North+Korea

North Korea Part A- The essential Guide to the Nation
= __Official Name__: Democratic People's Republic of Korea = = __Georgraphic Orientation__: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea. = = __Neighbouring nations__: China; South Korea; Russia. = = __Population__: 22,665,345 (July 2009 est.) = = __Literacy rate__: 99% of North Korea's 23,479,089 population are literate over the age of fifteen. = = __Official language__: Korean = = __Type of government__: Communist state one-man dictatorship. = = __Type of economic system__: Totalitarian. = = __Cultures of People__: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese. = = __Regions__: traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo. = = __Natural resources__: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower. = = __Major Exports__:minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products. = = __Major Imports__: petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain. = = __Major trading partners Exports:__ South Korea 45%, China 35%, Thailand 5% (2007) = = __Imports__: China 27%, South Korea 16%, Thailand 9%, Russia 7% (2006) = = = = = = =

Part B- 20th Century History Timeline
=    1. In __1945__, Korea was liberated after Japan's defeat in World War II. Under a wartime agreement, Soviet troops occupied the area north of the __38th__ parallel and United States troops occupied the area south of that line. = =  2.   The war crippled industrial and agricultural production. In the north a recovery program was begun in __1953__, with aid from the Soviet Union and Communist China. In the south the government was left weak and unstable. = =  3.   A military junta seized control of South Korea in __1961__. General Park Chung Hee, a junta leader, was elected president in __1963__. = =  4. The country's rapid economic growth led to Park's reelection in __1967__ and again in __1971__. = =  5. In __1972__ he declared martial law, banned all political activity, and dissolved the National Assembly. = =  6. The Yushin Constitution, giving Park almost unlimited powers, was adopted; he was reelected in __1972__ and __1978__. = =  7.   On __Oct__ __. 26, 1979__, Park was assassinated. The caretaker president, Choi Kyu Hah, restored the civil rights of dissidents, but a return to democratic rule depended on constitutional reform. = =  8. In __1980__ Chun Doo Hwan, a former lieutenant general, was elected president. A new constitution, reducing presidential powers, was approved by voters in __1981__. = =  9. During __1986–1987__ tens of thousands of people in several cities held violent protests against the constitution and its electoral-college system of selecting a president. = =  10. An amended constitution, approved in a national referendum on __Oct. 27, 1987__, provided for direct popular election of the president. = =Part C The Nation at Present= __How did they get power__: His father was a leader __Political Ideology__: Communism Dictator __Main problems at present__: North Korea is trying to do the nuclear and missile tests and other country disagree with it. __Source of main problem__: Nuclear and missile tests would make North Korea more powerful and they will probably start a war. __How has the international community respond__: North Korea will "pay a price" for the nuclear and missile tests it has carried out in recent days, the US ambassador to the UN has said. The strong words from the US come as UN diplomats begin work on a resolution to punish North Korea for its underground nuclear test on Monday, which were accompanied by at least three missile tests. __Country's allies__: China and the USSR along with many other communist countries, but the major one that assisted North Korea was China. __International reputation__: __West of the world__: West countries are almost democratic. Citizens love to have freedom, they are not really like Dictatorship Communist countries. __East of the world__: East communist countries like China and USSR are friendly with North Korea. They tried to help North Korea and wanted to make their countries more communist. **
 * __Leader at present__: KIM Jong Il