In terms of size, the world’s 209th most populated nation, North Korea, is surprisingly as big as an entire state in the USA. South Korea neighbors the East Asian country, with this tight geographic proximity also contributing to the size and over-population issue in the area. North Korea, with a population of 25 million, covers an area of 120,540 sq km (46,541 sq miles), which makes it comparable to the size of Virginia state.
The population of Virginia stands at 8.5 million, and its area covers 110,785 sq km (42,774 sq miles). This means the two locations share a similar landmass, and North Korea’s population density is about three times that of Virginia, with 243 people per sq km, compared to Virginia’s 74 people per sq km. Virginia is one of the 44 U.S. states forming the entire United States, making it remarkable that the nation is as big as a single state in terms of size.
There are various similarities in the two locations beyond size. The Republic of Korea (South Korea) is sometimes called the “Land of Morning Calm”. Similarly, North Korea has also developed a prominent nickname of its own: “Land of the Morning Calm”. Additionally, the climates in both countries are similar, being categorized as having a “humid continental” and “humid subtropical” climate respectively. Despite this, both countries are quite different in terms of economic power.
According to the International Monetary Fund, South Korea is the 12th largest economy in the world, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of $1.65 trillion. In comparison, North Korea’s GDP is only around $17 billion, making it one of the least-developed countries. This has made it heavily reliant on other countries and organizations for economic stability, inflows of foreign capital, and assistance with food and energy shortages.
Additionally, South Korea is considered a global leader in technology and innovation, especially in the area of electronics. North Korea, however, is known for its history of oppressive governments and restrictive policies, with a distinct separation from the outside world – including foreign investments, business relationships, and external trade with other nations.
The two geographically similar countries also hold starkly different positions on the Human Development Index. South Korea is rated at a high 0.899, ranking it 15th in the world. North Korea, by contrast, is subject to sanctions from the United Nations, and is ranked an extremely-low 0.827. This means that resources such as healthcare and education are more readily available to South Koreans than to the people of North Korea.
Current State Of The Situation
In recent years, the situation between North and South Korea has been improving. After a summit between North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in 2018, significant progress towards peace was made. Since then, there have been continued diplomatic attempts to reduce tensions in the area and even discussions towards a complete denuclearization of the peninsula.
Although progress is being made, the situation is far from resolved yet. The risks of a return to conflict remain high, with South Korea and its allies maintaining a strong defensive stance to guard against any North Korean aggression. North Korea’s weapons development program is well known, which adds the additional challenge of addressing their nuclear and ballistic missile programs in any potential negotiations.
UN Sanctions
In response to North Korea’s continued weapons program, the United Nations has enforced a series of sanctions against the country to try and reduce the potential threat such programs pose. Through trade embargoes, financial restrictions, and other measures, the tactic has been to try and pressure North Korea into making a more concerted effort to reduce its military activities.
However, it’s argued that such an approach can be counterproductive. While sanctions have had some successes in moderating the actions of certain states, in the case of North Korea, the situation remains unchanged. Despite the restrictions, the country still operates an extensive weapons program and shows no sign of reducing its activities anytime soon.
Foreign Relations
The current administration in South Korea has sought to focus its attention on opening diplomatic channels with North Korea over recent years, though the outcomes to-date have been relatively limited in scope. While there is hope that such efforts may bear fruit, the North Korean government has consistently been slow to make decisive moves or shift the situation through political negotiations.
That said, North Korea is aware of its supported from China. The two countries are close collaborators, with militaristic and economic ties. China, in particular, provides North Korea with military and economic aid, adding an additional level of support for the North Korean regime.
Politics And Ideology
The stark differences between the two countries in terms of politics and ideology may be the biggest factor preventing significant progress in the situation. North Korea is a closed state, where government interests continue to dominate the direction the country takes. The highly centralized nature of the government and its absolute control of the population limits any attempts to significantly shift the situation.
By contrast, South Korea has open political systems and more importantly, a large and active civil society. This has allowed it to take more of an open and relaxed stance on the situation, as the public and civil society has a voice in the processes and direction of the nation.
Economic Development
Finally, regional economic development remains an issue to be resolved. South Korea is due to receive significant economic assistance from the US to enhance development and infrastructure in the region. This includes investments in the transport of natural resource and the Silk Road Project, all of which could aid the integration of North and South Korea and assist with economic development in the area.
This speaks to the idea of economic prosperity, which can go a long way towards rebuilding the region and providing a higher quality life to those living in North Korea. Currently, the North Korean economy is heavily reliant on trade with other nations. Growing these trading links and expanding the domestic economy could be beneficial for the people of North Korea.
