North Korea - Fearful State or Laughing Stock

There never seems to be a month that goes by without the secretive state of North Korea being involved in the media. This week the communist state executed a high political figure for no main reason - not only was he a high profile figure he was also the leaders (Kim Jong-un) uncle.

So what is the deal with North Korea? Why is it so secretive? And are they really going to start a nuclear war with the rest of the world? Can we take them seriously?

The problem with these questions is no-one actually knows - it's so secretive - no journalists are allowed into the state. North Korean journalists job is to brainwash the Korean public into thinking they are the most powerful state in the world. The public are constantly told their leaders are almost like gods, when the previous leader died Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack in 2011 if a member of the public was seen not mourning the death they were sent to six months hard labour.



Korean's mourning the death of previous leader Kim Jong-il. Picture courtesy of nydailynews.com

North Korea is one of very few communist states in the world now. Very few people are allowed inside the country and when they are getting out is a real problem. Legally no-one is allowed to leave North Korea without consent from the government.

North Korea is still technically at war with South Korea, after the Korean war in 1953 there was never a resolution, there is still hostilities towards the two countries despite Northern and Southern Koreans being allowed to go into the Korean Penisula (an area of land occupied by both countries were citizens of the two countries can go). So when North Korea claimed the Penisula was theirs why didn't South Korea kick up a fuss because with America as an ally North Korea wouldn't stand a chance. The main reason being North Korea has one main ally China - the world's biggest super power - this is why North Korea is a dangerous country.

So earlier this year when North Korea's new leader announced it would be using more funds to improve the nuclear arms the world panicked. Kim Jong-un the young, unknown leader scared the world and people predicted a nuclear war could occur in months.

So would North Korea dare to start a nuclear most people predicted no, so why did the North want to look threatening and risk war? Well as the new leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un did not want to look weak so by closing the Korean Penisula and upping it's nuclear programme he not only warned his enemies but looked strong to his own people - almost like an animal cage rattling showing how strong they are to other people.

North Korea's new unpredictable leader Kim Jong-un. Picture courtesy of 38north.org.

 



Even though all these serious stories come out of North Korea not many people can take the state seriously with some of the ridiculous things they make up. North Korea claim it's previous leader Kim Jong-il's first time of playing golf shot an incredible 38 under par and shot five holes in one. North Korea also claim Kim Jong-il invented the hamburger, not only did he invent the hamburger North Korean media then claimed he found a plant that grows hamburgers - a bit ironic when most of the citizens of the country struggle with famine (it is one of the poorest countries in the world).

 

So what next for North Korea? Impossible to predict what the country will do next for media attention but just remember never take them seriously!