North Korea Threatens

On June 25—the 59th anniversary of the day North Korean troops crossed into South Korea starting the Korean War—officials of this communist nation led an anti-U.S. rally and promised a “fire shower of nuclear retaliation” if attacked.

The Associated Press reported that 100,000 North Koreans gathered in the capital city’s main square, punching fists in the air and shouting “Let’s crush them!”

In May, North Korea made headlines for conducting its second underground nuclear test—a potential threat to other countries. In response, the United Nations Security Council banned the export of weapons from North Korea. It authorized its member countries to inspect North Korean vessels and destroy goods that violate the sanction.The United States is tracking a North Korean ship off the coast of China. President Barack Obama says America is prepared in the event North Korea attempts to launch a missile toward Hawaii.

North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, has long been a source of controversy. On June 25, 1950, its troops invaded South Korea, sparking a conflict that pulled in the United States. A truce signed on July 27, 1953, ended the fighting. However, the two Koreas are still technically at war because they never signed a peace treaty.

North Korea is one of the world’s least open economies, meaning it rarely participates in trade with other countries. The government restricts what crops can be grown and what can be sold. North Korea accepts limited food aid from other countries, but many of its citizens still suffer from malnutrition and poor living conditions.

The citizens of the country have little freedom. Only people who live in the capital city have cell phones. There are only four television stations, and a “national intercom” cable radio station is the main source of information.