North Korea

From Metapedia

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (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 is a communist dictatorship following the Juche ideology, developed by Kim Il-sung, the country's first president. The current leader is Kim Jong-il, the late president Kim Il-sung's son. Relations are strong with other traditional communist 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. North Korea is a member of the United Nations.