National Library of North Korea in Pyongyang

North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) shares borders with China, Japan Sea, Yellow Sea and the demilitarized zone (separating it from the Republic of Korea).

The North Korean capital, Pyongyang, was completely rebuilt after the Korean War, the way large cities, parks and buildings well-designed marble huge audience. Palace of Culture, the Grand Theatre, Juche Tower and the restaurant Ongrui embody the Korean variant of communist architecture. Gates of Pyongyang and the Arch of Triumph (built in honor of Kim Il-Sungs 70 years) are particularly impressive. Many of the ancient buildings in Kaesong (six hours in the capital by train) bear witness to inter-Korean 500 years of imperial history. The city is surrounded by beautiful mountains covered with pine trees.

Largest country Kumgangsan National Park, which consists of a series of mountains (known as the Diamond Mountains) along the east coast of country.Note that only travel companies officially recognized by the North Korean authorities are allowed to bring groups of tourists in Korea (Rep.). Independent tourism is not permitted, and foreigners must be accompanied by a guide at all times.

Central Park in Pyongyang, North Korea

Pyongyang, North Korea (AP) - A little boy jumping to summarize a hand classmate, her cheeks, and a sign of great leader's smiling face is attached to its Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt. The men from army green a joke over a beer in a pub near the German Juche Tower. Schoolgirls red scarves of the Young Pioneers sway in unison as they sing a traditional song Korean, I learned as a child.

Wherever I look, communist North Korea is a world both foreign and familiar to my eyes Korean-American, a place where men wear suits and children's backpack bags Mao Mickey Mouse, they call each other " partner "and love your spicy kimchi.

Currently, the Seoul bureau chief for the Associated Press in 2008, I made five eye-opening visits to North Korea. Chief Asia photographer David Guttenfelder has traveled the country on numerous occasions over the past 12 years.

Pyongyang, North Korea

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK Chosongul:), commonly known as North Korea (Play / ˌ nɔrθ kəriə /), is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean demilitarized zone is a buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea. Amnok Tumen River and the river marks the border between North Korea and the People's Republic of China. A section of the Tumen River in the far northeastern border with Russia.

The peninsula was ruled by the Empire of Korea until it was annexed by Japan after the Russo-Japanese in 1905. It was divided into Soviet and American areas occupied in 1945, after the end of the Second World War. North Korea refused to attend a United Nations supervised elections in the South in 1948, which led to the creation of various governments of Korea for the two zones of occupation. North and South Korea claimed sovereignty over the Korean peninsula as a whole, resulting in the Korean War in 1950. The 1953 armistice agreement ended the fighting, but both countries are officially at war with each other, as a peace treaty was not signed. The two states were accepted into the United Nations in 1991.

North Korea is a party state under a common front under the leadership of the Korean Workers' Party (kWp). The government of the country following the Juche ideology of self-confidence, developed by the country's president, Kim Il-sung. After his death, Kim Il-sung proclaimed the eternal President of the country. Juche was the official ideology of the state, when the country adopted a new constitution in 1972, although Kim Il-sung was used to form policy for at least as early as the fall of 1955.After the Soviet Union and a number of natural disasters, famine took place, causing the deaths of 900,000 to 2 million people. Faced with these circumstances adopted leader, Kim Jong-Il, Songun, or "military first" policy to strengthen the country and its government.

Many external organizations indicate that North Korea is a totalitarian dictatorship with a Stalinist personality cult around the large family Kim and one of the lowest rank human rights in all countries. North Korea is the country most militarized in the world with a total staff of active, reserve and paramilitary 9495000. Is a state of nuclear weapons and an active space program.

Triumphal Arch of Pyongyang, North Korea

The Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang (Korea: ) was built to commemorate the Korean resistance to Japan from 1925 to 1945.

Built in 1982 on the Place du Triomphe Back at the foot of Moran Hill () in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, was the Arc de Triomphe monument built to honor and glorify the role of President Kim Il-sung at the resistance against Japanese rule. Inaugurated on the occasion of his birthday 70 years, each of 25 500 blocks of white granite, finely dressed represents a day in his life to that point.

The structure is based on the Arc de Triomphe and was deliberately designed to be a little bigger than Paris. It is the highest arch in the world, standing 60 meters (197 feet) high and 50 m (164 ft) wide. Arco has dozens of rooms, handrails, platforms and elevators of observation. It also has four vaulted doors, each 27 m (89 ft) high, decorated with azalea carved in their area. Inscribed on the arch is the "Song of General Kim Il-sung," a revolutionary anthem, 1925, when the northern states in the history of Korea, Kim set out on the journey for national liberation and in 1945 the end the Second World War, which ended the Japanese occupation.

The bow is still a part of official visits North Korea for tourists and visitors.