North Korea, known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state in East Asia. Its capital of  Pyongyang, is the largest and most populous in the country. The country is separated by South Korea by the heavily fortified  Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The country considers itself a self-reliant socialist state, holding formal government elections. The Workers Party of Korea (WPA) is currently led by the country’s ruling family. A majority of industries including healthcare, food production, education, and housing, are government-run, and subsidized for families in the country.

The country follows the Songun, “Military First” policy to governance. With over 1.2 million active duty members, the nation has the fourth largest military in the world. It possesses a great deal of nuclear weapons, and the country’s ruler has threatened use on numerous occasions. Human rights violations have been assessed by numerous international organizations, as the country operates re-education and prison camps, which are used to segregate individuals who are viewed as “enemies” of the country.

The government is run as a highly-centralized, one party state. In addition to its constitution the country is governed by the "Ten Principles of the One-Ideology System". The WPK has approximately 3 million members, and operates all facets of the country’s government and political systems. Kim Jung-Un, who is the current leader of the Kim-dynasty is leader of the WPK; he is the first secretary, Supreme Commander of the Army, and Chairman of State Affairs. The Kim-Dynasty has been in power in the country since 1948.

The country possesses nuclear weapons and a stockpile of chemical weapons which are estimated to amount to 2,500–5,000 tons. These weapons contain nerve, blister, blood, and vomiting agents. The country also cultivates and produces chemical weapons which are capable of causing anthrax, smallpox, and cholera. Because of nuclear and test missiles, the country has been  sanctioned under United Nations Security Council resolutions. Shortage of digital command and obsolete equipment, do however hinder the massive military forces in North Korea.

Since the 1940s the country has maintained one of the most closed and centralized economies in the world. Long-term growth is greatly impeded by the lack of transportation, energy, and skilled-labor to meet the country’s economic goals. In 2012, the country’s gross-national income per capita was only $1523 in comparison to that of South Korea, which was $28,430. The country’s economy is heavily centralized, with subsidies in food and housing.

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