North Korea

While North Korea is often referred to as a communist state, its true nature embraces multiple tenets of socialism. Following the Korean War, the north and south remained ideologically divided, never reaching an official peace agreement. The relationship between the two has remained tenuous and hostile. North Korea constitutionally proclaimed itself a socialist state and continues to function as a Juche socialist state under the rule of the Workers' Party of Korea.

• Authoritarian government.

• Economically and politically isolated.

• Chronic food and electricity shortages.

• Military spending dwarfs investment in productive sectors.

• Extreme poverty (half of the population)

• Severe lack of infrastructure.

• No basic liberties, including freedom of expression, religion, assembly.

• Bans political opposition, independent media, civil society, and trade unions.

• Maintains civil obedience using threats of execution, imprisonment, enforced disappearance, and forced labor.

• Bans or severely limits citizens from travel and movement within the country, as well as abroad.

South Korea

As seen in the satellite image above, North Koreans remain locked in the dark, cut off both from the rest of the world, captive to a secretive, authoritarian regime. In contrast, South Korea has flourished and prospered as a centralized democratic republic with the three primary branches of government; executive, legislative and judicial, and capitalist, free-market economy. The city of Seoul, South Korea’s capital, is a shining beacon while Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, is barely visible.

• South Korea now has the world's 12th largest economy in terms of gross domestic product

• 67% of people aged 15 to 64 in Korea have a paid job

• 88% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education

• constitutionally protected civil and human rights

• freedom of speech and religion

• free press

• freedom to assemble

• elected, democratic government