North Korea, Country in East Asia.
This territory occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, bordered by China, Russia, and South Korea. The landscape consists of mountain ranges in the interior and narrow coastal plains along two seas.
The peninsula was divided in 1945 after decades under Japanese rule, leading to the creation of a socialist government in 1948. A war with the South from 1950 to 1953 ended with an armistice that left the country separated.
Korean script, known as Hangul, appears throughout the country in a highly standardized form with clear geometric characters. Architecture and monuments often display symmetrical designs that emphasize order and national unity.
Entry requires advance permits and travelers must join organized tours with assigned guides at all times. Mobile devices are collected on arrival and photography is restricted to approved locations only.
The local calendar counts years from 1912, the birth year of Kim Il-sung, so the current year appears as a Juche year instead. Official documents and newspapers use this system rather than the Gregorian calendar.
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