political, military and social landscapes. North Korea now boasts one of the largest military forces in the world, to protect one of the most heavily armed and dangerous borders. Years of drought, mismanagement and agricultural problems have resulted in millions of deaths. It remains one of the last closed countries in the world.
Quick Facts: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
Government Type:: Authoritarian Socialist, Dictatorship
Capital:Pyongyang
Leader: President Kim Jong-Il
Population:22.2 million
Geography: 120,540 square km
Economy: North Korea remains one the most isolated economies in the
world. The country faces squalid economic conditions as a result of years
of under investment. Nearly a decade of drought has ravaged the economy
and the people due to deteriorating environmental conditions and shortages
of agricultural products. The country relies heavily on international food
and fuel aid. Military spending consumes scant resources. Current political
tensions on the international community have slowed the flow of much-needed
aid.
Military Expenditures in Dollars (US):5,124.1 million
Military Expenditures Percentage of GDP:31.3%
(Source: CIA World Factbook 2002)
Leader Profiles:
Name: Kim Jong-Il Head of State of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Born: 1941
Career Highlights: Kim Jong-Il was designated the successor to his father
in 1980. A decade later, he asserted power by taking control of the country’s
armed forces. Kim Jong-Il assumed leadership of the ruling Korean Worker’s
Party in 1997, three years after his father’s death.
Quote: “I know I'm an object of criticism in the world, but if I
am being talked about, I must be doing the right things.”
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