North Korea, whose official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, has been a country that millions of people have been curious about for many years. Because almost nothing is known about North Korea due to the closed regime in the country.
Here are 17 surprising facts about North Korea that you probably haven’t heard before…
1- North Korea has an extremely beautiful nature
The country attracts attention with its breathtaking mountain landscapes, especially covered with lush forests.
2- North Korea owes Sweden $300 million
In the mid-1970s, Sweden and North Korea made important trade agreements. At that time, Sweden sent North Korea a thousand cars, to be paid for later. This debt remains unpaid to this day, and the Swedish government recalculates every year how much North Korea owes them, with interest.
3- Power outages are quite common in North Korea
Because the country’s electricity infrastructure is quite old. For this reason, there are frequent power cuts across the country. Accordingly, many electrically powered devices, especially televisions, are only allowed to be used during certain hours.
4- There are only 4 television channels in the country
These channels include a historical propaganda and news channel, two educational channels and a sports channel that conveys sports developments in the country.
5- North Korea has its own space program
The country has been running a program for many years that includes various space missions, such as launching rockets and satellites into space
6- Pyongyang subway, also a nuclear bunker
7- Military service is compulsory for both men and women.
Since 2015, women in North Korea have also had to serve in the military before the age of 23. Men in the country are conscripted at the age of 17 and their term of office is at least 10 years!
8- North Korea has the 4th largest army in the world
The number of active duty soldiers in the country is estimated at 1.21 million people. In other words, approximately 5 percent of the country’s population is military
9- Citizens of only two countries in the world can travel to North Korea without a visa
Malaysia and Singapore. Anyone who is not a citizen of these two countries must apply for a visa to visit North Korea and travel with a government-approved tour agency.
10- North Korean government claims the literacy rate in the country is 100 percent
11- The public has no access to the internet
In the country, the elite, which numbers only a few thousand, is allowed to use the Internet. But even the internet used by the elite is not the internet we know. The elite can use North Korea’s “own internet,” called Kwangmyong.
12- One of the largest art studios in the world is located in North Korea
The capital, Pyongyang, is home to a huge structure called Mansudae Art Studio, built on 120,000 square meters of land. The best artists of the country are employed by the state in this institution.
13- North Korea has its own calendar
This calendar starts in 1912, the year Kim Il-sung was born.
14- The country has been run by the same family since its founding.
The first leader of North Korea was Kim Il-sung, who waged guerrilla warfare during World War II. Il-sung ruled the country alone from 1948 until his death in 1994. During this time, he obtained the title of “Great Leader”. When Il-sung died, his son Kim Jong-il took over the administration of the country. Jong-il ruled the country until his death in 2011 and has been dubbed the “Dear Leader.” North Korea’s rule is now in the hands of Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un.
15- People don’t call themselves North Koreans
Because for them there is only one legitimate government on the island and only one Korean people. Of course, they think that the legitimate government is their government and they identify themselves only as Koreans.
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