North Korea is arguably one of the most mysterious nations in the world. This country is a totalitarian dictatorship and is widely known to have some of the worst human rights in the entire world.
Aside from the way that this country is governed, there are several interesting facts to learn about it. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at some notable bits of information about North Korea.
Let’s dive right in!
History of North Korea
North Korea’s history begins with the end of World War 2. After Japan surrendered, Korea was divided into two parts, with America occupying the southern region and the Soviet Union occupying the northern region.
Both countries were unable to come to an agreement about the most successful way to unify Korea, and as a result, the United States of America and the Soviet Union aligned themselves with their respective half of the country.
However, in 1950, the Korean War broke out, and North Korea invaded South Korea. When the war ended, it ended with a stalemate. As a result, North Korea built its own industrialized economy and has remained that way ever since.
12 Interesting Facts about North Korea
1. North Korea consists only of Korean people.
While most other countries across the world are extremely diverse and full of people from other countries, North Korea is filled only with Korean people. There is only a small percentage of people with Chinese heritage, but overall, there are only Korean people in the country. The reason for this is that North Korea has different political ideologies than South Korea and the rest of the world.
2. The tallest unoccupied building in the world is in North Korea.
North Korea holds the record for the tallest unoccupied building in the world! Before the building was abandoned, it was going to be a hotel called the Ryugyong Hotel. It is over 1000 feet tall and shaped like a pyramid. The construction of this building was put on hold after North Korea’s economy went through a difficult period after the Soviet Union disintegrated.
Check out our article on Cold War Facts for kids.
3. The second-largest stadium in the world is in North Korea.
North Korea is also home to one of the world’s largest stadiums. It can seat over 110,000 people, and its square footage is over two million feet, spread across eight stories. When the stadium was first built, it could originally seat around 150,000 people, but after being renovated in 2014, its seating capacity changed. At present, the stadium is used for athletic events like football matches and mass games.
4. North Korean culture is restricted by political ideology.
Since North Korea is run by a dictator, research has shown that the arts and culture in this country are mainly influenced and controlled by Kim II Sung and his descendants. The art in North Korea is generally educational, and the overall cultural expression in the country is expected to serve as a vehicle for Juche ideology. North Korean art often portrays foreigners like Americans negatively; they are often seen as the enemy.
5. The capital of North Korea has been completely rebuilt.
After the Korean War and the American army destroyed the city of Pyongyang, the city has since been rebuilt from scratch. Today, it contains many architectural masterpieces, including the unoccupied and unfinished Ryugyong Hotel, the Juche Tower, and the Museum of the Korean Revolution.
6. North Koreans aren’t properly allowed to practice a religion.
Although this country’s constitution allows North Korean citizens the freedom to practice any religion, there are several conditions in place. This means that they can practice any religion as long as the practice of it does not harm the state of Korea or social order, and it must not introduce anything foreign into the country. It’s also worth noting that, based on research, the majority of the North Korean population identifies as irreligious. Less than 0.5% of the overall population practices religions like Islam or Christianity.
7. North Korea has a centralized economy.
After the Korean War, North Korea’s economy struggled to recover, but the country was helped by the Soviet Union and China. However, when the economy shifted its form of growth, it didn’t have enough labor, land, or transport to align with its growth plan. As a result, the economy slowed down, and after a while, North Korea stopped announcing its growth plans.
8. Mass games are famous in North Korea.
One of the most interesting things about North Korea is that this country is famous for its mass games. These games are played annually, usually to celebrate the state leader’s birthday. They are also played to commemorate the founding of North Korea. When the mass games take place, North Koreans perform heavily choreographed traditional dances and gymnastics. They also sing and chant loyalties to the leader of the state.
9. The New York Philharmonic was the first American orchestra to perform in North Korea.
It’s no secret people from other countries aren’t allowed to visit North Korea, especially when it comes to creative expression and performance! Additionally, political relations between America and North Korea have been tense for several decades, which is why the New York Philharmonic’s performance in North Korea was such a big deal. The event was televised in North Korea, and it included songs composed by Gershwin, Bernstein, and Wagner.
10. North Koreans can choose from a range of 28 hairstyles when getting haircuts.
One of the most bizarre rules in North Korea is the haircut rule! Women and men can choose from a list of 14 different haircuts that they like, and they are not allowed to try anything different. The style of haircuts available to them is generally considered to be quite old-fashioned since they were last popular in the 1980s.
11. Blue jeans are illegal in North Korea.
Though blue jeans are often considered to be a wardrobe staple in most other parts of the world, they are illegal in North Korea! This is because blue jeans are considered to be a symbol of American imperialism; America is one of North Korea’s biggest enemies.
12. North Korea has a three-generation punishment law.
The three-generation punishment law means that if a North Korean person is found guilty of a crime, they are not the only one who will be punished. Their children and parents will also be punished, either by imprisonment or execution.
Conclusion
North Korea is a fascinating place with a government that makes life difficult for the citizens of its country. In this article, we took you through a list of 12 interesting facts about North Korea, including some that you may not have known about before! Did we leave something out that you think we should have? Let us know in the comments.
