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(Bangkok) - The dynastic strongman of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, consolidated his rights-abusing rule in 2013, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2014. Over the past year, North Korea has tightened control over the country's northern border to reduce flight, and has continued systematic interrogation and torture of North Koreans caught and forcibly returned from China.

The investigation by a UN Commission of Inquiry on human rights in North Korea should shed light on these and other rights crimes when it presents its report to the UN Human Rights Council this coming March.

"Kim Jong-Un has picked up where his father and grandfather left off, by overseeing a system of public executions, extensive political prison camps, and brutal forced labor," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The government now recognizes that the accounts of escaping North Koreans reveal Pyongyang's crimes - so it is doing what it can to stop people from fleeing."

In the 667-page World Report 2014, its 24th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries. Syria's widespread killings of civilians elicited horror but few steps by world leaders to stop it, Human Rights Watch said. A reinvigorated doctrine of "responsibility to protect" seems to have prevented some mass atrocities in Africa. Majorities in power in Egypt and other countries have suppressed dissent and minority rights. And Edward Snowden's revelations about US surveillance programs reverberated around the globe.

The North Korean government systematically denies basic freedoms in the country and uses detention in labor prison camps to ensure fear of opposing the government. In November, Kim Jong-Un's public purge and execution of his uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, previously a top-level official in the government, reinforced that fear. People are publicly executed on a regular basis for vague national security crimes, including "crimes against the state" and "crimes against the people," as well as a gamut of nonviolent offenses such as fraud and smuggling if the authorities deem the offense as "extremely serious."

The North Korean government continues to practice collective punishment, sending not only an offender but also three generations of his family to political prison camps, known as kwan-li-so. These camps are notorious for horrific living conditions and abuse, including induced starvation, lack of medical care, proper shelter and clothes, torture and abuse by guards, and continuous forced labor in highly dangerous conditions.

Former North Korean security officials told Human Rights Watch that North Koreans who are caught in China are systematically interrogated and tortured, and those found to have had contact with South Koreans faced being sent to a kwan- li-so, while others judged to be a lesser risk are send to penitentiaries ( kyo-hwa-so) or other types of forced labor camps.

Despite having ratified several core UN human rights treaties, North Korea continues to systematically repress core civil and political rights, such as freedom of association, assembly, and expression, and target those involved in religious activities. Labor rights are systematically suppressed and North Korea is one of the few states in the world that has refused to join the International Labor Organization (ILO). Access to adequate food, medical care, education, and other services remains limited, especially for the majority of people who are not in the core "loyal" class under the government's songbun classification system.

"The fiction that Kim Jong-Un might be somehow more moderate because of his education in Switzerland has been thoroughly refuted by the continued brutality of the government he now leads," Robertson said. "Human rights need to be front and center in all international dealings with North Korea, starting with demanding accountability for crimes against humanity."

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North Korea: Kim Jong-Un Deepens Abusive Rule

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(Bangkok) - The dynastic strongman of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, consolidated his rights-abusing rule in 2013, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2014 . Over the past year, North Korea has tightened control over the country's northern border to reduce flight, and has continued systematic interrogation and torture of North Koreans caught and forcibly returned from China.

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Should North Korea be allowed sovereignty?

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Should North Korea be allowed sovereignty?

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I feel like North Korea shouldn't be allowed sovereignty. North Korea's leaders have only shown careless and abusive use of their powers. The government primarily focuses on advancing their military instead of their internal issues. North Korea's citizens are denied many rights and are practically forced to follow the totalitarian regime. Also the security of the world is threatened. North Korea launches all the test missiles and there is no one to tell them no. They are their own power and they should be denied from having the privileged of having sovereignty. North Korea even has its own dtention centers which have the same resemblance of a concentration camp. Their form of punishment is inhumane. You can get sentenced to life with your family in one of these by simply just disagreeing with the government. I think North Korea should be regulated by other countries under an organization or their leaders should be impeached.

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What weapons do they have? What have they tried, or threats? 

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What weapons do they have? What have they tried, or threats? 

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North Korea have an estimated of 60 nuclear weapons. North Korea has only made threats and have kept coming out with new missiles to test. On November 29, North Korea launched a test missile named Hwasong-15 which flew for 53 minutes and then landed in the sea.

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The conflicts date back to the 1950's where the Korean War took place. North Korea invaded the southern peninsula and the Untied States became involved and defended the South. Since then, propaganda in North Korea has been used to make their citizens hate Americans.

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Here is what we know about North Korea's nuclear capabilities and motivation.

Who is in range of its missiles?

The Hwasong-15, North Korea's furthest-reaching intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), could theoretically travel about 13,000km. This potentially puts the whole world within range, except for:

This theoretical range was estimated based on the Hwasong-15 performance in a test-launch on November 29, when it flew for about 53 minutes before landing in the sea.

Earlier in July, North Korea's test-launched the Hwasong-14, with a theoretical range of 10,400km. The missile flew for about 45 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan.

On September 15, North Korea's also tested its mid-range Hwasong-12 missile which travelled about 3,700km over Japan, and has a range potential of 4,000km, which includes Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean.

Can the missiles be shot down?

The US, South Korea and Japan are equipped with anti-missile systems that could potentially intercept and destroy ballistic missiles fired from North Korea, although missile intercept failures are common.

The US' anti-missile system was declared ready in 2004, but since then many intercept tests have failed.

South Korea has six Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) batteries deployedin Seongju, south of Seoul, and Japan is also equipped with the Patriot and the Aegis anti-ballistic missile systems.
WATCH: Why didn't Japan shoot down North's missiles? (0:58)
Can it launch a nuclear attack?

North Korea claims that it can mount miniaturised nuclear warheads on its missiles, but these claims have not been independently verified.

To launch a nuclear attack, North Korea would need to produce nuclear devices small enough to fit on its missiles - this is not known to have yet been successfully developed and tested.

In March 2016, North Korea's KCNA news agency released a photo of Kim Jong-un in front of a small, ball-like object which it said was a miniaturised nuclear warhead.

In September 2017, KCNA released a photo of the North Korean leader inspecting what it said was a hydrogen bomb that can be loaded on an ICBM.

How many nukes does it have?

While North Korea asserts it will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity", US officials estimate it has 60 nuclear weapons, whereas independent experts estimate it has enough uranium to produce six new nuclear bombs a year.

In September 2016, Siegfried Hecker of Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, estimated that North Korea produced enough highly enriched uranium to make six additional nuclear bombs a year. Hecker had toured North Korea's main Yongbyon nuclear facility in 2010.

Experts and governments estimate plutonium production levels from tell-tale signs of reactor operation in satellite imagery.

Does it have the H-bomb?

In September 2017, North Korea carried out its sixth nuclear test, this time detonating what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb (also known as an H-bomb) .

The yield of the nuclear blast was estimated at about 100 kilotons, and was first detected as an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude with a depth of 23km.

The tremor was also felt in China, 400km from the test site.

An H-bomb can be 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb the US dropped on Hiroshima in World War II.

In January 2016, North Korea claimed to have detonated its first hydrogen bomb, but nuclear scientists examining the impact of the test questioned if the test was really that of an H-bomb.

How North Korea's latest nuclear test compares to the largest detonations around the world https://t.co/lKXVAPlm4F pic.twitter.com/WvHEanXnot
- Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 5, 2017

How did it get nuclear weapons?

North Korea seems to be pursuing the development of nuclear weapons capability on its own.

Its nuclear programme started in the Soviet era with the construction of a nuclear reactor in Yongbyon in 1965, while it's first successful nuclear test was carried in 2006.

North Korea carried its sixth nuclear test in 2017 at the Punggye-ri site.

The experiment had been expected from April. Satellite images had shown workers pumping water out of a tunnel believed to have been being prepared for a forthcoming nuclear test, US monitors had said.

North Korea has a rich source of fissile material, both plutonium from its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and highly enriched uranium from other sites, US-based researchers claim.

Although the Yongbyon nuclear facility was built with help from Soviet engineers, the Soviet Union and China have denied supplying North Korea with nuclear weapons or helping it to build them.

China fought alongside the North Koreans in the 1953 Korean War, but in the interest of political stability in the region, claims to strongly oppose North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Pakistan and India have both been linked to North Korea's nuclear programme .

In 2004, Pakistan's lead nuclear , Abdul Qadeer Khan, was put under house arrest for transferring nuclear technology, including centrifuges, to North Korea and other countries .

In a 2016 UN accused an Indian technology institute of violating sanctions on North Korea by providing specialised training on " space instrumentation" to a North Korean student later involved in the Unha-3 rocket in 2012.

Why does it test nuclear weapons?

Analysis of the North Korean government's statements suggest that the leadership in Pyongyang sees in nuclear weapons the following benefits:

1. Guaranteeing security of the state

2. Economic development and prosperity

3. Gaining respect and prestige in the international arena

In April, North Korea's vice foreign minister said: "We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike."

Pyongyang suspects that the annual joint drills between the US and South Korea are a rehearsal for an invasion of North Korea.

North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Choe Myong-nam, referred to those drills to justify his country's nuclear pursuits: "It is because of these hostile activities on the part of the United States and South Korea that we strengthen our national defence capability, as well as pre-emptive strike capabilities with nuclear forces as a centrepiece."

North Korea also accused the CIA of plotting to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-un, while CIA Director Mike Pompeo announced a dedicated Mission Centre for the "serious threats ... emanating from North Korea".

Has North Korea declared war?

North Korea has not gone to war with any country since 1950, but has threatened to launch a "great war of justice for [Korean] national reunification" and to attack the US mainland in "full-out war... under the situation where the US hurts the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] by force of arms."

Following UN sanctions which North Korea considered a "violent violation of our sovereignty", Pyongyang has also threatened to attack Guam.

The Korean Peninsula was divided after the World War II in 1945. Nearly five years later, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the three-year Korean War. The war ended in 1953 with an armistice (not a peace treaty) which means that North Korea is still technically at war with South Korea.

The US has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, while the Korean Peninsula has been divided by a 4km-wide demilitarised zone stretching 250km along the border.

This year, several shows of force and provocative threats have been exchanged between the US and North Korea since the joint military drills with South Korea began in March.

On August 29, four South Korean fighter jets bombed targets in North Korea after its latest ballistic missile test-launch while in September, it simulated an attack on North's latest nuclear test site.

North Korea has defiantly carried out missile test-launches despite regional and US condemnation and continues to develop its nuclear weapons capability.

Here's a brief history of how North and South Korea got to where they are today: https://t.co/zMx5j6Ls3f pic.twitter.com/MyhaEKB1XH

- Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 28, 2017

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North Korea's nuclear weapons: Here is what we know

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Here is what we know about North Korea's nuclear capabilities and motivation. The Hwasong-15, North Korea's furthest-reaching intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), could theoretically travel about 13,000km. This potentially puts the whole world within range, except for: This theoretical range was estimated based on the Hwasong-15 performance in a test-launch on November 29, when it flew for about 53 minutes before landing in the sea.

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East & Southeast Asia :: KOREA, NORTH

Introduction :: KOREA, NORTH

An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in 2010.

Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has now taken on most of his father's former titles and duties. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has faced chronic food shortages. In recent years, the North's domestic agricultural production has increased, but still falls far short of producing sufficient food to provide for its entire population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but has made few other efforts to meet its goal of improving the overall standard of living. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community and have limited the DPRK's international engagement, particularly economically. The regime abides by a policy calling for the simultaneous development of its nuclear weapons program and its economy.

Geography :: KOREA, NORTH

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi

Area comparison map:

border countries (3): China 1,352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned

temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters

mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east

elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m

highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower

arable land 19.5%; permanent crops 1.9%; permanent pasture 0.4%

population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

volcanism: Changbaishan (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active

water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

People and Society :: KOREA, NORTH

25,248,140 (July 2017 est.)

racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese

traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)

note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom

0-14 years: 20.78% (male 2,670,884/female 2,576,846)

15-24 years: 15.59% (male 1,982,045/female 1,955,220)

25-54 years: 44.28% (male 5,608,520/female 5,572,000)

55-64 years: 9.77% (male 1,166,680/female 1,301,201)

65 years and over: 9.56% (male 826,735/female 1,588,009) (2017 est.)

population pyramid:

total dependency ratio: 44.5

youth dependency ratio: 30.5

elderly dependency ratio: 14

potential support ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)

female: 35.6 years (2017 est.)

14.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east

urban population: 61.2% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

PYONGYANG (capital) 2.863 million (2015)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

82 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

total: 22.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

total population: 70.7 years

female: 74.8 years (2017 est.)

1.95 children born/woman (2017 est.)

note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2014)

3.51 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

13.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 99.9% of population

rural: 99.4% of population

total: 99.7% of population

urban: 0.1% of population

rural: 0.6% of population

total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 87.9% of population

rural: 72.5% of population

total: 81.9% of population

urban: 12.1% of population

rural: 27.5% of population

total: 18.1% of population (2015 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Government :: KOREA, NORTH

conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea

conventional short form: North Korea

local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk

etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the North Korean name "Choson" means "[Land of the] Morning Calm"

single-party state; official state ideology of "Juche" or "national self-reliance

geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E

time difference: UTC+8.5 (13.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

note: on 15 August 2015, North Korea reverted to UTC+8.5, a time zone that had been observed during pre-colonial times

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 cities (si, singular and plural)

provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ryanggang

cities: Namp'o, P'yongyang, Rason

note: Namp'o is sometimes designated as a metropolitan city, P'yongyang as a directly controlled city, and Rason as a city

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)

history: previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era)

amendments: proposed by the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA); passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the total SPA membership; revised 2009, 2012, 2013 (2018)

civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

17 years of age; universal and compulsory

chief of state: Supreme People's Assembly President KIM Yong Nam (since 5 September 1998); note - functions as the technical head of state and performs related duties, such as receiving ambassadors' credentials

head of government: State Affairs Commission Chairman KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note - functions as the commander-in-chief and chief executive

cabinet: Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly except the Minister of People's Armed Forces

elections/appointments: chief of state and premier indirectly elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held on 9 March 2014 (next election NA)

election results: KIM Jong Un reelected unopposed

note: the Korean Workers' Party continues to list deceased leaders KIM Il Sung and KIM Jong Il as Eternal President and Eternal General Secretary respectively

description: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Korean Workers' Party selects all candidates

elections: last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KWP 607, KSDF 50, Chondoist Chongu Party 22, Chongryon 5, religious associations 3; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; KWP, KSDP, Chondoist Chongu Party, and Chongryon are part of the DFRF; a token number of seats are reserved for minor parties

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of one judge and 2 "People's Assessors" or for some cases, 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme People's Assembly for 5-year terms

subordinate courts: lower provincial courts as determined by the Supreme People's Assembly

major parties: Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland or DFRF

Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un]

General Association of Korean Residents in Japan or Chongryon

minor parties: Chondoist Chongu Party (under KWP control)

Social Democratic Party or KSDP [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)

ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO

none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star; the broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow white bands stand for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism

red star, chollima (winged horse); national colors: red, white, blue

name: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song)

lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun

note: adopted 1947; both North Korea's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as "Ach'imun pinnara" (Let Morning Shine)

Economy :: KOREA, NORTH

North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending and development of its ballistic missile and nuclear program severely draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power outputs have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel.

The mid 1990s through mid 2000s were marked by severe famine and widespread starvation. Significant food aid was provided by the international community through 2009. Since that time, food assistance has declined significantly. In the last few years, domestic corn and rice production has improved, although domestic production does not fully satisfy demand. A large portion of the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed semi-private markets to begin selling a wider range of goods, allowing North Koreans to partially make up for diminished public distribution system rations. It also implemented changes in the management process of communal farms in an effort to boost agricultural output.

In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, South Korea's government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities. In February 2016, South Korea ceased its remaining bilateral economic activity by closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test a month earlier. This nuclear test and another in September 2016 resulted in two United Nations Security Council Resolutions that targeted North Korea's foreign currency earnings, particularly coal and other mineral exports. Over the last decade, China has been North Korea's primary trading partner.

The North Korean Government continues to stress its goal of improving the overall standard of living, but has taken few steps to make that goal a reality for its populace. In 2016, the regime used two mass mobilizations - one totaling 70 days and another 200 days - to spur the population to increase production and complete construction projects quickly. The regime released a five-year economic development strategy in May 2016 that outlined plans for promoting growth across sectors. Firm political control remains the government's overriding concern, which likely will inhibit formal changes to North Korea's current economic system.

note: data are in 2015 US dollars;

North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2015 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion.

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

household consumption: NA%

government consumption: NA%

investment in fixed capital: NA%

investment in inventories: NA%

exports of goods and services: 5.9%

imports of goods and services: -11.1% (2014 est.)

services: 33.5% (2017 est.)

rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, soybeans, pulses, beef, pork, eggs

military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism

note: estimates vary widely (2014 est.)

industry and services: 63% (2008 est.)

expenditures: $3.3 billion (2007 est.)

note: excludes earnings from state-operated enterprises (2007 est.)

$2.985 billion (2016 est.)

$2.908 billion (2015 est.)

minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products

$3.752 billion (2016 est.)

$3.711 billion (2015 est.)

petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain

North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (average market rate)

Energy :: KOREA, NORTH

population without electricity: 18,400,000

electrification - total population: 30%

electrification - urban areas: 41%

electrification - rural areas: 13% (2013)

13.41 billion kWh (2015 est.)

11.24 billion kWh (2015 est.)

10 million kW (2015 est.)

45% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

55% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

10,640 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

11,270 bbl/day (2014 est.)

18,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

5,976 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

50 million Mt (2013 est.)

Communications :: KOREA, NORTH

total subscriptions: 1.18 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (July 2016 est.)

general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanded beyond Pyongyang

domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; mobile service launched in late 2008 for the Pyongyang area and considerable progress in expanding to other parts of the country since

international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2015)

no independent media; radios and TVs are pre-tuned to government stations; 4 government-owned TV stations; the Korean Workers' Party owns and operates the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, and the state-run Voice of Korea operates an external broadcast service; the government prohibits listening to and jams foreign broadcasts (2015)

Transportation :: KOREA, NORTH

number of registered air carriers: 1

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 223,418

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,574,719 mt-km (2015)

standard gauge: 7,435 km 1.435-m gauge (5,400 km electrified)

note: figures are approximate; some narrow-gauge railway also exists (2014)

unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)

2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)

by type: bulk carrier 6, container ship 3, general cargo 184, oil tanker 25, other 30 (2017)

major seaport(s): Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Namp'o, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan

Military and Security :: KOREA, NORTH

North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005)

17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2017)

Transnational Issues :: KOREA, NORTH

risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen Rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)

IDPs: undetermined (periodic flooding and famine during mid-1990s) (2017)

current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; many North Korean workers recruited to work abroad under bilateral contracts with foreign governments, most often Russia and China, are subjected to forced labor and do not have a choice in the work the government assigns them, are not free to change jobs, and face government reprisals if they try to escape or complain to outsiders; tens of thousands of North Koreans, including children, held in prison camps are subjected to forced labor, including logging, mining, and farming; many North Korean women and girls, lured by promises of food, jobs, and freedom, have migrated to China illegally to escape poor social and economic conditions only to be forced into prostitution, domestic service, or agricultural work through forced marriages

tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government continued to participate in human trafficking through its use of domestic forced labor camps and the provision of forced labor to foreign governments through bilateral contracts; officials did not demonstrate any efforts to address human trafficking through prosecution, protection, or prevention measures; no known investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of trafficking offenders or officials complicit in trafficking-related offenses were conducted; the government also made no efforts to identify or protect trafficking victims and did not permit NGOs to assist victims (2015)

at present there is insufficient information to determine the current level of involvement of government officials in the production or trafficking of illicit drugs, but for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine

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The Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is the single point of contact for all inquiries about the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). We read every letter, fax, or e-mail we receive, and we will convey your comments to CIA officials outside OPA as appropriate.

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The Educational System in North Korea - StudyCountry.com

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Browse StudyCountry and get a wide range of information about the formal education system in North Korea, from primary education to advanced higher learning degrees.

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The North Korea government uses their own concentration camps to those who oppose the government or commit a crime. The camps and detention centers make people scared of opposing the government thus inclining people to follow the North Korean regime and idealistic views.

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-Students are taught communist ideology and "greatness" of their leaders. The General School System (GSS) includes K-10 schooling.
-North Korea has a one-party system. North Korea falls under a totalitarian regime and elections are actually held.
-GDP: $40 billion (2015)
-Population: Urban, $1,700 GDP per capita (2015)
-Exports of goods and services: 5.9%
-GDP spent on military: 22%