North Korea: Introductory Sources: Introductory and Reference Sources

Juche (DPRK) calendar:  Years are counted from 1911, when Kim Il-Sung was conceived.  2015 is Juche 104.  On North Korean news web sites for example, a sample date would be August 5, Juche 104.   (Although he was actually born in 1912, In Korea babies are considered to be 1 year old at birth.)  

Pyongyang time zone:  The DPRK decided to mark the 70th anniversary  in 2015 of the defeat of the Japanese in WWII by changing its time zone by 30 minutes.  According to news source Rodong Sinmun (8/8/15), "It was on August 15 when President Kim Il Sung, benefactor of national resurrection and peerless patriot, crushed the brigandish Japanese imperialists by making long journeys of anti-Japanese bloody battles and liberated Korea."  Japan had set Korea's time zone to coincide with theirs at 9 hours ahead of GMT; North Korea's would be 1/2 hour earlier.  However in 2018 North Korea reverted to the same time zone as South Korea (and Japan).

Juche/Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism:  North Korea's central ideology and official guiding principle, developed by Kim Il Sung and expanded by Kim Jong-Il, emphasizing self-reliance, independence, and the belief of the people in themselves (with the guidance of the leader) to determine their own destiny, with man rather than a supreme religious power as the center.  (on this Naenara page, scroll down to "Guiding Ideology" in the menu.)

Songun:    Political system based on military priority or military-first ideology.   Elucidated first by Kim Il Sung as armed struggle for independence and the revolution, then developed further by Kim Jong Il in his role as General of the KPA and expanded by Kim Jong Un. KPA (Korean People's Army) as top priority, KWP (Korean Workers' Party) as second priority.   August 25 is a national holiday, Day of Songun.

Chollima speed:   Chollima was an ancient mythical steed, the "thousand-ri horse"  who could rapidly cover great distances.  Begun in 1956, the Chollima Movement -- "Chollima speed"-- became a byword for achieving the fastest possible construction and economic production.  

Songbun:  A social classification scheme developed by Kim Il Sung in the 1950's but continues to evolve.  It organized the populace into groups that determined where they could live, work, and what type of education they would receive.  Ancestry and [parents/grandparents] actions during the Japanese Occupation and the Korean War were very important. With generations becoming further removed from that era, other attributes can help or hinder one's social songbun.  

Kangsongdaeguk  (Kangsong Taeguk):  KIm Jong-Il's concept announced in 1998 has as its theme a "powerful and prosperous country" focusing on ideology, politics, the military, and the economy.  

For information and reference help, please email  Asia Reference at asiaref@cornell.edu,  or visit the office, room 180 Kroch Library, near the Asia Reading Room.

All books listed in this LibGuide are in Kroch Library Asia Collections unless otherwise noted. 

Kroch Library has two stack levels, 1 and B1. Level 1 (main level) has "oversize" books which have a plus or double plus  (+ or ++) in the call number. All regular size books are on the lower level,1B.

Books with REF in the call number are reference books, located in the Kroch Asia Reading Room and cannot be checked out.

Books with a location listed as Library Annex (off-site storage facility) can be requested online on the library catalog record, and delivered to a campus library (or campus office), usually within a couple of days.