Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Postcard

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, abbreviated to DPRK, and commonly referred to as North Korea, is a country in East Asia, located in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital is Pyongyang.

It's a small, isolated Asian country, yet North Korea has managed to grab world headlines for decades. Its people are highly sheltered, its government intensely secretive and its borders tightly controlled.

North Korea, with a population of nearly 24.5 million was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. Japan, which had occupied Korea, withdrew, leaving Soviet troops to control the north and U.S. forces to occupy the south. In 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was officially proclaimed. Much of North Korea's history has been dominated by its first leader, Kim Il-sung (The Great Leader), who ruled from 1948 until his death in 1994.

Stamps

(middle) North Korea flag.

(right) From a set of four stamps about monkeys, the cotton-headed tamarin (Saguinus oedipus).