North Korea:
Region: Eastern Asia

Capital: P’yongyang

Official Language/s: Korean

Population: 22664000

Currency: Won

Government: Juche, Dictatorship

Human Rights: Many international human rights organizations have accused North Korea of having one of the worst human rights records in the world. North Koreans are subject to severe restrictions on their political and economic freedoms. Many have testified to the existence of prison and detention camps with an estimated 150,000 reporting torture, starvation and forced labour.

Economy: North Korea has a GDP per capita of about $2,000 with its strict isolation policy restricting international trade and hampering economic growth. North Korea’s large economic potential is revealed when compared with South Korea. Since adopting a capitalist economy and South Korea is today a major economic power and is highly developed.

Religion: North Korea has a Buddhist and Confucian heritage with a more recent history of Christianity and Cheondoism. The North Korean constitution states that freedom of religion is permitted however it is claimed that free religious activities do not exist as the government sponsors religious groups to create an illusion of religious freedom.

Education: Education in North Korea is controlled by the government and  is compulsory for eleven years. This encompasses one year of preschool, four years of primary education and six years of secondary education. The curriculum is made up of both academic and political subject matter. After primary school children aged 10 are enrolled in either a regular secondary school or a special secondary school.

Health Care: Free health care and medical treatment exists in North Korea with 3% of its gross domestic product used for this. The North Korean health system has been in decline since the 1990s as a result of natural disasters, economic problems, and food and energy shortages. Many hospitals and clinics lack vital medicines, equipment, water and electricity. Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and hepatitis B are thought to be rife.

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