Economics Speech North Korea

The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea also known as North Korea being
ranked one of the highest in military power is however heavily lacking in their
environmental sustainability. This is slightly improved by the role the
government plays in funding health care, education as well as social welfare.
Since the 1980s the environment has been reported to be so bad that it has
reached a state of crisis, catastrophe or collapse. More than 80 per cent of
North Korea is mountainous and forests cover 74% of the country mostly on
steep slopes. In 2013 an allocation of visiting scientists reported major
environmental devastation. They described an absence of wildlife and stated
that the landscape was basically dead. This situation was considered so
severe and serious that it could destabilize the whole country. The fact that
mountains make up most of the countrys landscape leaving only 15 per cent
of the land for agriculture has had a devastating effect on crop yields year by
year. North Koreas isolation means that detailed data on environmental
issues are hard to come by but from what scientists have gathered, the
countrys environment is appalling.
Education in North Korea is somewhat better than most would think being
universal and state funded by the government. The national literacy rate for
citizens 15 years and older is over 99 percent. Most children go through one
year of kindergarten, four years of primary education, six years of secondary
education and then go onto universities.
Although North Korea is considered a low-income country, causes of death are
much different to that of other low-income countries. Healthcare in North
Korea includes a national medical service and health insurance system. The
government claims that it provides universal health care for all citizens
however health professionals and defectors with contacts in North Korea
claim that health services only exist for those who can pay for them. In 2001,
North Korea spent 3% of its GDP on health care. North Koreas healthcare
system has suffered a steep decline since then because of natural disasters,
economic problems, and food and energy shortages. Many hospitals and
clinics in North Korea lack essential medicine, equipment, running water and
electricity.
Ultimately, North Korea is lacking in many areas of its economy but there
must be many positive notions that are missing because of North Koreas
isolation from the rest of the world.