North Korea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

North Korea - Essay Example The Boxer Rebellion initiated by China had a negative impact on Russian interests. Consequently, Russia sent troops into Manchuria. America instituted the open door policy (1899-1900) to curb Russian expansion. Nevertheless, Russia and Japan fought over Manchuria and Korea (1904-1905). This paper delves into the historical evolution, demographics, politics and other events that have shaped North Korea as such (Armstrong 13). Russia experienced a communist revolution and toppling of the Tsar in 1917; the country officially adopted the name of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). The USSR’s influence had dwindled in East Asia by this time while Japan became more confrontational over Manchuria. The Japanese eventually installed a puppet government in Manchuria after the invasion of 1931-1932. Japan’s aggression escalated to the extent that it declared war on China in 1937. Furthermore, Japan forced the invasion of its culture on Korea through imposing Shinto religion on the Koreans and forcing them to adopt Japanese surnames. Korea’s national endowments were eyed by competing nations culminating in the Korean war of 1950-1952. Government records and statistics are somewhat sketchy. The CIA World Fact Book estimates that the population of North Korea is 24,589,122 as of 2012. People below 14 years old represent 22%; those aged 15-64 represent 69% while those above 65 years old represent 9%. A further look into the statistics reveals that number of females is considerably bigger than that of males within the age range of above 15 years old. The median age is 31.2 for males and 34.6 for females; this is a young median age for both. The birth rate of 14.51 per 1000 and death rate of 9.12 per 1000 combined with a net immigration rate of -0.04 per 1000, which yields a population growth rate of 0.53%. Urbanization is 60% of the population; infant mortality rate is 26.21 deaths per 1000; maternal death rate is