For most of the world, it is 2017.
But in North Korea, it is currently the year
106.
That’s because the country follows, what
is called, the “Juche calendar”, which
starts at the birth of its first leader Kim
Il-Sung.
This is not the only way North Korea is separated
from the rest of the world.
Its population, of an estimated 25 million
people, does not have access foreign tv or
internet, and cannot leave the country without
the state’s permission.
Its isolationism has been strictly enforced
by a succession of leaders, Kim Il-Sung, Kim
Jong-Il and today, Kim Jong-Un.
But these sentiments stem back well before
the Kim Dynasty - before North Korea was even
a country.
North Korea’s closed off legacy actually
begins in 14th century China, which had very
strong cultural and political influence over
the Korean peninsula.
At this time, China was ushering in a new
era of isolationism and withdrawing from foreign
trade and travel.
Many historians believe this was the product
of an increasingly popular philosophy called
Neo-Confucianism, which strongly advocated
for ethnocentrism and reclusiveness.
This, coupled with multiple attempted invasions
by Japan over the following centuries, led
to a strict adherence to isolationism.
In the 19th century, western powers reached
out to the Korean peninsula for trade, with
no success.
Around the year 1866 an American ship attempted
to forge trade ties, which were unilaterally
refused.
In response, the Americans allegedly took
local officials hostage, starting a bloody
battle with many deaths on both sides.
Just months later, the French attempted an
invasion of the peninsula, which also failed,
and ended in violence.
By this point, Korean leaders concluded that
foreigners powers and influence should be
banned under all circumstances.
As one of the few regions Western powers were
completely unable to infiltrate, Korea earned
its nickname, ‘The Hermit Kingdom’.
In the aftermath of World War Two, and the
split between North and South Korea, the North
maintained this policy of exclusion, while
the South allied with Western powers.
North Korea’s first leader, Kim Il-Sung
went on to develop a new isolationist ideology,
based loosely on Marxism, called ‘juche’
literally translating to ‘self reliance’.
The idea was that North Korea must be politically,
militarily and economically independent, while
keeping a high degree of national and ethnic
pride.
A number of events in the late 20th century
closed North Korea off even further.
Its principal ally, the Soviet Union, collapsed
in 1991, while its other largest ally, China
forged closer ties with the West.
It’s then leader, Kim Jong-Il, chose to
withdraw from the global community rather
than compromise.
But after centuries of isolation, current
leader Kim Jong-Un has loosened some of the
country’s restrictions.
Foreign tourism is on the rise and a Western
news outlet was allowed to set up a bureau
in the capital of Pyongyang.
That said, ending North Korea’s reclusion
all together would take a revolution, but
in light of its history, the country will
likely remain on its own for years to come.
Despite being the most closed off nation in
the world, North Korea still holds diplomatic
ties with.
To find out more about its allies, check out
this video.
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