The North Korean constitution has clauses guaranteeing the freedoms of speech and assembly. In practice, other clauses take precedence, including the requirement that citizens follow a socialist way of life.
North Korea has strict laws about what you can bring into the country. It's illegal to bring in religious, pornographic or political items. Declare all published material and electronic devices when you arrive. It's also illegal to knowingly or unknowingly possess items that breach North Korean law.
Tourism: Individuals cannot use a U.S. passport to travel to, in, or through North Korea without a special validation from the Department of State. Special Validations are granted only if it is in the US national interest to do so. Tourists are considered to be participating in activities at their own risk.
North Korea ranks as the least democratic country in the world in The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, while The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal's Index of Economic Freedom places the country as the one with least economic freedom.
According to the Freedom in the World index, South Korea is considered to have a high human rights record in the category for human freedom in civil and political rights, with 83 points out of the 100 points.
Forced resettlement of citizens and whole families, especially as punishment for political reasons, is said to be routine. North Korean refugees who flee to China are often later forcibly repatriated back to North Korea by authorities, and are routinely beaten and sent to prison camps after repatriation.
Freedom of expression is a right recognised by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea. In Korea, freedom of expression encompasses freedom of both speech and the press. The Constitutional Court has held that all forms and channels for communication and expression are protected by this right.
The mass media in North Korea is amongst the most strictly controlled in the world. The constitution nominally provides for freedom of speech and the press. However, the government routinely disregards these rights, and seeks to mold information at its source.
North Korean law states that leaving the country without permission is a crime of “treachery against the nation,” punishable by death. The 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) on human rights in the DPRK found Pyongyang committed crimes against humanity against those forcibly returned by China to North Korea.
Risk level
Avoid all travel to North Korea due to the uncertain security situation caused by its nuclear weapons development program and highly repressive regime. There is no resident Canadian government office in the country.
The country is culturally and economically isolated as many suffer from malnutrition and live in extreme poverty. Many North Koreans go to work every day on farms, in factories, and in the capital of Pyongyang.
As of 2022, ordinary citizens with mobile devices do not have access to the global internet. Instead, these individuals are only able to access Kwangmyong, that is operated by the country. In terms of global internet access, this privilege is only granted to a small number of North Korean elites.
Firstly there is no shortage of booze in North Korea, and no limit on consumption. It could even be considered a national pastime – much like life in South Korea, China and much of East Asia. The main drink of choice is soju. Soju is a clear spirit made from rice, wheat or barley.
Can you take photos and videos in North Korea? Unlike what many people believe, or what the media may suggest, it is perfectly fine to take pictures and videos in North Korea.
Love between young men and women is no different in North Korea. Men and women who are about to get married have dates and the process of getting married is no different from the rest of the world. “Love” marriages are becoming more ubiquitous now in North Korea.
North Korea
Unsurprisingly, this totalitarian regime is pretty averse to American businesses, and McDonald's is no exception.
Television sets sold in North Korea are able to operate only on the PAL and DVB-T2 systems, to prevent them from being able to pick up broadcasts from South Korea (which use NTSC System M analogue and ATSC digital) or China (which uses DTMB digital).
New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland and Ireland join Singapore as the only economies considered 'free' with economic freedom scores above 80 on the 0–100 Index scale. Australia is ranked third among 40 countries in the Asia–Pacific region, and its overall score is above regional and world averages (see chart below).
The overall ranking of Best Countries measure global performance on a variety of metrics. Switzerland is the best country in the world for 2022.
The constitution provides for religious freedom and prohibits discrimination based on religion. Officials approved 1,292 alternative service applications from conscientious objectors to military service, and courts allowed all but three of 192 conscientious objectors with pending trials to begin alternative service.
The politics of the Republic of Korea take place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is the head of state, and of a multi-party system.
North Korea law specifies 'three generations of punishment'. If you commit a crime, your chil¬dren and grandchildren will also receive the full brunt of punishment, which often involves a lifetime in prison.