It’s 2021 in most places, but have you ever wondered what year it is in North Korea? The answer is a bit complicated, so buckle up and get ready to take a ride through North Korea’s complicated calendar system.
North Korea is one of only two countries in the world that uses the Juche calendar, and while this system has its advantages, it also makes it difficult to calculate North Korea’s current year. North Korea began using its own calendar system in 1997 and since then, the North Korean government has referred to the year as the Juche year and not by the Gregorian calendar year.
A Juche year is equal to the number of years since the foundation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea — or, in this case, the year the calendar was first established — and is marked by the birth year of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung. A Juche year is calculated from Kim Il Sung’s birthdate, April 15, 1912, and is only used in North Korean documents and publications. So, the official North Korean year is currently 109, meaning that the nation has been in existence for 109 years.
Although the Juche calendar is seen as an important part of North Korean culture, it has had mixed reactions from other nations. China and South Korea have generally accepted the calendar system and are willing to use it when it comes to North Korean relations. However, other countries have been more skeptical of the Juche calendar and some have even argued that it should be considered a “political assassination” of the Gregorian calendar.
The Juche calendar is seen as an important way to make North Korea distinct from other countries and provide a sense of national pride and identity. The calendar is also seen as a way to make North Korea more independent from the international calendar system, which some North Korean leaders view as Western-dominated. But, at the same time, the Juche calendar makes it difficult for North Korea to interact with the international community, as it can be difficult to convert a Juche year to a Gregorian year.
The Juche calendar system remains important for North Korea and shows no signs of being replaced any time soon. As of 2021, the current North Korean year is 109 and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
Historical Significance
The Juche calendar is a reminder of what North Koreans have achieved since gaining independence from Japan in 1945. North Korea has grown and flourished since then, despite the challenges posed by international sanctions and their country’s military conflicts. The calendar highlights the importance of national self-sufficiency and provides the North Korean people with a sense of identity and pride.
North Korea also adopted the Leninist-style calendar system after the fall of the Soviet Union, although it has made some changes to suit its own political and cultural needs. The North Korean government also adopted its own system of state holidays, which are largely focused on Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea. For example, Kim Il-sung’s birthday, 15th April, is celebrated nationwide as the ‘Sun’s Day’, a state holiday that marks the beginning of the annual Juche calendar.
The Juche calendar system is still widely used by North Koreans today, although many citizens prefer to use both the Juche calendar and the international Gregorian calendar. The Juche calendar is widely considered a symbol of national pride in North Korea and is an important part of the nation’s identity.
Accuracy and Efficiency
The Juche calendar is a relatively accurate and efficient system, although it is based on the lunar cycle rather than the solar one. This means that not all months are the same length, leading to a slight discrepancy in the Juche calendar compared to the Gregorian calendar. North Koreans also measure the years in terms of the cycles of the moon, meaning that the Juche year will not always fall in the same season as the Gregorian year.
Despite this minor discrepancy, the Juche calendar is more accurate than most other calendars used by communist states. In addition, the Juche calendar is more efficient than other calendars, as it allows for the easy calculation of leap years, months, days and hours. The Juche calendar is also a convenient way for North Koreans to track the past and plan for the future, and is still used by many North Korean citizens today.
Conclusion
By now, you should understand the basics of how North Korea calculates its own calendar system. The Juche calendar is an important part of North Korean culture and identity, as well as an efficient way to keep track of time. Although the system is sometimes confusing for outsiders, it is understood and appreciated by millions of North Koreans.
Economic Implications
The Juche calendar has had considerable economic consequences for the North Korean people. The calendar has disrupted business and trade between North Korea and other countries, as it can be difficult to convert a Juche year to a Gregorian year.
In addition, the adoption of the Juche calendar system has meant that North Koreans often overestimate their own economic capabilities, as the years are marked by Kim Il Sung’s birth, rather than actual economic metrics. North Koreans often use Kim Il Sung’s birth year, 1912, as a census year and base their economic goals on this figure. This sometimes leads to over-ambitious goals and overly optimistic projections.
The Juche calendar has also had an impact on North Korea’s relations with other countries. The calendar system is largely seen as a way for North Korea to stay independent from the international calendar system, and this has led to some tense moments between North Korea and other nations.
Nonetheless, the Juche calendar has become an important part of North Korean culture and is still used today by millions of people. Although it can cause difficulty for international business and trade, the Juche calendar is largely embraced by North Koreans and provides a sense of national pride and identity.
Education
The Juche calendar is taught to North Korean students from a young age, and is a required part of their education. It is also used in North Korea’s adult education programs, and is often part of political education in the country. North Koreans are expected to understand the basics of the Juche calendar, and it is often used as a way to instill a sense of patriotism and national pride in citizens.
The Juche calendar is also used in North Korean publications and propaganda materials. For example, it is often used to illustrate the nation’s progress and development over time. The calendar’s usage in propaganda materials is an effective way for the North Korean government to demonstrate the nation’s accomplishments and achievements.
The Juche calendar is an important part of North Korean education and is used by North Korean students and citizens to understand the nation’s past and plan for its future. The calendar provides North Koreans with a sense of national pride and identity, and is an important part of North Korea’s culture.
International relations
The Juche calendar has had a major impact on North Korea’s relations with other countries. For example, it has made trade agreements and other business transactions difficult for North Korea, as the Juche calendar is not widely understood outside of the nation. In addition, some countries have seen the Juche calendar system as an effort to isolate North Korea from the international community.
Although some countries have been wary of the Juche calendar system, most have been willing to accept it, particularly in matters related to North Korea. China and South Korea, for example, use the Juche calendar in relations with North Korea, and the international community has generally accepted the system, albeit begrudgingly.
The Juche calendar has played a major role in North Korea’s relations with the international community. Despite some criticism, the system has been accepted by the majority of countries, and it has become a major part of North Korea’s identity and culture. The calendar system serves as a reminder of North Korea’s independence, and has played a major role in shaping North Korea’s relations with the world.
