Anyoung haseyo! Welcome to the “Hermit Kingdom”—North Korea!

A nation on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. There are around 26 million people living here, and the capital is Pyongyang, known for its wide boulevards, massive monuments, and the distinctive pyramid-shaped Ryugyong Hotel. The official language is Korean, which uses the Chosŏn’gŭl script.

North Korea covers about 120,540 square kilometers (46,541 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of Mississippi in the U.S., or about half the size of the United Kingdom. The terrain is incredibly rugged, with about 80% of the land consisting of mountains and uplands separated by deep, narrow valleys.

The most popular sports are Football, Basketball (which has its own unique rules), and Table Tennis. Their national animal is the Chollima, a mythical winged horse that represents speed and progress, though the Siberian Tiger is their official biological national animal.

The flag consists of a central red panel, bordered above and below by narrow white stripes and then wide blue stripes, with a white circle containing a red five-pointed star on the left side, where the red represents the revolutionary spirit, the blue symbolizes sovereignty and peace, and the white stands for purity.

The food is traditional and leans toward fermented and preserved flavors. You must try Pyongyang Cold Noodles (Naengmyeon), which are long, thin buckwheat noodles served in a chilled clear broth. Another staple is Kimchi, though the North Korean version is often less spicy and more “fizzy” than the southern variety. For a special occasion, you might find Bibimbap or various types of Bulgogi (marinated grilled meat).

North Korea is home to Mount Paektu, an active volcano on the border with China that is considered the spiritual birthplace of the Korean people and features a stunning crater lake called Heaven Lake. The country features the Mass Games, one of the largest choreographed performances in the world involving tens of thousands of participants in a single stadium. You can visit the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) at Panmunjom, the heavily fortified border that has divided the peninsula since 1953. Interestingly, North Korea uses its own time zone called Pyongyang Time, and it follows the Juche Calendar, which counts years from the birth of its founding leader, Kim Il Sung.

From the quiet, misty peaks of the Diamond Mountains (Kumgangsan) to the grand ceremonies of Kim Il Sung Square, North Korea is a land of rigid structure and deep-seated ancient traditions. Kamsahamnida! That means “Thank you!”