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The countries of North and South Korea together comprise the Korean Peninsula. Politically speaking they are two separate countries, but their people, culture and language are much the same. Customs, traditions, beliefs and lifestyles remain the same on both sides of the border dividing the north from the south; all in all, the two countries are interesting places to discover a culture which is similar to that of China and Japan, but is, at the same time very distinctive.

North Korea, though it would be a fulfilling an experience for most tourists, is a difficult country to get into and to get around in, but if you manage to make a trip there, you should find it very rewarding- it’s extremely beautiful and has a very rich cultural heritage.

Main hotels in Pyongyang will accept credit and debit cards such as Mastercard and Visa. However, American Express is not usually accepted.

Historically Speaking

It is generally believed that Korea came into being in 2333 B.C, when the state of Ancient Choson was founded; the state itself collapsed when invaded by the armies of the Han Emperor of China, and in its stead came up what are called the `Three Kingdoms’- Shilla (in the south east), Koguryo (in the north) and Paekche (in the south west). Of the three, it was Shilla (57 B.C. – 668 A.D.) that emerged as the strongest, unifying the country and establishing a Buddhist-influenced culture. Shilla eventually gave way to the Koryo dynasty, which in turn was succeeded by the Choson Dynasty in 1392. The Choson Dynasty was an age of great cultural and scientific development, but died at the hands of the Japanese, who, after repeated invasions, finally captured Korea in 1910. The Koreans kept up a brave resistance to the Japanese, but were able to achieve their independence from the Japanese only after the end of the Second World War.

Along with independence came division- into North and South Korea. North Korea came under the rule of the Communists, and for nearly three years a bitter war was fought between the two countries - an extension of the Cold War. Since then, under the leadership of Kim Il-Sung, North Korea has grown increasingly isolated from the West, with very little to do with much of the West. However, in recent years, with the collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War, hopes- and efforts- for the re-unification of the two countries have gathered momentum. North and South Korea, for instance, marched under one flag at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Habitat

Sandwiched between the Sea of Japan to the east and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korean Peninsula juts out from North Eastern Asia, separated from mainland Asia by two rivers- the Yalu and the Tumen. Other than the peninsula, there are about 3400 islands that also form part of Korea. Nearly 80% of the land in North Korea is mountainous, with the Taebaek Mountain Range running along the entire length of the peninsula’s east coast. Much of the country is rugged terrain at its most rugged- so inaccessible that it is largely uninhabited.

Korea, incidentally, is a land of great scenic beauty- the natives, in fact, describe the land as `kumsu-gangsan’- `land decorated with golden embroidery’. That may sound a bit far-fetched, but it is a beautiful land. North Korea is particularly famous for its lovely scenery and its beautiful national parks.

Flora and Fauna

Nearly 80% of North Korea is mountainous, and much of the terrain, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the territory, is still thickly forested and harbours a fair amount of wildlife- black bear, deer, and lots of birds. North Korea has some of the most beautiful unspoilt countryside in this part of the world, and its national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are worth a visit. And that’s not just for the wildlife you might see, but also for the panoramic views.