North Korea: An isolated regime

   

Facts

• Full name: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea
• Population: 23.9 million (UN, 2010)
• Capital: Pyongyang
• Area: 122,762 sq km (47,399 sq miles)
• Major language: Korean
• Major religions: Mainly atheist or non-religious, traditional beliefs
• Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 83 years (women) (UN)
• Main exports: Minerals and metals, cement, agricultural products

source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/1131421.stm

The last 100 years

Mr Kim surrounded by military

Mr Kim, former North Korean leader who died last day because of an heart attack, inherited the leadership of North Korea from his father Kim Il-sung.

Shortly after he came to power, a severe famine caused by ill-judged economic reforms and poor harvests left an estimated two million people dead.

His regime has been harshly criticised for human rights abuses. Reports of torture, public executions, slave labour, and forced abortions and infanticides in prison camps have emerged. A US-based rights group has estimated that there are up to 200,000 political prisoners in North Korea.

Moreover the country is internationally isolated because of its pursuit of nuclear weapons.In October 2006 North Korea said it had successfully tested a nuclear weapon, spreading alarm throughout the region.

Since then, intensive diplomatic efforts have aimed to rein in North Korea's nuclear ambitions. After years of on-and-off talks, a deal was thrashed out in February 2007 under which Pyongyang agreed to shut down its main nuclear reactor in return for aid and diplomatic concessions.

In April 2009 North Korea walked out of international talks aimed at ending its nuclear activities. The following month the country carried out its second ever underground nuclear test and announced that it no longer considered itself bound by the terms of the 1953 truce that ended the war between the two Koreas.

Tensions reached a new high in spring 2010, when the South accused North Korea of being responsible for sinking one of its warships, the Cheonan, and cut off all cross-border trade. Pyongyang denied the claims, and in turn severed all ties with Seoul.

Now after the death of North Korea's leader, the nation and the whole world is looking into an uncertain future.

for further information:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16239693

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/1131421.stm

R.S.