North Korea in Perspective TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: GEOGRAPHY......................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Geographic Regions and Topographic Features ...................................................................... 2 Climate ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Rivers ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Major Cities ............................................................................................................................. 5 Pyongyang ........................................................................................................................ 5 Hamhung-Hungnam ......................................................................................................... 6 Chongjin ........................................................................................................................... 7 Sinuiju ............................................................................................................................... 7 Wonsan ............................................................................................................................. 8 Nampo .............................................................................................................................. 8 Environmental Concerns ......................................................................................................... 9 Deforestation .................................................................................................................... 9 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 9 Air Quality ...................................................................................................................... 10 Soil Quality ..................................................................................................................... 10 Natural Hazards ..................................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 1 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 12 CHAPTER 2: HISTORY .............................................................................................................. 13 Overview ................................................................................................................................ 13 Origins ................................................................................................................................... 13 Paekjae, Kaya, and Silla ........................................................................................................ 14 Goguryo and the Three Kingdoms ........................................................................................ 14 Impact of the Three Kingdoms Era ....................................................................................... 15 The Unified Silla Dynasty and Parhae ................................................................................... 15 Period of the Later Three Kingdoms ..................................................................................... 16 Koryo ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Early Chosun ......................................................................................................................... 18 The Imjin War ........................................................................................................................ 19 The Manchus ......................................................................................................................... 20 Isolation ................................................................................................................................. 20 Foreign Influence ................................................................................................................... 21 The Decline of Chosun .......................................................................................................... 22 Japanese Colonization ........................................................................................................... 22 World War II .......................................................................................................................... 23 Formation of North Korea ..................................................................................................... 23 The War and Its Immediate Aftermath .................................................................................. 24 Cult of Personality ................................................................................................................. 25 Military Buildup, Economic Decline, and Succession .......................................................... 26 © DLIFLC | i North Korea in Perspective North Korea Today ................................................................................................................ 27 Transitioning to New Leadership: Kim Jong Un ................................................................... 28 Chapter 2 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 30 CHAPTER 3: ECONOMY ........................................................................................................... 31 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 31 Industry and Manufacturing and Services ............................................................................. 32 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................. 33 Fishing ............................................................................................................................ 34 Forestry ........................................................................................................................... 34 Banking and Currency ........................................................................................................... 34 Trade ...................................................................................................................................... 35 Investment .............................................................................................................................. 37 South Korean Investment ............................................................................................... 37 Chinese Investment ........................................................................................................ 38 Other Investment ............................................................................................................ 38 Energy and Mineral Resources .............................................................................................. 39 Energy ............................................................................................................................. 39 Minerals .......................................................................................................................... 40 Standard of Living ................................................................................................................. 41 Tourism .................................................................................................................................. 42 Transportation ........................................................................................................................ 43 Business Outlook ................................................................................................................... 44 Chapter 3 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 46 CHAPTER 4: SOCIETY .............................................................................................................. 47 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 47 Ethnic Groups and Language ................................................................................................. 47 Religion .................................................................................................................................. 48 Cuisine ................................................................................................................................... 49 Traditional Dress ................................................................................................................... 50 Arts ........................................................................................................................................ 52 Literature ........................................................................................................................ 52 Visual