North Korea shares its southern border, obviously, with South Korea, and nuzzles up against China in the north and Russia in the far northeast. The country is slightly smaller in area than England, and just a few thousand square kilometres larger than its southern cousin. It faces Japan to the south and looks east across the Sea of Japan (known as the East Sea in Korea). North Korea is estimated to be 80 per cent uninhabitable mountains, compared to a mere 70 per cent uninhabitable land in the south.
When the Japanese were running the place they were no keen environmentalists, and used the whole peninsula as their own private timber mill and mine, especially once WWII kicked on. But much of North Korea's sheer inaccessibility saved it, and the northern and eastern regions of the country are mostly rugged mountains with dense forests, not well suited to agriculture or easy to exploitation. The Korean War and allied bombing in the 1950s took a huge toll, but much of the country is still shrouded in dense forests, with vast mineral wealth lying untapped below the surface. Estuaries and marshes teem with migratory birds and other wildlife, and if you manage to get out in the back blocks you may manage to see black bear or deer.
The weather is similar to South Korea's, only colder and drier in winter. Most of the rain falls from July to September, but autumn is drier with crisp, bright days and cool nights. The winters are long, frigid and noticeably lacking in ski resorts, making travel questionable at best. Summers are generally hot and sticky with lots of rain.
The Koreans are one ethnic family speaking one language. They share certain distinct physical characteristics which differentiate them from other Asian people including the Chinese and the Japanese, and have a strong cultural identity as one ethnic family.
Kim Il-sung promoted traditional Korean arts and culture vigorously, though his motives for doing so are debatable. He was a fierce nationalist who was convinced of the superiority of Korean culture: North Koreans were told that they were ethnically superior, that their country was the best in the world and Kim Il-sung was the greatest man who ever lived. What that all means is that if you have an interest in traditional Korean arts, North Korea is the place to see them. You can view exhibitions of traditional or modern pottery, sculpture, painting and architecture on request, and your guide will take you to films or the theatre for a reasonable charge.
Traditional music is similar to that of Japan and China, with an emphasis on strings. The two main forms are the stately chongak and the folksier minsogak. Among the folk dances are drum dances (mugo - a hectic, lively court dance where the participants wear drums around their necks), mask dances (talchum), monk dances (seungmu) and spirit-cleansing dances (salpuri). Korea is also strong in the visual arts. Traditional painting has Chinese calligraphic elements, with the brush line being the most important feature. Most traditional sculpture is Buddhist.
Attractions of North Korea.
P'yongyang
P'yongyang is a superb example of the regime's determination to project its image of progress, discipline and the well being of its citizens. Don't expect a bustling Asian capital alive with street hawkers and televisions being carried on the backs of bicycles. Don't even expect bicycles. It is said that only those with the proper 'class background' and proven records of unswerving loyalty to the country's leaders are even allowed to live there.
Haeju
Kuwolsan
Just across the mouth of the Taedong River from the dull port city of Namp'o stand the Nine Moon Mountains, the most spectacular peaks on the west coast. Several roads and unpaved hiking trails provide access to two of the main peaks, two main valleys, waterfalls, hot springs, old fortress walls and former shrines and hermitages. South of the main peak lies the Samsong Pleasure Ground, a favoured summer resort of North Koreans. Still further south through beautiful scenery is Woljongsa, a reconstructed temple, unfortunately only a shadow of its former glory. You can explore the main attractions in a day of driving and hiking. The mountains at Kuwolsan are about 75km (46 mi) south-west of P'yongyang.
Kaesong
Kaesong today has around 200,000 residents, but 800 years ago the population was close to four times that, when the city was capital of the Koryo Dynasty. It was then a sumptuously wealthy and sophisticated metropolis, crowded with Buddhist aristocrats. Centuries of neglect and three major wars that left the city in rubble each time tarnished this picture a little, but there are a few relics of former times and a couple of good museums. The Songgyungwan Neo-Confucian College was built in 992 and then rebuilt after the Japanese invasion of 1592. It hosts the Koryo Museum, with pottery and other Buddhist relics, and Confucian ceremonies are re-enacted there sometimes.
Paekdusan
Paekdusan straddles the Korean-Chinese border in the far north. At 2744m (1070ft) this extinct volcano is the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula. It is surrounded by a vast wilderness, and the main peak is covered year-round by whitish pumice and snow; the name means 'White Head Mountain'. A huge crater lake called Chonji ('Lake of Heaven') lies at the summit, surrounded by bare rocky crags. It is one of the deepest alpine lakes in the world, and although it's fed by two hot springs, it is also one of the coldest.
NORTH KOREA National Flower : Azalea (Jindallae)
National Capital : Pyongyang
North Korea Area : Approx. 120,538n Sq Km (46,540 Sq. Mi), 0.08% of total
North Korea Population : 23,991,000 in 2010 (0.35% in total)
Time Zone : UTC+09 (Korea Standard Time)
