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Wherever you turn for news, North Korea often takes center stage. From shifts in leadership to fiery statements and threats of nuclear warfare, the nation always manages to captivate global attention. Despite this, everyday life in this secretive country remains largely unknown. In this list, I'll share some of the most bizarre and unbelievable occurrences that have unfolded within one of the most notorious nations on Earth.
10. Kim Jong-Il's Fear of Flying
A well-known tidbit about the late North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il, was his severe fear of flying. To avoid air travel, he relied on six specially designed armored trains for his journeys across the country. These trains, each equipped with lavish amenities like conference rooms, luxurious bedrooms, flat-screen TVs, and satellite phones, were also fitted with stations built just for him. Kim's indulgences included having live lobster and cognac delivered daily to his train, where he dined using silver chopsticks. This extravagant lifestyle may seem more fitting for a Hollywood celebrity, but it's important to remember that North Korea is a place where children sometimes survive on tree bark.
9. Kim Jong-Il's Official Life Story
The absurdities surrounding Kim don't end here. During his rule, the government published an 'official biography' of Kim Jong-Il, further cementing his divine status. According to this narrative, Kim was born on the sacred Mount Paektu, where a double rainbow appeared in the sky and a new star shone brightly. He took his first steps at just three weeks old and was known for correcting history teachers in junior high. In addition to writing over 1,500 books, Kim was proclaimed an expert in cinema. On the only golf course in the nation, he famously scored a 38 under par, and, convinced he had reached the peak of the sport, retired immediately. His abilities were said to extend beyond the physical—he could allegedly control the weather based on his emotions. It would be quite something to have such a leader, if not for the chilling rumor that he might have murdered his five-year-old brother…
8. Shin Sang-ok
This is undoubtedly one of the strangest stories to emerge from North Korea. In 1978, renowned South Korean film director Shin Sang-ok and his ex-wife Choi Eun-hee were abducted in Hong Kong and forcibly taken to North Korea, all under the orders of Kim Jong-Il. The goal was to establish a film industry in the country. They eventually remarried at Kim's request, and Shin went on to direct seven propaganda films, with Kim serving as the executive producer. The most famous of these films is a Godzilla-inspired creation called Pulgasari, in which a rice-based doll transforms into a powerful creature that aids the peasant workers in overthrowing a corrupt feudal monarchy (completely serious). After eight years, the couple managed to escape during a film festival in Vienna.
7. American Defectors to North Korea
As unlikely as it may sound, some individuals have actually defected to North Korea, and even more astonishing is the fact that some of them were American. Since the Korean War, six American soldiers have voluntarily crossed the DMZ and pledged loyalty to North Korea. There are also others who chose to stay in the country following their internment in POW camps. One of the most well-known of these defectors is James Joseph Dresnok. A private in the U.S. Army, Dresnok crossed the minefield between North and South Korea in broad daylight in 1962, where North Korean soldiers immediately seized him. He became a regular in North Korean propaganda films, typically cast as an American villain. He continues to live there with his third wife and four children, asserting that he has no regrets about his decision, though the veracity of this claim remains uncertain.
6. North Korean Special Forces
As many are aware, North Korea boasts one of the largest militaries on the planet, but it also commands the world’s largest special forces unit, comprising approximately 180,000 highly trained soldiers. Known as the 'Special Operations Force,' these forces are terrifyingly proficient. They are perpetually on standby for potential strikes and routinely conduct surveillance missions in South Korea. In 1968, during the infamous 'Blue House Raid,' 31 members of Unit 124 of the SOF infiltrated South Korea with the intent to assassinate the president. However, their plans were thwarted when a group of boys collecting firewood spotted them and informed the authorities. The North Korean soldiers were ambushed by the South Korean military, resulting in 29 fatalities, one prisoner taken, and the final soldier presumed to have escaped back to the North.
5. Invasion Tunnels
North Korean forces positioned along the DMZ are notorious for having dug tunnels that extend deep into South Korean territory. So far, American and South Korean forces have discovered four such tunnels, but it is believed that as many as 20 more may remain hidden. Each tunnel is large enough to facilitate the swift movement of up to 30,000 troops per hour. While the discovery of these tunnels is undeniably alarming, the North’s explanation of their purpose borders on absurd. After one tunnel was uncovered, the North claimed they didn’t intend to tunnel that deep, despite clear dynamite drill marks leading directly towards the South. They later attempted to explain the tunnel as part of a coal mining operation, even though no coal is found in that region. Not backing down, they even painted the tunnel walls black to further support their coal mining story.
4. Kim Jong-Nam
Kim Jong-Nam, the eldest son of Kim Jong-Il, embraces the family's tendency for eccentricity. In 2001, he was apprehended at Narita International Airport in Japan carrying a fake Dominican passport under the alias Pang Xiong, which humorously translates to ‘fat bear’ in English. When interrogated, he confessed he was attempting to visit Disneyland, of all places. He was soon handed over to the Chinese authorities, and the resulting scandal led to his exile in China, while his father declared his heir from the next position on this list.
3. Daily Life in North Korea
What does all of this lead to? How does it shape the daily lives of ordinary citizens in North Korea? Due to the country’s isolationist stance, its people live in extreme poverty by American standards and are largely ignorant of global events. On average, a worker makes only $2 to $3 per month from the government. If you're fortunate enough to have a side business, you might make an additional $10 each month. While public services like healthcare and education exist, citizens still have to pay for utilities such as electricity, heating, and even construction materials. Imprisonment is a constant risk, with people serving lengthy sentences for offenses like rolling cigarettes using newspaper that features Kim Il-Sung’s image. However, if this sounds like a living nightmare, there’s a silver lining: marijuana is entirely legal.
2. Assassination attempt
The second entry on this list involves Kim Jong-Un, shedding light on the idea that the so-called ‘Brilliant Leader’, as his countrymen call him, may not have as firm a grip on power as previously believed. Reports from South Korean Intelligence indicate that there was an assassination attempt on Kim, which sparked a major firefight in central Pyongyang. This is thought to have been triggered by the anger of those upset over Kim’s decision to demote General Kim Yong-Chol (pictured). The general, a trusted ally of Kim and his father, had a significant role in the 2010 Cheonan sinking and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling. The demotion was likely the result of internal power struggles, and the general was reinstated shortly after the attempt.
1. Kim Jong-Un
Kim Jong-Un, the latest figurehead of North Korea, has continued the legacy of aggressive rhetoric and threats that have become a trademark of the nation’s secretive nature. However, there is little that is truly known about him. The glimpses into his character mostly come from those who were familiar with him during his years at a Swiss boarding school. His peers described him as neither exceptionally bright nor particularly engaged with academics, but he had a deep enthusiasm for basketball, with Michael Jordan being his idol. He was also caught possessing something unexpected—a bondage magazine.
