20 Bizarre Facts About North Korea

North Korea is a mystery to pretty much everyone – even North Koreans. They keep their country extremely secluded from the rest of the world, so not too many people know very much about the customs, habits, and details of what goes on within their borders. This list may surprise some, because there are many things on it that one would not expect to come from such a seemingly strict country. Being one of the few countries left under Communist rule, it has kept a very secretive profile. This list will hopefully shed some light on the life of North Koreans.

It Is Not 2015

In North Korea, they don’t use the same calendar that the rest of the world does. Their calendar is based off of Kim Il-Sung’s date of birth: 1912. So for them, it is actually year 103.

They Have Their Own Godzilla

After seeing Godzilla, Kim Jong-il wanted to create his own version of the film, and came up with Pulgasari. It actually became very popular in North Korea.

Kim Jong-il Loved Brandy

Reportedly, the former leader imported $763,000 worth of cognac every year. That’s a lot of brandy.

Marijuana Is Legal

Shockingly enough, North Korea does not consider pot to be an illegal drug. For a country that is so strict on so many things, marijuana is not one of them.

They Have A 100% Literacy Rate

This is higher than the United States (99%), so if it’s true, it’s a very impressive statistic.

They Have Elections

In an effort to seem at least somewhat democratic, North Korea holds an election every five years. Unfortunately, the ballot only has one option, so the point of democracy is missed by a lot.

There Are Exactly Three Amusement Parks

These amusement parks, called “People’s Pleasure Grounds” in North Korea, contain different rides and games. Supposedly, Kim Jong-un loves roller coasters.

There Are Almost No Traffic Lights

In North Korea, there aren’t very many traffic lights. Many of the ones that are there reportedly don’t work, and have been replaced by police.

Kim Jong-il’s Body Is An Attraction

When the former leader passed away, his body was preserved and put into a glass coffin and displayed for anyone to see. Tourists and citizens of North Korea visit the site daily. It is actually their most popular attraction.

They Have The World’s Largest Stadium

North Korea has the largest stadium in the world. It can hold over 150,000 people.

Their Basketball Games Are Weird

Basketball in North Korea has different rules than the rest of the world. This includes a shot called a “four-pointer” (if the ball doesn’t touch the rim when you throw a three pointer), and apparently you get deducted points if you miss a free throw.

Their Punishment Is Weird

North Korea has a “three generations of punishment” rule. If a person does something wrong, it will affect their family for three generations.

They Have One American Living There

Joseph Dresnok decided to cross the North Korean border after the Korean War. He claims that he loves it there, and he feels at home.

Accordions Are Popular

Think of accordions as being North Korea’s equivalent to Justin Bieber. Something that used to be very popular, and is still loved by a select few. Back in the 90’s, learning how to play the accordion was actually a requirement to becoming a teacher.

They Only Have Three TV Channels

There is one channel that is broadcast only during the evening. The other two are only broadcast during the weekend.

Their Constitution Is Actually Alright

North Korea is notorious for being an incredibly communist, tyrannical, terrible country. If you have a chance to read their constitution, however, there is a lot of talk about democracy, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion. Maybe Kim Jong-un hasn’t read it yet.

Students Pay For Everything

Students in North Korea are required to pay for chairs, desks, heating fuel, pretty much everything aside from the teacher.

Kim Jong-il Kidnapped A Director

Shin Sang-ok was a successful South Korean film producer and director. Kim Jong-il saw his success, and decided to kidnap him and his wife, to make North Korean movies.

They Use Human Feces As Fertilizer

North Korea was lacking certain resources, and started using human feces as fertilizer, demanding the product from its citizens.

Half Of The Population Lives In Poverty

Not just poverty, but extreme poverty. This means that nearly 24 million people don’t have access to food, shelter, clothing, water – basic human needs.