Redefining the term rogue state through its isolationism, controversial nuclear weapons programme and missile testing, North Korea is probably the most mysterious country in the world today and one almost entirely untouched by tourism. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea. The Amnok River and the Tumen River form the border between North Korea and the People\’s Republic of China. A section of the Tumen River in the far northeast is the border with Russia. More than 23 millions inhabitants live in this country. In comparisson, North Korea is slightly smaller than England and around 2000 square kilometers larger than South Korea. Special thank you for unique photos to John Pavelka.

Panorama Hall of the Operation for the Liberation of Taejon (Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum)

Skyline from the Monument to Victorious Fatherland Liberation War

Ryugyong Hotel

Arch of Triumph

Monument to the Foundation of the Worker’s Party

Entrance to Kim Il Sung Stadium

Pyongyang Traffic Girl

Puhung Station (Pyongyang Metro)

Yonggwang Station (Pyongyang Metro)

Mansudae Grand Monument

Mansudae Grand Monument

Bronze Sculpture at Monument to Victorious Fatherland Liberation War

Defending the Skies of the Homeland   (Monument to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War)

Monument to the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War

Three Charters for National Reunification Monument

Kim Il Sung Statue (Kaesong)

Kumsusan Memorial Palace

9-Story Quadrangular Pagoda (Pohyon Temple Mt. Myohyang Region)

Stone Memorial (Pakyon Falls Kaesong Region)

credit: John Pavelka

Nuclear tests determine the effectiveness and explosive capability of nuclear weapons. Most nations that have developed nuclear weapons have tests of them. Nuclear testing has often been used as presentation of scientific and military strength. There are two types of bombs which release energy from the nuclei of atoms. The simplest kind is an atomic bomb. It releases great quantities of energy through a process called nuclear fission. It is a large unstable (radioactive) element like uranium or plutonium. Another type is the hydrogen bomb, or thermonuclear bomb, which releases an even greater quantity of energy through nuclear fusion.

Trinity Test, July 16, 1945 – Worlds first atomic bomb detonation at Trinity site in the southern New Mexico

Little Boy unit, August, 1945 – The bomb that was dropped in Hiroshima

Nagasaki, August 9, 1945 – Aerial view of Nagasaki before the bombing

Nagasaki, August 9, 1945 – Aeriel view of Nagasaki after the bombing

Nagasaki, August 9, 1945 – Atomic bombing of Nagasaki

Nevada The XX-34 BADGER explosion, April 18, 1953 – Operation Upshot-Knothole

Bikini Atoll, Marshal Islands, March 1, 1954 – Operation Castle, the first deployed U.S. thermonuclear bomb

Eniwetok Atoll, U.S., June 8, 1958 – Hardtack Umbrella underwater nuclear test

Sedan Plowshare Crater, 1962 – Operation Plowshare. The 104 kiloton blast displaced 12 million tons of earth and created a crater 320 feet deep and 1,280 feet wide

Storax Sedan, July 6, 1962 – used for a crater experiment. 6 July 1962 (GMT), Nevada Test Site – Yield: 104 kt.

Blaneberry – December 18, 1970 – Operation Emery, underground nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site – Yield: 10kt

images by U.S Government