KCNA/Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claps with military officers at the Command of the Strategic Force of the Korean People's Army.
- North Korea has a reputation for reclusivity, and is commonly called a "hermit kingdom" due to its reclusivity.
- North Korea has one of the largest militaries in the world, employing approximately 4.7% of the total population.
- Drug use is rampant with an estimated 30% of North Koreans using substances ranging from marijuana to methamphetamines.
Considering that North Korea - formally (and ironically) known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - is commonly referred to as a "hermit kingdom," quite a lot is known about this reclusive, isolated nation of 25 million people.
Its recent ballistic missile tests made headlines around the globe, as have the tirades of its young leader, Kim Jong-un. Heartrending tales of the North Korean Famine of the 1990s still strike a chord today, while eccentric anecdotes about the three generations of DPRK leaders draw raised eyebrows.
Kim Jong-il, son of founder Kim Il-sung and father to the current head of state, is reported to have bowled a perfect 300 during his first game and to scored 38 under par playing golf, according to The Washington Post. He is also said to have written 1,500 books during his college years alone, The Telegraph reports.
While these outrageous stories are likely overblown propaganda, here are seven real facts about North Korea you probably don't know that may reshape the way you think about this reclusive nation.