Well for one, I say watch their news broadcast.

Take note on how they talk about their leaders:

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's

Dear leader and general Kim Jong Un...!"

As opposed to:

"So, this week, President Mun-Jae-In visited China... ."

Yeah that, I think they have this thing going on with conflict and something about a war

But nah, yeah.

It's time to learn Geography NOW!!

Hey Everybody, I'm your host Barbs.

We have reached our next set of twin countries.

The first was the Congos, the last ones will be the Sudans,

For now, we have reached the Koreas.

Now unless you have been living under a rock, I'm sure you may have heard something about

North Korea in the past decade as it has been in the news quite a bit.

As you know, I'm half Korean with roots in South Korea

and not only that, but I'm also American.

So basically, I'm the worst possible candidate in the eyes of an North Korean

to speak about their country. I will try to remain

as unbiased in neutral in my delivery addressing as much information

as objectively as possible, based of from pure data and fact.

So, Are you ready? Alright? Let's Begin!

'Political Geography'

Dude, I need to work on my Korean, I made an embarrassment.

ANYWAY!

North Korea is sometimes referred to as the 'Hermit Kingdom'.

So, there's always a sense of mystery when it comes to the inside.

Fortunately, we have satellites and Google Earth.

First of all, North Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula connected to China's

Liaoning and Jilin provinces,

Sandwiched between the Korea Bay, and this sea which be careful what you call it,

Koreans and Chinese prefer the name 'East Sea'.

Whereas the Japanese call it 'Sea of Japan'.

Keep in mind, there is also an incredibly short

17km long border with Russia

at the tripoint with China. Along the border with Russia

lies the Friendship Bridge, and only North Koreans and Russians are allowed to take it.

The transfer in Vladivostok, this means you could essentially

go all the way to Moscow, making it one of the longest train

itineraries in the world, at around 9 days upon arrival.

The same deal exist with China

in which there are 3 main border-crossing, the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge,

the Ji'An Yalu River Railway and the New Yalu River Bridge.

Each of these bridges though are guarded and will only let in certain government

approved arrivals that have no set schedule.

The country is divided into 3 types of administrative divisions,

the 9 provinces. The 특별시 or special city of Rason

as well as the capital, Pyongyang which also acts in it's own entity.

Pyongyang only has the international airport, Pyongyang Sunan International Airport,

Whereas the second largest city, Hamhung

and the 3rd largest, Chongjin, both on the east coast

also have respectively the next largest domestic airports.

Now we reached the most controversial part, the border with South Korea.

Literally like their own brothers.

This 250km long border know as the

DMZ or Demilitarized Zone, also sometimes call the 38th Parallel.

This line was established by the Korea armistice agreement

to serve as a buffer zone between the two nations

giving more than a little half of the peninsula to North Korea

This means that essentially both countries claim

that they are the rightful owners of the entire Peninsula

Or at least their government ruling system should be the dominant ruling ideologies.

At Panmunjom lies the joint Security Area

Which acts as like the only connection between North and South Korea

with neutral conference rooms. It's actually kind of like a tourist spot

in which people are allowed to go in under the supervision of an military guard.

On top of that, it's estimated that the country has about 8000

to 15,000 hidden underground facilities, including

underground factories, underground airforce hangers that cut through mountains naval ports.

And artillery pieces in caves.

North Korea, as we will soon find out has quite a unique layout based heavily

of for politics. Here you will find symbolism and

imagery that relates to the government everywhere,

Even in a middle of an remote farm villages.

Every school and office building is required to have portraits of the late

Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung on their walls.

In Pyongyang, whether not driving, they usually take the amazingly

embellished underground metro-system,

which goes as far as 110 metres below the surface

Most foreigners that visit rarely get to see anything outside of Pyongyang.

If you score a deal with the government, you might be allowed to visit Chongjin,

or the beaches of Wonsan, or the industrial city of Hamhung.

Oh and keep in mind since 2015,

They have actually started using their own timezone, UTC + 8:30

which makes them 30 minutes behind South Korea and Japan. Why did they do that?

NK: "Uhh, because North Korea, that's why!"

Otherwise, this is the part where I usually mention interest of places and honestly out of my research,

almost all of them were located in Pyongyang. Such As:

Korean People's study house,

The Arch of Triumph,

Juche Tower, Chollima Statue,

The Victorius Fatherland War Museum,

Mangyongdae Funfair amusement park,

Kumsusan Memorial Palace,

Gyeonggijang's Stadium, the largest in the world,

The tallest building, Ryugyong Hotel,

The Ideals of the North Korean Worker's party Momument,

Otherwise, outside of Pyongyang in Myohyangsan,

You have the Friendship Exhibition Hall.

In general, North Korea is quite different from

Most places you will encounter, due to the regime honoring architecture and monuments.

Aside from all that, the landscape

has a few colorful sites to offer, which brings us to,

'Physical Geography'

Now, believe it or not, if you actually get to see the landscape

of rural North Korea, it will not disappoint you.

First of all,

North Korea is 80% mountainous

With the largest ranges being the Hamgyong and Nang-Lim mountain chains

Now, when the two Koreas slipt up, the North side got the most treasured natural Landmark, the highest peak on the entire Korean Peninsula, Mount Baekdu.

(well, part of it, China kinda got 3/4s of it) Mount Baekdu with its caldera lake,

known as 'Heaven Lake' is actually an active volcano

With the last eruption happening in 1903

and it is considered a sacred spot to all Koreans.

So west of Baekdu is the longest river that divides

the border with China, Amnok, or Yalu River

which empties into the Korea Bay.

Nonetheless, the Taedong River is probably the most important as it flows

directly through Pyongyang. About 70% of the country is forested

about 20% is arable for farming

which employs about 25% of the entire population.

Virtually every single crop field is under government jurisdiction

as farmers must hand over a portion or quarter of the produce to the state.

During the 90s widespread flooding

disasters caused famine which killed off hundreds of thousands of people,

and since then, North Korea has actually decided to quadruple

their potato production in many places replacing

rice since potatoes grow much faster and easier.

Speaking of which, I would argue if you really want a taste of deep, true non-commercialised

traditional Korean cusine, then the North Koreans

probably have it a little more locked down than South Korea. (I'm sorry South Korea but

it's kinda true I mean, come on, like where the hell was Cheese Ramen

a thing!) And even though admittedly they do taste kinda good

kimchi was never originally intended to be made into a burger paddy.

ANYWAY. A traditional Korean meal will usually consist of multiple Banchan,

which are small seasoned side dishes placed in small dishes and bowls alongside your main plate.

Typical dishes, I'm sure many of you have heard of,

like Bulgogi, Kalbi, Samgyeopsal, Buchimgae

Bibimbap, are made in resturaunts, sometimes in the homes of the elite.

However, most people in North Korea don't actually eat meat that much except on public holidays

or on special occasions due to the lack of access.

North Koreans are also known for having the

best version of my favourite food in the world, Neng myon; ice cold starchy buckwheat noodles,

typically served with a half boiled egg, thin slice of brisket, cucumber radishes top off with the right amount of vinegar and creamy spicy mustard.

If I could go to North Korea, JUST to try their Neng myon, I would. Watch: I'm at customs at the airport

and they're like "Purpose of visit?" "Neng myon." Yeah it's probably not going to happen.

YO DENNIS RODMAN! I need you to do me a favor! Almost all

Oil and petroleum is imported from China

from a pipeline orginating in Dandong along the border.

And I think that's a good transistion to start dicussing the people and how

and why they are the way they are.

Oh Yeah! Go ahead, please explain!

Pssh... Stupid Americans.

And THAT will be discussed too!

'Demographics'

Now, let's be honest. When you hear 'North Korea'

Immediatley images of the Kim regime and Marching Soldiers and

Military Personnel, but for a couple minutes try as hard as

you can to to put that aside

and go deeper to a level that most people in the western world don't really tap into.

What is North Korea like outside of the news?

Well, first of all, the country has around 25 million people

and has the most active troops per capita at nearly

48 per 1000 people.

With the exception of a very small group of Chinese, Japanese and Westerners

that have residency status, the country is almost completely homogeneous

at 99.9% ethnically Korean.

That was the easiest pie chart I've ever made. In addition they also use the

North Korean Won as their currency (even though foreigners can't use it)

They use the type C plug outlet and they drive on the right side of the road.

Let's quickly talk about the few non-North Koreans that are

allowed to live in North Korea. The only real group of

Ethnic minorites that have inhabited the peninsula

prior to war times would be the Jaegaseung people.

decendants of Manchurians?? From China that

got married and settled in the Area.

Otherwise, modern Chinese people known as Hua Qiao have been able to establish residencies in North Korea.

However, since the 80s more have been

repatriated back to China.

Otherwise, a very small commuity of a couple hundred Indians, Japanese

and yes, even about 200 Americans live in North Korea.

Some of them are Prisoners of War, some are defectors

but most of these people are serving in humanitarian sectors

providing things like medical and educational aid. The country has virtually

no standardised immigration policy, other than: Will the supreme leader (Kim ill-sung is eternal president) allow you in?

Which is how these two people got in! Rememeber the Equatorial Guinea episode?

we talked about the dictator, Francisco Macias.

Well, he made a deal with Kim Il-Sung and sent his kids to North Korea shortly

before he was assassinated. Yeah his daughter, Monique,

was raised alongside the regime, personally meeting Kim multiple times.

She speaks fluent Korean and is alive today,

She wrote a book and does speaking towards.

Then you have this guy who goes by his Korean name, Chosun Il, he is the only Westerner to officially

work for the regime. It took him over 10 years to gain the confidence of the government.

He is head of the Korean Friendship association

and is North Korea's unoffical ambassador to the world.

What's even more interesting are the North Koreans living abroad.

Today, there's a community of North Koreans descended people in Japan known as the Zainichi Koreans.

They have their own pro-Pyongyang operating schools and teach lessons in

Korean. The strong pro-North Korea curriculum, in Japan.

Weird, Huh?

Also, there is estimated to be a little more that 20,000

defectors living in South Korea.

And there are quite a few living in the US as well,

REMEMBER That letter I got in Flag Friday?

In North Korea, they speak of course Korean, but a distinct "North Korean" dialect

which is actually more kind of like a proper traditional way of speaking.

Whereas the Korean spoken in South Korea utilises a plateral of loan words

from English and to some extent, Chinese.

For Example: in South Korea, Juice is "Jyu-seu".

In North Korea: "Gwa-il dan-mul", which translates to something like 'Fruit sweet water'.

In South Korea, "Ah-ee-seu-keu-rim"

In North Korea: "Uh-reum kwa-ja" , which means something like 'Ice sweet treat'.

It's kind of like how Icelandic and Faroese is closer to ancient Norse than Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.

Now, being a North Korean in North Korea is very different