Kim Jong-un and North KoreaSuccession of Kim Jong-unNorth Korea and the WorldRelationship with South Korea

Where is North Korea?

• China is to the north and west of North Korea.• South Korea is to the south of North Korea. • Japan is to the east of North Korea.

North Korea’s Name North Korea’s official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

•North Korea is NOT a democracy.

North Korean Leaders- While Kim Il-sung was elected, his son and grandson are considered dictators, which means they

were not elected but took control of the country.

• "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung, – Grandfather – First premier 1948-1994 – Born 1912; died 1994

• "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il – Father– Second premier 1994-2011 – Born 1942; died 2011

• “The Great Successor” Kim Jong-un– Premier since 2011– Born 1983 or 1984

• A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise.

Cults of personality are usually associated with dictatorships.

For example Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, called the “Great Leader,” had 34,000 statues of himself built in North Korea.

image from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhxvhThqTTI&feature=related

Cult of PersonalityCult of Personality

Juche systemJuche systemNorth Korea believes in the Juche system.

The Juche system stresses extreme isolation and racial purity.

North Koreans are not allowed to not marry non-Koreans.

The picture says “Long live the great Juche idea!”

Only the top North Korean leaders have Internet access. Many North Koreans do not even know it exists. Why do you think North Korea bans the Internet from its citizens?

In 1945, Korea is liberated from Japan

Remember, Japan had ruled Korea since 1910

The USSR (Russia) arrives from the North to attack the Japanese. The USSR wanted Korea to be a communist country.

The U.S. arrives from the South to attack the Japanese.

The U.S. wanted Korea to be a democratic country.

They divided Korea at the 38th Parallel to avoid more fighting, but they did not ask the Koreans if they wanted their country divided.

Korean War• In 1950, North

Korea’s leader, Kim Il-sung, (grandfather to Kim Jong-un) orders the North Korean military to attack South Korea.

• A peace agreement (armistice) was signed between the two countries in 1953 after a long stalemate in the war

DMZ- Demilitarized Zone

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• The DMZ is a buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea.

• It is 160 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.

• There are 1 million land mines in it.

• There are 2 million soldiers guarding it.

• North Korea spends the most money, compared to its gross domestic product, of all the countries in the world on building up its military. Why?Why?

http://padresteve.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/north_korea_military_parade.jpghttp://media.kimatv.com/images/110112_north_korea_military.jpg