North Korea

At a Glance

North Korea is the world's most closed country, a state where nearly all aspects of public and private life are shaped by a single political system, and where access for foreign visitors is tightly controlled and conducted through guided group tours. The landscapes are genuinely beautiful in places, and the culture has traces of an ancient Korean heritage that predates the division of the peninsula. For those who visit, it is an experience that raises profound questions with very few easy answers.

• Almost completely absent from global data — one of the few countries with no reliable economic statistics.
• GDP per capita is estimated at less than many Sub-Saharan African nations.
• Has a nuclear arsenal despite being unable to feed a significant share of its population.