2. North Korea is a single-party state governed by a united front led by the Korean Worker’s Party (KWP) Its government follows the Juche ideology of self- reliance, that has replaced the Marxism-Leninism one after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 It has been described as a totalitarian, Stalinist dictatorship with an elaborate cult of personality around the Kim family In 2011 the Democracy Index of North Korea was estimated to be the lowest among all nations on Earth

3. Take place every five years The people elect the Supreme People’s Assembly, provincial “people’s assemblies”, representatives to cities and counties

4. Conducted by secret ballot, but only one name appears on it A voter can cross off the candidate’s name and vote against him, but must do it in a special booth without anonymity Such an act is considered too risky even for trying

5. Those who deviate from the government line are subject to reeducation in sections of labor camps Those who are successfully rehabilitated may reassume responsible government positions on their release Those who are considered irredeemable are sent together with their close family to camp in “Total Control Zones” for life at hard labor Those who attempt to escape or violate camp rules are executed or sent to separate prison within the camp Those prisons are different from those for common criminals

6. George W. Bush labeled North Korea as part of an “axis of evil” and an “outpost of tyranny”

7. Kim Jong-il was unanimously re-elected as a Supreme Leader of North Korea 99.98% of all registered voters took part in the elections 100% of the votes were for their candidate in each district All seats in the Parliament were won by the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, under the control of the Worker’s Party

8. On 19 December 2011 the new country’s leader was confirmed to be Kim Jong-il’s youngest son, Kim Jong- un It is believed that the current leader has greater visible interest in the welfare of his people and has better interaction with them so it is possible that he will consider economic reforms and regularisation of international relations