The Democratic People's Republic of Korea makes up the northern part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. North Korea is bordered by South Korea, China, and Russia. The border between North and South Korea remains in dispute, with both countries claiming the entire peninsula and some islands off the coast.
North Korea, as it is today, has been in existence only since 1948. Prior to that time, its history was one of kingdoms and colonialism. Additionally, the history of North Korea is the same as that of South Korea, as the separation was created along a boundary negotiated between the United States and the Soviet Union, with no Korean official included.
Its history can be divided into four periods: the Three Kingdoms period, Unification, Japanese colonization, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The Three Kingdoms period lasted from 246 AD to 668 AD. There were people in the region prior to that time, including armies, but they were mostly fragmented and temporary. The Three Kingdoms were the Paekche, Koguryŏ, and Silla, although the Koguryŏ was the one that occupied roughly the area that is now North Korea, while the Paekche occupied the west side of the peninsula and included land in both Koreas, and the Silla was in the area that is now South Korea. Most North Koreans have their roots in the Koguryŏ Kingdom.
For most of the Three Kingdoms period, the Koguryŏ Kingdom dominated the Korean peninsula, but this ended in the 600s, when the Silla Kingdom, with assistance from China, took over Koguryŏ, after which Chinese influences in Korea increased.
By the 920s, the Silla had weakened militarily, and a new Koguryŏ leader came to power, defeating both the Silla and the Paekche. He treated the Silla with respect and was able to unify Korea. During this period, Koguryŏ was changed to Koryŏ, which later became Korea. This period is known as the Unification period. It was during this time that Buddhist and Confucian philosophy took root in North Korea, with Confucianism becoming particularly strong during the Chosŏn dynasty, between 1392 and 1910.
By 1910, the Chosŏn dynasty had weakened, and the Japanese took over, aided by the United States and Britain. Japanese colonialism lasted until the end of World War II. During this period, Japan actively sought to replace the traditional Korean culture, particularly its Confucian influences, with Japanese culture, politics, and education, while the Koreans were treated as second-class citizens.
Japanese occupation was not without resistance. There were petitions for independence and protests. Beginning in the 1930s, guerrilla warfare began. One of the guerrilla soldiers was Kim Il Sung, who would later become the leader of North Korea.
Following World War II, Japan lost control over its external holdings, and negotiations over what to do with the Korean peninsula were between the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1945, the US decided to draw the line between American occupied Korea and Soviet-occupied Korea along the 38th parallel, with the Soviets to the north of the line. Although this was an arbitrary line, it cut the country roughly in half. The Soviets agreed to this. While the Americans made efforts to bring Western principles to South Korea, the USSR allowed the Koreans to control their own fate, and Kim Il Sung became the North Korean leader after being trained in communist policy and leadership in the USSR. By 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established, and the Soviets ended its supervision in 1950.
At that time, the Korean War began, as North Korea sought to unify the country. The United States intervened on behalf of South Korea, while China provided support to North Korea. After three years and the deaths of more than a million soldiers and civilians, a truce was called. A heavily guarded demilitarized zone still divides the Korean peninsula, and the US has maintained a heavy military presence along the border.
The ideology of the new North Korean government has always been one of self-reliance, which earned the country a nickname as the "hermit kingdom". Today, its closest foreign relationship is with China and, in concert with its philosophy of self-reliance, the North Korean Army is believed to be the fourth largest active military force in the world, with approximately one-third of its population in military service.
The determining factor in the opportunities available to a North Korean citizen is class. Known as songbun, a person's class is decided in part by the government's perception of the person's loyalty to the party, but also by ancestry. Someone with a high songbun is someone who is seen as having been loyal to party ideology, to have worked hard, and committed no crimes. Songbun can be more easily lowered than raised. This concept has its roots in Confucianism.
Recommended Resources
A project of the US-Korea Institute at John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, 38 North seeks to bring analysis by seasoned North Korea watchers and general audiences, covering its weapons of mass destruction, as well as other political, economic, and social developments. Its topics and authors are featured, along with a map showing North Korean regions, a photo gallery, and affiliated organizations.
https://www.38north.org/
Based in South Korea, Daily NK is an online newspaper that focuses on issues pertaining to North Korea, reporting on news and information allegedly obtain through informants within North Korea. Online since 2004, the site offers insights into how North Korea works, gives defector information, and publishes news, news analysis, opinion pieces, and market trends. A database of North Korea related articles, reports, photos, and documentation is included.
http://english.dailynk.com/
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
The official government website of the DPR of Korea features ancient and modern history of the country, an overview of its political system, including a discussion of the rights of citizens, and a statement on national reunification with South Korea, foreign relations, national symbols, and geography. The Korean Friendship Association is introduced, including its objectives and activities, and a guide to travel and tourism in North Korea.
http://www.korea-dpr.com/
The tour group specializes in arranging tours to North Korea, which may include prepackaged group tours, a Dandong tour, Sinuiju-Tongrim half-day tour, and independent tours, each of which are highlighted here, with details and proposed prices. Other resources include advice for traveling to the DPRK, transportation options, and testimonials, as well as information about North Korean culture, public holidays, art, and contacts. A blog is included.
http://www.explorenorthkorea.com/
Headquartered in Long Beach, California, the organization is made up of people working in several parts of the world, toward the goal of advancing the cause of liberty in North Korea. Its team, job opportunities, internships, and financial information are put forth, with an overview of the organization's work in refugee rescues, as well as in changing the narrative on North Korea. Contributions may be made through the site, and an online shopping area is included.
https://www.libertyinnorthkorea.org/
Made up of more than sixty organizations, the NKFC was established in 2003 to work for freedom and human rights in North Korea. An introduction to the organization is presented, including acknowledgements and highlights of some of its participating groups, a gallery of photographs, calendar of events, news archive, and information about how others may get involved in the work.
http://www.nkfreedom.org/
A joint project of the East-West Center and the National Committee on North Korea, the online resource was created to provide researchers, journalists, and the general public with accessible information on diplomatic and economic relations between North Korea and other countries around the world, featuring an interactive map leading to in-depth analysis and information on the country's international ties. An introduction to the EWC and the NCNK is included.
https://www.northkoreaintheworld.org/
An affiliate of 38 North, the site offers research and analysis on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), including biographies of North Korean leaders, such as Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong II, and the Kim family in general, as well as the country's security apparatus and how it is put to use, and a leadership chart showing the roles that are played by specific individuals in the North Korean government.
http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/
Online since 2004, the North Korea Times is hosted in Australia, but offers news about North Korea and South Korea, including international headlines, presented in a newspaper format, offering coverage of the nation and region, with business and finance reports, drawn from in-house journalists as well as wire services and other sources. A corporate overview is presented, its policies, terms and conditions are posted, and archives are available.
http://www.northkoreatimes.com/
Documenting atrocities against North Korean Christians, the site presents evidence through testimonies, articles, reports, video clips, and links to additional informational resources, as well as letters to the leaders of North Korea, China, the United States, and the United Nations, and other messages. North Korea's intolerance for Christianity and other religions is discussed, including specific acts of persecution.
http://www.northkoreanchristians.com/
