North Korea Overview

North Korea Overview

According to Sunglasseswill, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a state of East Asia, largely corresponding to the northern section of the peninsula Korea and therefore said current North Korea. It borders to the N with China and for a short distance with Russia, to the South with the Republic of Korea (South Korea) ; to the west it overlooks the Yellow Sea, to the east it is bathed by the Sea of ​​Japan.

Physical characteristics

The territory, at least three-quarters mountainous, is part of the numerous peninsular and island garlands that border all the peaceful coasts of Asia (➔ Korea). Despite the latitude, which abundantly exceeds 40 ° N, the climate, of an accentuated continental temperate type, is affected by monsoon influences. The elongated shape and the proximity of the sea leave no room for the formation of extensive river basins.

History. – Although at the beginning of the 21st century. the isolationist policy of the regime of Kim Chŏng-il, leader of the Korean Workers’ Party, seemed to show cracks, in reality over the decade expectations were disappointed and the country continued to alternate threats of nuclear actions with signs of reopening of dialogue with Seoul (Sŏul) and with the international community, in a context of substantial economic stagnation and widespread poverty. The nuclear crisis that had resumed in 2006 following the new long-range missile tests carried out by Pyeongyang (P’yŏngyang) seemed to ease the following year, when the government said it was willing to resume negotiations and allow inspections on the nuclear program. Shortly thereafter, however, tensions escalated and in 2009, after the negotiations were broken, Pyeongyang carried out new missile and nuclear tests and declared the 1953 armistice that ended the war with the Republic of Korea null and void. The international reaction was not long in coming: the country was condemned by the United Nations Security Council and again subjected to harsh sanctions. The blocking of commercial relations and the lack of foreign aid caused a serious shortage of basic necessities and a drastic worsening of the living conditions of the population. In 2010, relations with the Republic of Korea, already difficult, underwent a further tightening when the responsibility of Pyeongyang in the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan was established. The death of Kim Chŏng-il in December 2011 and the coming to power of his third son and designated successor Kim Chŏng-un, they did not mark any change either in internal politics, which remained severely repressive, or in foreign politics. The government kept tensions high with Seoul and continued to openly challenge the international community. In 2013, the launch of a carrier formally intended to put a satellite into orbit, but more likely to test a ballistic missile, and the new nuclear tests led to further condemnations by the United Nations Security Council and a tightening of existing sanctions. not even China, one of the few countries to maintain good trade relations with Pyeongyang, escaped. Between openings and provocations, the tug-of-war between the international community and the Republic of Korea continued again in 2014.

Cinema. – Also in the RDP of Korea in recent years a national cinematography has developed, and some films have been shown at the Gwangju international film Festival. But the directors and actors did not reach the international notoriety of those of the Republic of Korea. In addition, there is strong censorship in the country, as demonstrated by the last case of The interview (2014), the film directed by Evan Gold berg and Seth Rogen in which Rogen and James Franco respectively played the producer and presenter of a TV talk show who went to the RDP of Korea to interview the North Korean dictator Kim Chŏng-un and organize the attack. The Pyeongyang regime has called for a worldwide ban on the film and Sony, which was supposed to distribute the film, was the victim of a cyber attack by hackers who signed themselves GOP (Guardians Of Peace).

North Korea Overview