North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, bordering China and Russia to the north and South Korea to the south via the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Pyongyang is its capital and largest city. Both North and South Korea claim to be the legitimate government of the entire Korean Peninsula. The Yellow Sea borders its west, and the Sea of Japan its east.
In 1910, the Japanese rule began enforcing a cultural assimilation policy in Korea. Koreans were compelled to learn Japanese, adopt Japanese names, practice Shinto religion, and were prohibited from using the Korean language in schools, businesses, and public settings.
In 1919, the March First Movement protests occurred in Korea, demonstrating Korean resistance against Japanese colonial rule and leading to the formation of resistance groups in exile.
In October 1945, Soviet general Terenty Shtykov recommended the establishment of the Soviet Civil Administration in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
Following the division of the Korean peninsula in 1945, two distinct cultures began to form from the common Korean heritage. North Korea had little exposure to foreign influence, and the revolutionary struggle was reflected in art.
In 1945, following Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, Korea was divided into two zones along the 38th parallel, with the north occupied by the Soviet Union and the south occupied by the United States.
In 1945, the Japanese rule over Korea ended. This marked the end of the cultural assimilation policy, which had been in effect since 1910.
In February 1946, Kim Il Sung was appointed as chairman of the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea with the support of the Soviet Union.
In September 1946, South Korean citizens rose up against the Allied Military Government, reflecting the political tensions and divisions of the time.
In April 1948, an uprising of the Jeju islanders in South Korea was violently crushed, highlighting the internal conflicts and political repression.
In May 1948, South Korea declared its statehood, marking a significant step in the formal division of the Korean Peninsula.
In September 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established in the North, with Kim Il Sung as premier and Terenty Shtykov as the first Soviet ambassador.
In 1948, North Korea adopted 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea' as its official name, distinguishing itself from South Korea.
In 1948, Soviet forces withdrew from North Korea, marking a transition in the region's geopolitical landscape.
In 1948, separate governments were formed in Korea: the socialist Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, aligned with the Soviet Union, and the capitalist Republic of Korea in the south, aligned with the West.
In 1949, most American forces withdrew from South Korea, creating a power vacuum and increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
On 25 June 1950, the North Korean military invaded South Korea, rapidly overrunning most of the country and initiating the Korean War.
In 1950, the North Korean invasion of South Korea initiated the Korean War, a conflict that would last for three years and involve international powers.
In 1950, the highest status in North Korea's Songbun system was given to individuals descended from participants in the resistance against Japanese occupation with Kim Il Sung and to factory workers, laborers, or peasants.
On 27 July 1953, fighting in the Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice that approximately restored the original boundaries between North and South Korea, but no peace treaty was signed. The war resulted in approximately 3 million deaths.
In 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement brought about a ceasefire in the Korean War and established a demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. However, a formal peace treaty was never signed.
In December 1955, Juche was pronounced in a speech called On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work in order to emphasize a Korea-centered revolution.
During the 1956 August Faction Incident, Kim Il Sung successfully resisted efforts by the Soviet Union and China to depose him, demonstrating political independence.
By 1957, industrial production in North Korea had returned to pre-war levels, signaling a period of recovery and growth.
In October 1958, the final withdrawal of Chinese troops from North Korea solidified North Korea's effective independence.
In 1958, Kim Il Sung described the North Korean population as consisting of three classes under the Songbun system: the loyal "core class" (25%), the "wavering class" (55%), and the "hostile class" (20%).
In 1959, the Mansudae Art Studio was established and has since dominated most aspects of art in North Korea. It is likely the largest art factory in the world, employing around 1,000 artists.
Systematic inefficiency began to arise around 1960, when the economy shifted from the extensive to the intensive development stage.
In 1964, North Korea made its first appearance in the Olympics.
In 1968, North Korea failed in assassination attempts on South Korean leaders. There were more attempts in 1974, and the Rangoon bombing in 1983.
In 1971, secret, high-level contacts between North and South Korea began, marking the first steps toward dialogue after the war.
In 1971, the "Sea of Blood" opera premiered. It is the most widely performed of the Five Great Revolutionary Operas.
In 1972, the Juche ideology was formally introduced into the constitution of North Korea.
In 1972, the July 4 South–North Joint Statement established principles of working toward peaceful reunification, signaling a potential thaw in relations.
In 1972, the two Koreas agreed in principle to achieve reunification through peaceful means and without foreign interference.
The 1972 Olympics marked North Korea's Summer Games debut. The nation won five medals, including one gold.
In 1973, South Korea declared its preference that the two Koreas should seek separate memberships in international organizations, leading to the failure of reunification talks.
In 1973, The Ministry of State Security was separated from the Ministry of Public Security to conduct domestic and foreign intelligence, counterintelligence and manage the political prison system.
In 1974, North Korea failed in further assassination attempts on South Korean leaders, as part of ongoing tensions.
In 1974, the payment of taxes was officially abolished in North Korea.
As late as 1976, North Korean GDP per capita was equal to that of South Korea, indicating a period of relative economic success.
In 1976, tensions flared over the axe murder incident at Panmunjom, increasing the hostile relationship.
The study of Russian and English was made compulsory in upper middle schools in 1978.
In 1979, journalist Bradley Martin observed that nearly all music, art, and sculpture in North Korea glorified "Great Leader" Kim Il Sung, with his personality cult extending to his son, "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il.
On October 10, 1980, the then North Korean leader Kim Il Sung proposed a federation between North and South Korea named the Democratic Federal Republic of Korea in which the respective political systems would initially remain.
In 1983, North Korea failed in the Rangoon bombing, which was another assassination attempt on South Korean leaders.
North Korea was designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. because of its alleged involvement in the 1983 Rangoon bombing.
In 1987, the North Korean economy began to stagnate, marking the start of a long period of economic decline.
North Korea was designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. because of its alleged involvement in the 1987 bombing of a South Korean airliner.
In 2013, overall external trade reached a total of $7.3 billion, the highest amount since 1990, while inter-Korean trade dropped to an eight-year low of $1.1 billion.
In December 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved, ending its aid and support to North Korea and creating economic challenges.
In 1991, North Korea became a member of the United Nations, marking its formal recognition by the international community. Alongside UN membership, North Korea also maintains membership in organizations such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the G77, and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
In 1991, the dissolution of the Soviet Union resulted in a halt to Soviet aid to North Korea, leading to an almost complete collapse of the North Korean economy.
In 1992, as Kim Il Sung's health began deteriorating, his son Kim Jong Il slowly began taking over various state tasks.
North Korea declared the last seven-year plan unsuccessful in December 1993 and thereafter stopped announcing plans.
From 1994 to 1998, North Korea experienced a severe famine, leading to widespread malnutrition and suffering among the population.
In 1994, Kim Il Sung died of a heart attack, leading to a three-year period of national mourning before Kim Jong Il officially announced his position as the new leader.
In 1994, Kim Jong Il succeeded his father, Kim Il Sung, as the leader of North Korea.
In 1994, North Korea promised to halt its development of nuclear weapons under the Agreed Framework, negotiated with U.S. president Bill Clinton. Also Kim Jong Il instituted Songun policy.
Kim Il Sung, the founder and leader of North Korea until his death in 1994, is remembered as the country's "eternal President".
The North Korean famine began in 1995, lasted for three years, and resulted in the deaths of between 240,000 and 420,000 North Koreans.
In 1996, due to a widespread famine exacerbated by flooding in the mid-1990s, the North Korean government accepted UN food aid.
In 1997, international donors led by the United States initiated shipments of food through the World Food Program to combat the famine.
In 1997, the film Titanic was released and is frequently shown to university students in North Korea as an example of Western culture, despite Western productions generally being limited to private showings for high-ranking Party members.
In 1998, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung instituted the Sunshine Policy. The Sunshine Policy encouraged other countries to engage with North Korea and allowed Pyongyang to normalize relations with EU states and establish joint economic projects between North and South Korea.
In 1998, in an attempt to recover from the economic collapse, the government began structural reforms that formally legalized private ownership of assets and decentralized control over production.
In 1998, the period of intense famine in North Korea came to an end, though the population continued to face challenges related to malnutrition.
The number of malnourished children declined from 60% in 1998 to 37% in 2006 and 28% in 2013.
By 2000, the economic situation improved owing to a massive international food assistance effort, but the economy continues to suffer from food shortages, dilapidated infrastructure and a critically low energy supply.
Demographic experts in the 20th century estimated that the population would grow to 25.5 million by 2000 and 28 million by 2010, but this increase never occurred due to the North Korean famine.
Following the 2000 inter-Korean summit, improved relations with South Korea led to a decline in direct ideological messages in North Korean pop songs. Themes like comradeship, nostalgia, and building a powerful country persisted.
In 2000, the inter-Korean summit occurred, where South Korean President Kim Dae-jung visited Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang. Both North and South Korea signed the June 15th North–South Joint Declaration, promising to seek peaceful reunification.
In 2001, the international environment changed when George W. Bush became U.S. President, marking a shift in relations between the U.S. and North Korea.
A second round of reforms in 2002 led to an expansion of market activities, partial monetization, flexible prices and salaries, and the introduction of incentives and accountability techniques.
Cellular coverage became available in 2002 with a 3G network operated by Koryolink, a joint venture with Orascom Telecom Holding. The number of subscribers has increased from 3,000 in 2002 to almost two million in 2013.
In 2002, President George W. Bush included North Korea in his axis of evil in his State of the Union Address, leading to strained relations and increased efforts by North Korea to acquire nuclear weapons.
The famine had a significant impact on the population growth rate, which declined to 0.9% annually in 2002.
According to a 2003 report by the United States Department of State, almost 100% of the population in North Korea had access to water and sanitation.
In 2003, a United Nations Environmental Programme report stated that forests covered over 70 percent of North Korea, mostly on steep slopes.
In July 2004, The Complex of Koguryo Tombs were registered on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, becoming the first World Heritage property of North Korea by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC).
According to a 2004 South Korean assessment, North Korea possesses a stockpile of chemical weapons estimated to amount to between 2,500 and 5,000 tons, including nerve, blister, blood, and vomiting agents, as well as the ability to cultivate and produce biological weapons including anthrax, smallpox, and cholera.
From 2004 to 2014, The U.S. State Department estimated that North Korea's military spending averaged 23% of its GDP, the highest level in the world.
In 2005, North Korea's foreign trade surpassed pre-crisis levels and continues to expand.
As a result of its nuclear and missile tests, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 1695 of July 2006.
As a result of its nuclear and missile tests, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 1718 of October 2006.
On 9 October 2006, North Korea announced it had conducted its first nuclear weapons test, escalating international concerns and tensions.
The number of malnourished children declined from 60% in 1998 to 37% in 2006 and 28% in 2013.
On October 4, 2007, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong Il signed an eight-point peace agreement.
Since 2007, deaths caused by lower respiratory infection, one of the leading causes of death attributed to communicable diseases in North Korea, have declined by six percent.
On October 11, 2008, the United States removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism after Pyongyang agreed to cooperate on issues related to its nuclear program.
In 2008, the child mortality rate in North Korea was estimated to be 45 per 1,000 live births, which is better than other economically comparable countries such as Chad, which had a rate of 120 per 1,000, even though Chad was wealthier at the time.
The 2008 census listed the entire population as literate.
As a result of its nuclear and missile tests, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 1874 of June 2009.
In 2009, North Korea ended all previous agreements with South Korea in response to the South Korean president Lee Myung-bak adopting a more hard-line approach. North Korea also deployed additional ballistic missiles and placed its military on full combat alert after threats from South Korea, Japan, and the United States to intercept a Unha-2 space launch vehicle.
In 2009, North Korea joined the Outer Space Treaty and has stated its intentions to undertake crewed and Moon missions.
In 2009, the government attempted to stem the expanding free market by banning jangmadang and the use of foreign currency, heavily devaluing the won and restricting the convertibility of savings in the old currency, but the resulting inflation spike and rare public protests caused a reversal of these policies.
The 2009 constitution dropped references to communism and elevated the Songun military first policy while explicitly confirming the position of Kim Jong Il.
A 2010 report by the South Korean Science and Technology Policy Institute identified polymer chemistry, single carbon materials, nanoscience, mathematics, software, nuclear technology and rocketry as potential areas of inter-Korean scientific cooperation.
According to North Korean state media, military expenditure amounted to 15.8 percent of the state budget in 2010.
Demographic experts in the 20th century estimated that the population would grow to 25.5 million by 2000 and 28 million by 2010, but this increase never occurred due to the North Korean famine.
In 2010, tensions between North Korea and South Korea and the United States increased due to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and North Korea's bombardment of Yeonpyeongdo.
In 2010, the opera "Sea of Blood" had a successful tour in China, having been performed over 1,500 times since its premiere in 1971.
On December 17, 2011, Kim Jong Il died from a heart attack and his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, was announced as his successor to lead North Korea.
Following his death in 2011, Kim Jong Il, who succeeded Kim Il Sung as the leader of North Korea, was announced as "Eternal General Secretary" and "Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission".
In 2011, Kim Jong Un succeeded his father, Kim Jong Il, as the leader of North Korea.
In December 2012, North Korea became the tenth spacefaring nation with the launch of Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 Unit 2, which successfully reached orbit but was believed to be crippled and non-operational.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, weightlifter Kim Un-guk broke the world record in the Men's 62 kg category.
In 2012, The Associated Press opened the first Western all-format, full-time bureau in Pyongyang, North Korea.
In 2012, gross national income per capita was $1,523, compared to $28,430 in South Korea.
As a result of its nuclear and missile tests, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 2087 of January 2013.
In April 2013, the Korean Committee of Space Technology was replaced by the National Aerospace Technology Administration.
In December 2013, former American basketball professional Dennis Rodman visited North Korea to help train the national team after developing a friendship with Kim Jong Un.
In 2013, Clause 2 of Article 10 of the newly edited Ten Fundamental Principles of the Workers' Party of Korea stated that the party and revolution must be carried "eternally" by the "Mount Paektu Bloodline".
In 2013, cardiovascular disease was reported as the largest cause of death in North Korea. Stroke, COPD, and ischaemic heart disease are major contributors. Risk factors include urbanization, aging population, and high rates of smoking and alcohol consumption among men.
In 2013, construction of a high-speed railway connecting Kaesong, Pyongyang, and Sinuiju, with speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (120 mph), was approved.
In 2013, domestic food production almost recovered to the recommended annual level of 5.37 million tons of cereal equivalent, but the World Food Program reported a continuing lack of dietary diversity and access to fats and proteins.
In 2013, the SEZ system was overhauled when 14 new zones were opened and the Rason Special Economic Zone was reformed as a joint Chinese-North Korean project.
The number of subscribers using the 3G Koryolink network increased to almost two million in 2013, since cellular coverage became available in 2002.
While North Korea is classified as a low-income country, the structure of North Korea's causes of death (2013) is unlike that of other low-income countries.
A 2014 UN inquiry into the DPRK's human rights record found evidence for "systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations" and stated that "the gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world".
From 2004 to 2014, The U.S. State Department estimated that North Korea's military spending averaged 23% of its GDP, the highest level in the world.
In 2014 the population growth rate in North Korea was 0.5%.
In 2014, a set of legal regulations were adopted in North Korea that stressed the development of geothermal, wind, and solar energy along with recycling and environmental conservation.
In 2014, the all-girl Moranbong Band was described as the most popular musical group in North Korea.
In a 2014 report to the UN, North Korea dismissed accusations of atrocities as wild rumors.
The Miraewon network of electronic libraries was established in 2014 under the slogan "constructing a powerful knowledge economy".
As of 2015, North Korea had diplomatic relations with 166 countries and embassies in 47 countries.
In 2015, 80% of the population in North Korea had access to improved sanitation facilities.
On 7 February 2016, Korean Central Television announced that the Earth observation satellite, Kwangmyongsong-4, had successfully been put into orbit.
On 19 September 2016, a TLDR project noticed the North Korean Internet DNS data and top-level domain was left open which allowed global DNS zone transfers. A dump of the data discovered was shared on GitHub.
In 2016, according to a World Bank report, approximately 9.5% of deaths in North Korea were attributed to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal, and nutrition conditions. This was slightly lower than South Korea's 10.1%, significantly less than other low-income countries at 50.1%, but higher than high-income countries which stood at 6.7%.
In 2016, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancers accounted for 84 percent of the total deaths in North Korea.
In May 2017, Moon Jae-in was elected president of South Korea. Moon Jae-in promised to return to the Sunshine Policy.
On November 20, 2017, North Korea was re-designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. under the administration of Donald Trump after continued nuclear tests.
As a result of its nuclear and missile tests, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 2397 in December 2017.
In 2017, North Korea was ranked 180th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' annual Press Freedom Index, highlighting the extreme government control over media and censorship within the country.
In 2017, relations between North Korea and Malaysia were strained by the assassination of Kim Jong-nam.
In 2017, tensions between the United States and North Korea escalated following Donald Trump's presidency, with heightened rhetoric exchanged between the two nations and threats of military action.
In February 2018, a détente developed at the Winter Olympics, which were held in South Korea.
On June 12, 2018, US President Trump met with Kim in Singapore, signing an agreement endorsing the 2017 Panmunjom Declaration, pledging to work towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
According to the Walk Free's 2018 Global Slavery Index, North Korea is ranked highest in the world in terms of the percentage of population in modern slavery, with 10.4 percent enslaved.
In 2018, tensions decreased and a détente developed, leading to a series of summits between Kim Jong Un of North Korea, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, and President Trump of the United States.
From February 27 to 28, 2019, Trump and Kim met in Hanoi, but failed to achieve an agreement.
In June 2019, relations between North Korea and China improved after Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese leader, visited North Korea.
On June 30, 2019, Trump met with Kim along with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at the Korean DMZ.
In 2019, North Korea had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.02/10, ranking it 28th globally out of 172 countries.
North Korea has a life expectancy of 72.3 years in 2019, according to HDR 2020.
Since 2019, Choe Ryong-hae has been the Chairman of the SPA Standing Committee, making him the third-ranking official in North Korea.
On January 22, 2020, North Korea closed its borders to foreign tourists in response to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a 2020 study published by the Centre for the Study of World Christianity, 73% of the population are irreligious (58% agnostic, 15% atheist), 13% practice Chondoism, 12% practice Korean shamanism, 1.5% are Buddhist, and less than 0.5% practice another religion such as Christianity, Islam, or Chinese folk religion.
North Korea has a life expectancy of 72.3 years in 2019, according to HDR 2020.
On January 10, 2021, Kim Jong Un was formally elected as the General Secretary in the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, inheriting a top title previously held by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
On 19 October 2021, North Korea successfully tested a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile, named Hwasong-11S.
In 2021, the Workers' Party of Korea reasserted its commitment to communism.
On March 24, 2022, North Korea conducted a successful ICBM test launch for the first time since the 2017 crisis.
In September 2022, North Korea passed a law that formally declared itself a nuclear state.
As of September 2023, estimates of North Korea's nuclear arsenal size ranged between 40 and 116 assembled nuclear warheads. Delivery capabilities are provided by the Rocket Force, which has some 1,000 ballistic missiles with a range of up to 11,900 km.
On December 30, 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared South Korea a "colonial vassal state", marking a departure from mutual claims over the entire Korean Peninsula.
On January 15, 2024, Kim Jong Un called for a constitutional amendment to redefine the boundary with South Korea as the 'Southern National Borderline'.
In January 2024, North Korea officially announced that it would no longer seek reunification with South Korea. Kim Jong Un called for "completely occupying, subjugating and reclaiming" South Korea if war breaks out. Kim Jong Un also announced that the constitution should be changed such that South Korea would be considered the "primary foe and invariable principal enemy" of North Korea. Additionally, government agencies tasked with promoting reunification were closed.
In October 2024, North Korea claimed that 1.4 million people joined its military after accusing South Korea of a drone intrusion. South Korea restricted leaflet launches near the border to prevent potential conflict, while both sides engaged in psychological warfare.
On December 29, 2024, Pak Thae-song was appointed Premier of North Korea, becoming the second-ranking official after Kim Jong Un.
In 2024, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) formally abandoned its efforts to reunify Korea, signaling a significant shift in its policy towards the South.
North Korea's long-term objective is to curb fossil fuel usage and reach an output of 5 million kilowatts from renewable sources by 2044, up from its current total of 430,000 kilowatts from all sources.
As a result of its nuclear and missile tests, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 2087.
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