North Korea

The vast majority of socialist countries through the years have been modeled themselves as Marxist states. Currently, there are 5 self-declared communist countries which include: China, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, and North Korea. These countries all share a few things in common including a strong central government and limited ownership.

North Korea has been an interest, especially in recent years. It's known for its ruthless leadership from the Kim family regime and lucrative nuclear weapons programs. North Korea became a country after the Korean War in the late 1940s. This war divided Korea into Northern and Southern counterparts, bisected by the demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel.

This 38th parallel represents a divide between communism and capitalism, past and present, poverty and development. North Korea has been characterized as a country where time stands still. There are less than 1000 miles of paved roads in the nation, and they are all in the capital, Pyongyang, where it seems the country flourishes with high-rise apartment buildings and happy residence. The majority of North Korea consists of agricultural fields that, to this day, are farmed completely by hand. North Korea operates entirely isolated, apart from some communication with neighboring countries like China. All production starts and ends in North Korea. All income made must be reported directly to Kim Jong Un, North Korea's current leader. No one knows exactly how much money is made per year or how much is put into the nuclear weapons programs, but it all flows to the dictator.

Interestingly, in 2009, the country removed all mentions of marxism and communism from its constitution, although much of the rhetoric resembles Marxist ideology.

North Korea operates entirely isolated, apart from some communication with neighboring countries like China. All production starts and ends in North Korea.

North Korea is one of the last outposts of systemic communism in the world and its people are struggling from Kim Jong Un ruling with an iron fist.