North Korea's desire to be a nuclear power under the rulership of former leader Kim Jong Il, who died December 17, has long been a source of tension between the reclusive country and the international community. Stop-and-start talks have been going on for decades. This VOA special report presents an audio retrospective of the history of North Korea and its nuclear ambitions, and a glimpse of daily life inside the Stalinist country. |
History of North Korea
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Daily Life
With a population of approximately 23 million people, consisting of a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese, North Korea is one of the most racially homogenous countries in the world. Chronic food shortages have made the country dependent on large amounts foreign aid, humanitarian and developmental since 2005. Yet the country has consistently restricted access to non-governmental aid programs such as the World Food program. VOA takes a look at some of the images from within the country. |