Resources
While North Korea is a well-known country in today's society, it is extremely isolated. The North Korean society is very closed to the outside world. For a long time, not much was very known about the country. As of recent, more and more information is being collected about North Korea. Below are a variety of resources that were used to create this web module.
The US Department of State has a great profile of North Korea. This website features a map of the country, basic history, a breakdown of the inhabitants, along with a list of other things. This website is a good introduction to the country.
History of Nations is a website that focuses on the history of North Korea (as well as Korea as a whole). It discusses the very beginnings of the country, its people, and the many hardships it has faced. The website also focuses on the attempted reunification of the two Koreas in the 1970s.
Global Security talks about the military policy in North Korea called Songun. While I only briefly covered it in this particular module, there is a lot of great detail on this critical policy in North Korea. It discusses the creation, and the policy throughout the years in North Korea.
CIA World Factbook is another basic profile on North Korea. This website was used in particular to discuss the economic problems that North Korea faces. While Wikipedia also has a great entry on the economic crisis, the CIA World Factbook is more reliable and gives a fair amount of information on the economy (as well as other aspects such as geography, population, etc).
Global Security talks about the military policy in North Korea called Songun. While I only briefly covered it in this particular module, there is a lot of great detail on this critical policy in North Korea. It discusses the creation, and the policy throughout the years in North Korea.
CIA World Factbook is another basic profile on North Korea. This website was used in particular to discuss the economic problems that North Korea faces. While Wikipedia also has a great entry on the economic crisis, the CIA World Factbook is more reliable and gives a fair amount of information on the economy (as well as other aspects such as geography, population, etc).
The BBC report focuses on the severe environmental issues that North Korea has been facing during the famine. Because of its location, North Korea faces tidal waves and typhoons. But due to economic issues and over-industrialization, the North Korean government has destroyed what little arable land there is as well as cause major pollution issues.
The LA Times reports on the horrific healthcare system currently in place in North Korea. The report details the lack of sterilized equipment as well as ill-equipped surgeries that take place. Also, the report discusses interviews that were held with a few individuals who have escaped North Korea. It gives brief details of their first hand experiences.
Amnesty International has a wealth of information on the healthcare crisis in North Korea. This particular article focuses on North Korea's need for healthcare aide. The country still claims free healthcare, but does not have the adequate resources. This article also discusses how doctors are improperly giving out what little medicine they have to those who are suffering from the Tuberculosis epidemic.
The Arduous March is a Wikipedia entry on the first (and most deadly) famine in North Korea. It breaks down the factors that led up to the famine, as well as how many people perished. The article also briefly discusses the current famine (2011).
The AlertNet website has an article on the first North Korean famine that occurred in the 1990s, peaking in 1997. This article discusses the causes of the famine and also takes a look at the aide that the normally self-reliant North Korea received from various countries.
Time Magazine gives a report on the current famine in North Korea, during the 2007-2008 period. It gives details on the rising food prices, lack of aide from outside countries, and the floods that have ravaged the country.
PM With Mark Colvin is an interview that discusses the current food shortage crisis in North Korea. In the interview, Mark Colvin is interviewing UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos before she heads to North Korea to investigate the hunger situation. Amos is greatly concerned about malnourishment in the country, with the children in particular.
The Week posted an article this past July about the looming of the North Korean Famine. This article discusses why the famine is on North Korea's doorstep and what were the factors that cause it. What is interesting about this article is that it explains why there is little, if any aide, reaching North Korea from other countries.
The Kim-Il-Sung Biography gives a wealth of information on the first, and most beloved, communist leader of North Korea. This article covers everything from Kim's childhood to when he was recognized by the Soviet Military and given a high ranking position. This biography has details on his military and political careers as well.
The Kim Jong-Il Biography details the life of the current communist leader of North Korea. More commonly known as "Dear Leader," or "our Father," by North Koreans. While records of Kim Jong-Il's earlier life are disputed between North Koreans and the Soviet Union, much is known about him presently. This Wikipedia entry focuses on his political policies as well as personal life.