painting with hidden images

The North Korean Reality

By Barbara Thomas 20 May, 2023 3 mins read

North Korea's economic outlook is not as dire and difficult as it might seem. While the country's GDP has been growing at a rate of 2-3% per year, its base in rural areas is still low. This is remarkable considering the years of famine that plagued the country decades ago. The "donjo," or "masters and money", is a wealthy elite that has emerged to participate in the private sector. Despite severe economic sanctions from the United States of America and other countries, they have done so.

North Korea: The Life

North Korea is home to public transportation. Though most North Koreans do not own cars, they use public transportation to get around the country. Public transport is essential for the poor, who cannot afford to drive or take taxis. Although public transport in North Korea is outdated and primitive, it is vital for the survival of many citizens. North Korea's economy heavily depends on mining. To make ends meet, many need alternative income.

North Korea's winter months are often harsh and life can be difficult. To stay warm, people must use coal. This puts them at risk for respiratory problems. In addition, temperatures can drop as low as -13degC during the day. In the past, children would sleep on railroads to avoid freezing. A train passing would dismember them if their legs touched the rails.

Covid-19 pandemic

The North Korean government declares victory over Covid-19 and has implemented strict quarantine rules. They have not yet achieved their goal of eliminating this disease, despite the increasing number of cases and deaths in other countries. Instead, they are turning inwards which makes it harder to understand what is happening. To understand what is happening, we must first understand North Korean reality.

Experts are skeptical about the accuracy of North Korea’s COVID-19 virus numbers, but daily updates from state-run media seem to indicate that the country will be able to contain the disease. While the virus is believed to have affected 18% of the 26 million residents of North Korea, only about a hundred people have actually been confirmed dead, there's no way of knowing how many others are affected without testing.

Economic collapse

North Korea must implement economic reforms if it is to unify its economy. These reforms must take place in a orderly manner. There are however additional assumptions that should be considered. These include a falling capital stock, declining productivity and large fiscal transfers from south to north.

The country faced severe economic hardships during the 1990s. North Korea was left without major trading partners, and lost much of its aid. China cut down on its supply of material to North Korea but it did not stop completely. China also started to demand cash payments. A number of natural catastrophes also affected the country. This caused severe shortages and damage to food and grain. Starvation was widespread by the mid-1990s.

Threat from nuclear weapons

The United States is most concerned about North Korea's nuclear weapons. North Korea has shown that it has enough fissile materials to make six to seven nuclear weapons per annum. It may even be able to reach the US mainland with ICBMs. Even though the North Korean government denies that they intend to use these weapons in any way, it remains a major threat.

Although the United States and North Korea have not yet declared war, there is still a real threat to war and the United Nations Security Council has increased sanctions. In July 2020, the U.S. Army reported North Korea might possess as many as 60 nuclear arms and have the technical capability of producing six nuclear weapons per calendar year. Army Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that North Korea was equipped with the technical ability to make such weapons.

Next Article - Hard to believe

FAQ

These 5 facts are amazing about the liver

The liver is responsible of breaking down toxins and storing nutrients. It regulates blood pressure and maintains a stable body temperature.

How often do we hear someone say, 'I feel sluggish today' or 'my head feels heavy'? These symptoms could be signs of liver problems.

Common signs include yellowing skin, dark urine, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, stomach cramps (yellow coloration), itching, and jaundice (yellow colouration). These aren’t the only warning signs. If you feel any of these warning signs, consult your doctor immediately.

The liver is an important organ. It is essential for detoxification and metabolism as well as reproduction.

The average adult human liver weighs approximately 1,400 grams.
At birth, a baby's liver is half the size of an adult. It is four times larger by the time an infant turns three.
The liver is located below the ribs on the left-hand side of your abdomen.
There are 16 major liver lobes. However there are many smaller, more intimate lobules.
Red blood cells make up approximately 10 million of the liver's total.

How does the brain control the functions in your body?

To ensure that other organs and muscle functions work together, the brain sends messages. Your body's functions are controlled by your brain. It tells your stomach how to digest food and your lungs how to inhale oxygen; it also tells your arms, legs and feet to move.

Your brain is made up billions of nerve cell networks connected in groups known as neurons. Action potentials are electrical signals that neurons send to one another. Each neuron has a cell membrane surrounding its nucleus. The cell membrane houses channels that allow ions, such as potassium and sodium, to enter and exit the cells. The neuron fires when there is ion movement.

When a neuron is activated, neurotransmitters release chemicals into the space between it and the next neuron. Neurotransmitters are able to bind to receptors in the second neuron. This opens ion channels that allow ions to flow in and out. The second neuron also fires.

Neurotransmitter release occurs when the presynaptic neuron receives an impulse from another neuron. An impulse travels along a synapse that connects the two neurons. The transmitter binds to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, triggering the firing of the postsynaptic neuron.

Communication within the nervous system is possible thanks to neurotransmitters. They coordinate activity between the different parts of your brain.

What is the most secretive location in the entire world?

The answer may shock you. It might even make you uncomfortable because it challenges our perception of reality and how we live. But there is a reason why this place exists. And it is not what you would expect.

It was called the City of God by ancient Greeks. It was also called the City of Destruction in the Bible.

It's known in India as Kashi (Kashmir). It is called Novgorod (Russia).

It is known as The Town That Disappeared in America.

One tiny town in western New York State lost its 1,200 inhabitants without trace. A road sign pointing to the former location of the town was all that was left, except for a few bodies and cars.

This little town disappeared, leaving no clues about where it went or when. Some believe the earth swallowed them up. Others claim a meteorite strike destroyed it. Others believe that aliens took it.

The residents of this once prosperous community believe that whatever happened, their town is not gone forever. They had just moved to a new town.

You can even track the disappearance of Zugspitz on a dedicated website.

Then, where is it? It's actually in Switzerland!

You can find Zugspitze at the border of Austria and Germany. Lake Zugspitze lies just above the summit of the mountain.

It has always fascinated me that so many towns have disappeared, yet some still remain. Why does some vanish while others remain? I set out to find out.

I was interested in learning more about these mysterious towns that are disappearing. Is it possible for a place to vanish? How can a town disappear from existence?

There are many theories regarding the phenomenon of towns disappearing. One theory suggests that a community disappears when all of its buildings are removed. Another theory is that the town moves to another place. The third theory is that the town was never actually there.

The fact is that hundreds of towns all over the world have been swept away by the ground, despite theories to the contrary. This video examines the past and present status of these areas.

Why do actors end up on the blacklist?

As an actor, rejection is much more common than for writers. As an actor, it's likely that you will be rejected a lot. However, it doesn't really matter as you will eventually meet someone who is truly your love.

Actors are usually very talented, meaning they can make a living almost anywhere. Actors don't really care about making money. Actors love to act and tell stories. You'll be an actor if you love acting.

Even worse, you might be told you are too young or too old to play the part. You might also lose your audition for a film role. This happens all the time.

Once you've been cast you might also be subject to criticism. People may tell you that your makeup looks terrible and you shouldn't use it. If you're lucky, you won't even hear negative comments.

Sometimes it's because you play a character that's not realistic or authentic. You could be a gay actor and everyone assumes you are straight. You could also play a woman with a tendency to cry a lot, even though she's supposed to be tough.

Maybe you are asked to change your vocal chords. Sometimes, they want you to sound more like a man or a woman. Most times, though, they want you to sound better.

The best way to deal with these criticisms is to ignore them. Actors feel like they've failed when told they did wrong. But they're not guilty of anything.

They didn't have the talent to make them famous. And sometimes, no matter how hard they try, they don't fit the bill.

Blacklisting can happen for many reasons. Some people don't like actors. Others believe actors are lazy. Some actors may be cheaters.

No matter the reason, it is important to remember that you will not be blacklisted if there are other jobs available. There are many jobs out there and you'll be able to find them.

If you persevere, you will eventually succeed.

Statistics

In fact, nearly 24% of U.S. women are affected with one or more pelvic floor disorders, according to research funded by the National Institutes of Health. (romper.com)
Your mouth makes a lot of saliva every day It might seem like way too much, but your salivary glands typically produce anywhere from 0.5 and 1.5 liters a day, according to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Medicine and Life. (romper.com)
In one 2014 study published in the Archives of Medical Science that sought to study the prevalence of these mites, research showed that 41% of the people had them hanging out in their eyelashes. (romper.com)
The average human adult male heart rate is between 70 and 72 beats per minute, while the average for adult women is between 78 and 82 beats, which is significantly faster, according to 2014 published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. (romper.com)
According to a 2018 study published in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, this is because blood pressure is regulated by our innate circadian rhythm and internal clock. (romper.com)

How To

Secrets of United States that were made public

The United States offers a world of opportunities where everyone can succeed. However, there are also many secrets that have been kept quiet for years that could impact how we live.

These secrets include:

Over 5,000,000 secret documents, which are held by the US government, have been kept from the public. These documents contain information on UFO sightings as well as alien life forms and human cloning. There have even been attempts to assassinate world leaders.
In 1947, President Harry Truman authorized the creation of the Central Intelligence Agency. This organization was created to support the president's decisions in wartime and keep America safe against foreign threats.
The CIA used to conduct mind control experiments on American citizens without their consent. One of the most famous examples of this was Project MKUltra.
During World War II the U.S. military carried out tests on thousands civilians. Some of these tests involved exposing soldiers o biological weapons and mustard gas to them.
In 1992 the Pentagon admitted that it had carried out germ warfare testing at Guantanamo.
The CIA secretly constructed prisons around the world where terror suspects are held and sent to countries like Thailand, Poland and Romania.
Death squads have been funded by the CIA to kill dissidents in Latin America.
The US Air Force continues to engage in chemical warfare tests that violate multiple international treaties.
The Department of Defense regularly violates its own rules about human experimentation using animals.
The Coast Guard has routinely violated federal law while arresting protesters along coastal waterways.
The Transportation Security Administration performs illegal searches at airports in the country.
Through armed drones and "assassination groups", the CIA conducts targeted killings programs that are not on recognized battlefields.
The Office of Public Affairs oversees the CIA. Its employees still write alternative media articles, which are distributed to intelligence agencies and contractors. OPA writers claim that national security forces fear the public will find out more about UFOs and aliens as well as climate change and other sensitive topics.
The US Air Force has obtained and maintains files on nearly 7 million Americans they consider subversive.
US Army employed undercover agents provocateurs for violent protests and riots.
The NSA collects phone logs and credit card information and then shares it with companies to sell advertising.
Most people won’t know that the FBI has been stockpiling firearms and ammunition since the 1980s. The FBI now stores over 10 million ammo and over 1.5 billion gun rounds!
The Homeland Security department has built concentration camps where inmates are detained, tortured, and killed. These detention facilities are not permitted to be visited by members of Congress.
The NSA has been involved in spying on journalists and activists at home.
Massive computer surveillance is carried out by the NSA against innocent citizens. Many of these are not related to terrorism.
The NSA oversees the mass surveillance of cell phones, email accounts, celebrities, members, judges, and the president of the United States.
The NSA intercepts financial transactions, and tracks movements of private individuals.
The NSA spy on stock exchanges around the world and monitors energy production facilities.
The NSA hacks computer networks and installs keystroke loggers onto computers without obtaining search permits.
The NSA employs cyber warfare techniques in order to disable communications systems of enemies.
The NSA monitors social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.
The NSA plants fake online identities to impersonate hackers and spread propaganda.
To obtain personal information, the NSA hacks into chat rooms and message boards.
To manipulate online forums and discussion groups, the NSA uses false identities to create fake people.
The NSA makes homeless people install spyware on smart phones.