Life Inside North Korea
The Truth About Life Inside North Korea
North Korea is the world’s most secretive state, so it can be tough to get a clear picture of the daily lives of its 26 million citizens. The strict North Korean regime has stripped the people of their power. Nobody gets in, and nobody gets out.
From concentration camps to mass surveillance, every aspect of life in North Korea is monitored and unfavorable behavior is met with brutal punishment. Life in this authoritarian state is no picnic, and those who live there typically would prefer not to.
Here’s everything we know about life in North Korea.
What Is The Landscape Like?
North Korea is officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), a country in East Asia.
It’s a beautiful place, actually, with about 80% of its land area covered in snow-capped mountains and lush highlands. There’s stunning waterfalls, rocky terrain, and large serene lakes.
But its unmatched beauty still doesn’t make up for the horror within its borders.
What Kind Of Government Does North Korea Have?
North Korea functions as a one-party totalitarian dictatorship—meaning there is only one political party that controls everything. However, there are actually two other minor political parties, but they’re forced to stand down. They exist only to make it look like it’s a fair process.
The ruling party is known as The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), a communist party led by a member of the Kim family.
Who Are The Kim Family?
The Kim family, known in Korea as the Mount Paektu bloodline, is a three-generation lineage of North Korean leaders.
It started with the country’s founder and first leader, Kim II-Sung. He then passed his role on to his son, Kim Jong II, and then to his grandson, Kim Jong Un—who is the current leader.
How Do They Stay In Control?
Since other political parties are not actually allowed to overtake the WPK, the Kim family is likely to continue ruling for generations to come.
Because of this, the nation is governed under something called Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism.
