DPR Korea or the Democratic Republic of Korea also known as North Korea is an East Asian country located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.

Some interesting facts of DPR Korea are:

• North Korea or DPR as it is known to be today was created by President Kim II Sung. He was responsible for creating the policy of self-reliance thereby cutting off North Korea both economically and diplomatically with the rest of the world. No compromise was made even during the period of severe famine and economic crisis.

• Former leader of DPR Korea, Kim II Jong has 6 armoured custom made trains and 20 stations specifically for him to travel around the country because he hated to fly. These custom made trains were lavishly built and the coaches containing bedrooms, conference rooms, satellite phone links, flat screen TVs etc.

• According to a 2011 Amnesty report, camp prisoners frequently suffer from and die due to malnutrition and have to slog through each day engaged in physical labour in DPRK of agricultural work, mining and logging with the most rudimentary of tools.

• People in North Korea have restrictions even in their choice of haircuts. There are 28 prescribed styles amongst which people have the option to choose. Women must maintain short hair if unmarried and have more options after marriage.

• Media in the Democratic Republic of Korea have access television that is state controlled and only a closed domestic network of Internet exists for the people. As a result, citizens have very little idea about the world happenings other than what and how it is portrayed by the North Korean propaganda.

• North Korea has one of the world’s largest militaries and also the world’s largest Special Forces group comprising of around 180,000 members. The latter is termed as the “Special Operation Force” and is highly trained and skilful.

• There exist tunnels running deep underground and into the South Korean territory. These tunnels have been dug out by the North Korean Forces and each of them have been estimated to be big enough to accommodate a rapid movement of troops at the rate of 30,000 men per hour. It is however claimed by the government that it is a branch of an extended coal mine.

• Erratic farming policies and the self-reliance policy as mentioned earlier caused the death of nearly 2 million people due to famine during the 1990s.

• There exists no modern judicial system in North Korea

• DPR Korea attains part of its revenue by exporting various pharmaceutical products to Japan such as methamphetamine, Viagra, narcotics etc.

• A network of informants employed by the government ensures that citizens are monitored at all times and detect any suspicious behaviour or criminal activities. Political offences have the harshest form of punishment in the country. Any person trying to access non-state radio or TV broadcast in an unauthorised manner is severely punished.

• The Airang event is DPR’s most famous mass participation sports event.

With such high amounts of restrictions and military policy imposed on the citizens, North Korea ranks as one of the most militarized countries in the world. Although traditionally and culturally they remain similar to South Korea, over the years since its separation in 1945, it has developed its distinct identity.