Life Under Dictatorship
Who is the current leader of North Korea?
Kim Jong-un
What are North Korea’s prison camps for political prisoners called?
Gulags or kwanliso
What happens if a North Korean is caught watching South Korean TV?
They can be executed or sent to a labor camp.
What was the name of the 1990s famine that killed up to 3 million North Koreans?
The Arduous March
What is the most common country North Koreans escape to first?
China
What is the official ideology of North Korea that enforces strict loyalty to the leader?
Juche
What percentage of prisoners in these camps die from starvation, overwork, or executions?
40%
What is one reason North Koreans don’t have access to the internet?
The government controls all information and blocks foreign influence.
Why do many North Koreans suffer from malnutrition?
The government prioritizes the military over feeding its people.
What happens if a North Korean is caught escaping?
They are executed or sent to labor camps.
What happens if a North Korean citizen criticizes the government?
They can be imprisoned, executed, or sent to a labor camp.
If one person commits a political “crime,” who else may be punished?
Their entire family (3-generation rule)
What does the North Korean government do to journalists who report negatively about the country?
They are imprisoned, tortured, or even assassinated.
What illegal trade do North Koreans rely on to survive?
Black market trade for food and goods from China.
Why is escaping through China dangerous?
China deports North Koreans back, where they face punishment.
What is the term for the extreme devotion North Koreans must show toward their leader?
Cult of Personality
What is one way prisoners are tortured in North Korea’s camps?
Beatings, forced starvation, being forced to sit still for hours, etc.
What major human right is violated by the North Korean government’s control over religion?
Freedom of religion (People can be executed for owning a Bible.)
How does the government control people through food?
Rationing system—those loyal to the regime get more food.
What secret groups help North Koreans escape?
Christian organizations and "underground railroads" in China.
What does North Korea call its government, even though it is actually a dictatorship?
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)
How do most prisoners end up in these camps?
Arrested for criticizing the regime, practicing religion, or trying to escape
What happens to people who don’t show enough loyalty to the leader?
They can lose food rations, be put under surveillance, or be sent to camps.
How does North Korea react to international food aid?
They restrict it or steal it for the elite and military.
What is the estimated success rate for defectors reaching safety?
Only about 1 in 3 defectors make it safely to South Korea or another free country.