History of North Korea in Timeline
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. Pyongyang serves as its capital and largest city. The country's western border is the Yellow Sea, and its eastern border is the Sea of Japan. Both North and South Korea claim to be the sole legitimate government of the entire Korean peninsula.
1919: March First Movement
In 1919, the March First Movement protests occurred in Korea, demonstrating resistance against Japanese colonial rule and leading to the formation of resistance groups in exile.
October 1945: Establishment of Soviet Civil Administration
In October 1945, Soviet general Terenty Shtykov recommended the establishment of the Soviet Civil Administration.
1945: Division of the Korean peninsula
After the peninsula was divided in 1945, two distinct cultures formed out of the common Korean heritage. North Koreans have little exposure to foreign influence.
1945: End of Japanese rule
In 1945, Japanese rule over Korea ended, after which the peninsula was divided.
1945: Division of Korea
In 1945, following Japan's surrender in World War II, Korea was divided along the 38th parallel, with the north occupied by the Soviet Union and the south by the United States.
February 1946: Kim Il Sung as Chairman
In February 1946, Kim Il Sung was supported as chairman of the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea.
September 1946: Uprising against Allied Military Government
In September 1946, South Korean citizens rose up against the Allied Military Government.
April 1948: Jeju islanders Uprising
In April 1948, an uprising of the Jeju islanders was violently crushed.
May 1948: South Korea declares statehood
In May 1948, South Korea declared its statehood, solidifying its existence as a separate nation.
September 1948: Establishment of DPRK
On September 9th, 1948, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established in the North, with Kim Il Sung becoming premier.
1948: Adoption of Official Name
In 1948, North Korea adopted Democratic People's Republic of Korea as its official name, distinguishing itself from South Korea.
1948: Soviet Forces Withdraw
In 1948, Soviet forces withdrew from North Korea, marking a shift in the regional power dynamics.
1948: Formation of Separate Governments
In 1948, separate governments were established in Korea: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) in the north and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in the south.
1949: US Forces Withdraw
In 1949, most American forces withdrew from South Korea, a year prior to the Korean War, a period of transition and shifting alliances.
June 1950: North Korean Invasion of South Korea
On June 25th, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, triggering the Korean War.
1950: North Korean Invasion of South Korea
In 1950, the North Korean invasion of South Korea initiated the Korean War, a conflict that would last for three years and involve international forces.
1950: Songbun Highest Status
In 1950, the highest Songbun status was accorded to individuals descended from those who participated with Kim Il Sung in the resistance against Japanese occupation and to those who were factory workers, laborers, or peasants.
July 1953: Korean Armistice Agreement
On July 27th, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, bringing an end to the Korean War but without a formal peace treaty.
1953: Korean Armistice Agreement
In 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, resulting in a ceasefire and the establishment of a demilitarized zone (DMZ), but no formal peace treaty.
December 1955: Pronouncement of Juche Ideology
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.
1956: August Faction Incident
During the 1956 August Faction Incident, Kim Il Sung successfully resisted efforts by the Soviet Union and China to depose him.
1957: Industrial Production Returns to Pre-War Levels
In 1957, industrial production in North Korea returned to pre-war levels, signifying a period of recovery and growth.
October 1958: Withdrawal of Chinese Troops
In October 1958, Chinese troops withdrew from North Korea, marking a point at which North Korea became effectively independent.
1958: Kim Il Sung on Songbun Classifications
In 1958, Kim Il Sung stated that the 'core class' constituted 25% of the North Korean population, the 'wavering class' 55%, and the 'hostile class' 20%.
1959: Establishment of Mansudae Art Studio
In 1959, the Mansudae Art Studio was established, and has since dominated most aspects of art in North Korea.
1960: Systematic inefficiency
Systematic inefficiency began to arise around 1960, when North Korea's economy shifted from the extensive to the intensive development stage.
1961: Population of North Korea
In 1961, North Korea's population was 10.9 million.
1964: North Korea's first appearance in the Olympics
In 1964, North Korea made its first appearance in the Olympics.
1968: Assassination Attempts on South Korean Leaders
In 1968, North Korea failed in several assassination attempts on South Korean leaders.
1971: Secret Contacts Begin
In 1971, secret, high-level contacts began to be conducted between North and South Korea.
1971: Premiere of Sea of Blood opera
In 1971, the opera "Sea of Blood" premiered and has since been performed over 1,500 times. It is part of the "Five Great Revolutionary Operas".
1972: North Korea's Summer Olympics debut
In 1972, North Korea made its summer games debut at the Olympics and won five medals, including one gold.
1972: July 4 South–North Joint Statement
In 1972, The July 4 South–North Joint Statement established principles of working toward peaceful reunification.
1972: Juche Introduced into the Constitution
In 1972, the Juche ideology was introduced into the constitution of North Korea.
1972: Agreement on Reunification Principles
In 1972, the two Koreas agreed in principle to achieve reunification through peaceful means and without foreign interference.
1973: Separate Memberships in International Organizations Preference
In 1973, South Korea declared its preference that the two Koreas should seek separate memberships in international organizations.
1973: Ministry of State Security separated
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.
1974: Assassination Attempts on South Korean Leaders
In 1974, North Korea failed in several assassination attempts on South Korean leaders.
1974: Abolishment of taxes
The payment of taxes was officially abolished in North Korea in 1974.
1976: GDP Per Capita Equal to South Korea
As late as 1976, North Korean GDP per capita was equal to that of South Korea, highlighting a period of relative economic parity.
1976: Axe Murder Incident at Panmunjom
In 1976, tensions flared over the axe murder incident at Panmunjom.
1978: Compulsory Language Study
The study of Russian and English was made compulsory in upper middle schools in 1978.
1979: Cult of Personality Surrounding Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
In 1979, journalist Bradley Martin observed that nearly all music, art, and sculpture in North Korea glorified "Great Leader" Kim Il Sung, whose personality cult was then being extended to his son, "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il.
October 1980: Kim Il Sung Proposes Democratic Federal Republic of Korea
On 10 October 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.
1983: Rangoon Bombing
In 1983, North Korea failed in several assassination attempts on South Korean leaders, such as the Rangoon bombing.
1983: Alleged Involvement in Rangoon Bombing
North Korea was designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. because of its alleged involvement in the 1983 Rangoon bombing.
1987: Economy Begins to Stagnate
In 1987, the North Korean economy began to stagnate, marking the beginning of a long period of decline.
1987: Alleged Involvement in South Korean Airliner Bombing
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.
1990: External trade peaks
External trade in 2013 reached a total of $7.3 billion (the highest amount since 1990).
December 1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union
In December 1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved, ending its aid and support to North Korea.
1991: UN Membership
In 1991, North Korea became a member of the United Nations, marking its entry into the international community.
1991: North Korea Joins the United Nations
In 1991, North Korea joined the United Nations together with South Korea.
1991: Dissolution of the Soviet Union
In 1991, the dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the sudden halt of Soviet aid, causing the North Korean economy to collapse almost completely.
1992: Kim Jong Il Takes Over State Tasks
In 1992, as Kim Il Sung's health deteriorated, his son Kim Jong Il slowly began taking over various state tasks.
December 1993: Unsuccessful seven-year plan
North Korea declared the last seven-year plan unsuccessful in December 1993 and thereafter stopped announcing plans.
1994: North Korean Famine
From 1994, North Korea experienced a severe famine, leading to widespread malnutrition and significant loss of life.
1994: Death of Kim Il Sung
In 1994, Kim Il Sung died of a heart attack, leading to a period of national mourning and the eventual succession of Kim Jong Il as the new leader.
1994: Kim Jong Il Succeeds Kim Il Sung
In 1994, Kim Jong Il succeeded his father Kim Il Sung as leader.
1994: Agreed Framework and Sunshine Policy
In 1994, North Korea promised to halt its development of nuclear weapons under the Agreed Framework, negotiated with U.S. president Bill Clinton. South Korea began to engage with the North as part of its Sunshine Policy.
1995: Start of North Korean Famine
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.
1996: Acceptance of UN Food Aid
In 1996, the North Korean government accepted UN food aid due to the severity of the famine.
1997: International Food Aid Initiated
In 1997, international donors led by the United States initiated shipments of food through the World Food Program to combat the famine.
1997: Titanic shown to university students
In 1997, the film "Titanic" was frequently shown to university students in North Korea as an example of Western culture, despite limited access to Western productions.
1998: Sunshine Policy instituted
In 1998, South Korean president Kim Dae-jung instituted the Sunshine Policy, a watershed moment in inter-Korean relations. It encouraged other countries to engage with North Korea, which allowed Pyongyang to normalize relations with a number of European Union states and contributed to establishing joint North-South economic projects.
1998: Structural reforms
In 1998, in an attempt to recover from the collapse, the government began structural reforms that formally legalized private ownership of assets and decentralized control over production.
1998: End of North Korean Famine
In 1998, the North Korean Famine ended, though the population continues to suffer from malnutrition.
1998: Malnutrition Rates Decline
The number of malnourished children declined from 60% in 1998 to 37% in 2006.
2000: Improved situation due to international food assistance
By 2000, the situation in North Korea improved owing to a massive international food assistance effort, but the economy continued to suffer from food shortages, dilapidated infrastructure and a critically low energy supply.
2000: Population Estimate Discrepancy
Demographic experts in the 20th century estimated that the population would grow to 25.5 million by 2000, but this increase never occurred due to the North Korean famine.
2000: Improved relations with South Korea
Following the 2000 inter-Korean summit, improved relations with South Korea caused a decline in direct ideological messages in North Korean pop songs.
2000: Inter-Korean summit and Joint Declaration
In 2000, the inter-Korean summit took place, with Kim Dae-jung visiting Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang. North and South Korea signed the June 15th North–South Joint Declaration, in which both sides promised to seek peaceful reunification.
2001: New US President
In 2001, George W. Bush became U.S. President, leading to a change in the international environment and a rejection of South Korea's Sunshine Policy.
2002: Second round of reforms
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 in North Korea.
2002: Axis of Evil
In 2002, Bush included North Korea in his axis of evil in his State of the Union Address.
2002: Decline in Population Growth Rate
The famine had a significant impact on the population growth rate, which declined to 0.9% annually in 2002.
2002: Increase in Mobile Subscribers
The number of mobile subscribers in North Korea has increased from 3,000 in 2002 to almost two million in 2013.
2003: Access to water and sanitation report
According to a 2003 report by the United States Department of State, almost 100% of the population has access to water and sanitation.
2003: United Nations Environmental Programme Report on Forest Cover
According to a United Nations Environmental Programme report in 2003, forest covers over 70 percent of North Korea, mostly on steep slopes.
July 2004: Goguryeo tombs registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site
In July 2004, The Goguryeo tombs were registered on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, becoming the first World Heritage property of North Korea.
2004: South Korean assessment of North Korea's chemical weapons
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.
2004: Military spending
The U.S. State Department has estimated that North Korea's military spending averaged 23% of its GDP from 2004 to 2014, the highest level in the world.
2005: Foreign Trade Expansion
In 2005, North Korea's foreign trade surpassed pre-crisis levels and continued to expand.
July 2006: UN Security Council resolution 1695
In July 2006, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 1695 as a result of its nuclear and missile tests.
October 2006: UN Security Council resolution 1718
In October 2006, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 1718 as a result of its nuclear and missile tests.
October 2006: First Nuclear Weapons Test
On October 9th, 2006, North Korea announced it had conducted its first nuclear weapons test.
2006: Malnutrition Rates Decline
The number of malnourished children declined from 60% in 1998 to 37% in 2006 and 28% in 2013.
October 2007: Peace agreement signed
On October 4, 2007, South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong Il signed an eight-point peace agreement, aiming to foster peace between the two nations.
2007: Decline in lower respiratory infection
Since 2007, lower respiratory infection, one of the leading causes of overall deaths in North Korea, is reported to have declined by six percent.
October 2008: Removal from State Sponsors of Terrorism List
On 11 October 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.
2008: Child mortality estimation
In 2008, child mortality in North Korea was estimated to be 45 per 1,000 live births.
2008: Literacy Census
The 2008 census listed the entire population as literate in North Korea.
June 2009: UN Security Council resolution 1874
In June 2009, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 1874 as a result of its nuclear and missile tests.
2009: North Korea ends agreements with South Korea
In 2009, North Korea responded to South Korea's hard-line approach by ending all of its previous agreements with the South. It deployed additional ballistic missiles and placed its military on full combat alert after South Korea, Japan and the United States threatened to intercept a Unha-2 space launch vehicle.
2009: Government attempts to stem free market
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.
2009: Joined the Outer Space Treaty
North Korea joined the Outer Space Treaty in 2009 and has stated its intentions to undertake crewed and Moon missions.
2009: Constitutional Changes: Dropping Communism References and Elevating Songun Policy
The 2009 constitution of North Korea dropped references to communism and elevated the Songun military first policy while explicitly confirming the position of Kim Jong Il. However, the constitution retains references to socialism.
2010: Report on Inter-Korean Scientific Cooperation
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.
2010: Military expenditure
According to North Korean state media, military expenditure amounted to 15.8 percent of the state budget in 2010.
2010: Population Estimate Discrepancy
Demographic experts in the 20th century estimated that the population would grow to 28 million by 2010, but this increase never occurred due to the North Korean famine.
2010: Increased Tensions with South Korea and the United States
In 2010, tensions with South Korea and the United States increased due to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and North Korea's bombardment of Yeonpyeongdo.
2010: North Korea competes in FIFA World Cup
In 2010, the North Korean national football team, Chollima, competed in the FIFA World Cup, losing all three matches against Brazil, Portugal, and Ivory Coast.
2010: "Sea of Blood" tour in China
In 2010, the opera "Sea of Blood" had a successful tour in China.
December 2011: Kim Jong Il's Death and Kim Jong Un's Succession
In December 2011, Kim Jong Il died from a heart attack, and his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, was announced as his successor.
2011: Kim Jong Un Succeeds Kim Jong Il
In 2011, Kim Jong Un succeeded his father Kim Jong Il as leader.
2011: Kim Jong Il's Death
In 2011, after his death, Kim Jong Il was announced "Eternal General Secretary" and "Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission".
December 2012: Successful Satellite Launch
In December 2012, after four failed attempts, 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.
2012: Kim Un-guk breaks world record
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, weightlifter Kim Un-guk broke the world record in the Men's 62 kg category.
2012: Gross national income per capita
In 2012, North Korea's gross national income per capita was $1,523, compared to $28,430 in South Korea.
2012: Associated Press opens bureau in Pyongyang
In 2012, The Associated Press opened the first Western all-format, full-time bureau in Pyongyang.
January 2013: UN Security Council resolution 2087
In January 2013, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 2087 as a result of its nuclear and missile tests.
April 2013: Reorganization of Space Program Management
In April 2013, management of the national space program was transferred from the Korean Committee of Space Technology to the National Aerospace Technology Administration.
December 2013: Dennis Rodman visits North Korea
In December 2013, former American basketball professional Dennis Rodman visited North Korea to help train the national team.
2013: Formalization of Mount Paektu Bloodline
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".
2013: Overhaul of Special Economic Zones
In 2013, North Korea overhauled its special economic zone (SEZ) system by opening 14 new zones and reforming the Rason Special Economic Zone as a joint Chinese-North Korean project.
2013: Cardiovascular disease as the largest cause of death
In 2013, cardiovascular disease was reported as the largest cause of death in North Korea, with stroke, COPD, and ischaemic heart disease being the three major causes.
2013: High-Speed Railway Approved
In 2013, construction of a high-speed railway connecting Kaesong, Pyongyang, and Sinuiju with speeds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour (120 mph) was approved.
2013: Malnutrition Rates Decline and Food Production Recovery
In 2013, the number of malnourished children was at 28%. 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.
2013: Increase in Mobile Subscribers
The number of mobile subscribers in North Korea has increased from 3,000 in 2002 to almost two million in 2013.
2013: Causes of Death
The structure of North Korea's causes of death (2013) is unlike that of other low-income countries. Instead, it is closer to worldwide averages.
2014: UN inquiry into human rights violations
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", with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch holding similar views.
2014: Renewable Energy Regulations Adopted
In 2014, a set of legal regulations was adopted in North Korea that stressed the development of geothermal, wind, and solar energy, along with recycling and environmental conservation.
2014: Moranbong Band popularity
In 2014, the all-girl Moranbong Band was described as the most popular musical group in North Korea.
2014: Population Growth Rate
In 2014, the population growth rate was 0.5% annually.
2014: North Korea dismisses human rights accusations
In a 2014 report to the UN, North Korea dismissed accusations of atrocities as wild rumors. The official state media, KCNA, responded with an article that included homophobic insults against the author of the human rights report, Michael Kirby, calling him "a disgusting old lecher with a 40-odd-year-long career of homosexuality".
2014: Establishment of Miraewon Network
The Miraewon network of electronic libraries was established in 2014 under slogans similar to "constructing a powerful knowledge economy".
2014: Military spending
The U.S. State Department has estimated that North Korea's military spending averaged 23% of its GDP from 2004 to 2014, the highest level in the world.
2015: Diplomatic Relations
As of 2015, North Korea had diplomatic relations with 166 countries and embassies in 47 countries.
2015: Access to improved sanitation facilities
In 2015, 80% of the population in North Korea had access to improved sanitation facilities.
February 2016: Launch of Kwangmyongsong-4
On February 7, 2016, a statement broadcast on Korean Central Television said that a new Earth observation satellite, Kwangmyongsong-4, had successfully been put into orbit.
September 2016: North Korean Internet DNS Data Leak
On September 19, 2016, a TLDR project noticed that the North Korean Internet DNS data and top-level domain were left open, which allowed global DNS zone transfers. A dump of the data discovered was shared on GitHub.
2016: Causes of Death
In 2016 non-communicable diseases—such as cardiovascular disease and cancers—accounted for 84 percent of the total deaths in North Korea.
2016: World Bank report on deaths
In 2016, according to the World Bank report, 9.5% of deaths in North Korea were attributed to communicable diseases and maternal, prenatal, and nutrition conditions.
May 2017: Moon Jae-in elected president
In May 2017, Moon Jae-in was elected president of South Korea with a promise to return to the Sunshine Policy.
November 2017: Re-designation as State Sponsor of Terrorism
North Korea was re-designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S. under the administration of Donald Trump on 20 November 2017 after continued nuclear tests.
December 2017: UN Security Council resolution 2397
In December 2017, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 2397 as a result of its nuclear and missile tests.
2017: Panmunjom Declaration
An agreement was signed between the two countries endorsing the 2017 Panmunjom Declaration signed by North and South Korea, pledging to work towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. This endorsement took place at the Trump-Kim Singapore Summit in June 2018.
2017: Press Freedom Index ranking
In 2017, North Korea ranked 180th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' annual Press Freedom Index, highlighting the severe censorship and government control over media.
2017: Strained Relations with Malaysia
Relations between North Korea and Malaysia were strained in 2017 by the assassination of Kim Jong-nam.
2017: Increased Tensions Between the US and North Korea
Throughout 2017, tensions between the United States and North Korea increased due to heightened rhetoric, including threats of "fire and fury" from then US president Trump, if North Korea attacked U.S. territory and North Korean threats to test missiles that would land near Guam.
February 2018: Détente at the Winter Olympics
In February 2018, a détente developed at the Winter Olympics held in South Korea, signaling a potential thaw in relations.
June 2018: Trump-Kim Singapore Summit
US President Trump met with Kim in Singapore on 12 June 2018. An agreement was signed between the two countries endorsing the 2017 Panmunjom Declaration signed by North and South Korea, pledging to work towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.
2018: Global Slavery Index rank
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. There are 1,100,000 people in modern slavery (via forced labor).
2018: Détente and Summits Between North Korea, South Korea, and the US
In 2018, tensions between the United States and North Korea substantially decreased, and a détente developed. A series of summits took place between Kim Jong Un of North Korea, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, and President Trump.
February 2019: Trump-Kim Hanoi Summit
US President Trump met with Kim in Hanoi from 27 to 28 February 2019, but failed to achieve an agreement.
June 2019: Trump-Kim DMZ Meeting
On 30 June 2019, Trump met with Kim along with South Korean president Moon Jae-in at the Korean DMZ.
June 2019: Xi Jinping Visits North Korea
Relations between North Korea and China improved after Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese leader visited North Korea in June 2019.
2019: Choe Ryong-hae Becomes Chairman of the SPA Standing Committee
Choe Ryong-hae became the Chairman of the SPA Standing Committee in 2019, making him the third-ranking official in North Korea.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking
In 2019, North Korea had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.02/10, ranking it 28th globally out of 172 countries.
2019: Life Expectancy
North Korea has a life expectancy of 72.3 years in 2019, according to HDR 2020.
January 2020: Border Closure due to COVID-19
On January 22, 2020, North Korea closed its borders to foreign tourists in response to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Religious Statistics Study
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.
2020: Life Expectancy
North Korea has a life expectancy of 72.3 years in 2019, according to HDR 2020.
January 2021: Kim Jong Un Elected General Secretary
On 10 January 2021, Kim Jong Un was formally elected as the General Secretary in 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, a top title previously held by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
October 2021: Hwasong-11S test
On 19 October 2021, North Korea successfully tested a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile, named Hwasong-11S.
2021: WPK Reasserts Commitment to Communism
In 2021, the WPK (Workers' Party of Korea) reasserted its commitment to communism.
March 2022: North Korea's ICBM Test Launch
On 24 March 2022, North Korea conducted a successful ICBM test launch for the first time since the 2017 crisis.
September 2022: North Korea Declares Itself a Nuclear State
In September 2022, North Korea passed a law that declared itself a nuclear state.
September 2023: Estimates of North Korea's nuclear warheads
As of September 2023, estimates of North Korea's nuclear arsenal size ranged between 40 and 116 assembled nuclear warheads.
December 30, 2023: Kim Jong Un Declares South Korea a 'Colonial Vassal State'
On December 30, 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un provocatively declared South Korea, under the leadership of Yoon Suk Yeol, a "colonial vassal state", marking a significant departure from the longstanding position of mutual claims over the entire Korean Peninsula.
January 15, 2024: Call for Constitutional Amendment Regarding South Korea Border
On January 15, 2024, Kim Jong Un called for a constitutional amendment to redefine the boundary with South Korea as the 'Southern National Borderline,' further intensifying the rhetoric against South Korea and stating that in the event of a war, North Korea would seek to annex the entirety of South Korea.
January 2024: North Korea abandons reunification goal
In January 2024, North Korea, under Kim Jong Un, announced it would no longer seek reunification with South Korea, calling for potential military action and designating South Korea as its "primary foe" and closing agencies promoting reunification.
October 2024: Increased Military Recruitment and Psychological Warfare
In October 2024, North Korea claimed that 1.4 million people joined its military following accusations of a South Korean drone intrusion, leading to increased tensions and psychological warfare between the two Koreas.
December 2024: Pak Thae-song Becomes Premier of North Korea
Since 29 December 2024, the Cabinet of North Korea has been headed by Premier Pak Thae-song, who is officially the second-ranking official after Kim Jong Un.
2024: Abandonment of Peaceful Reunification Efforts
In 2024, North Korea formally abandoned efforts to peacefully reunify Korea, signaling a shift in its approach to inter-Korean relations.
2044: Renewable Energy Goal
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.
2087: UN Security Council resolution 2087
In 2087, North Korea was sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolution 2087 as a result of its nuclear and missile tests.
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