Cigars, Cognac And Mass Starvation: 10 Facts That Divide North Korea From The World

LONDON — As the world digests news of the death of despot Kim Jong Il, 10 facts paint a picture of North Korea's isolation from the international community.


1. High militarized area The border between North and South Korea is one of the most militarized areas in the world, according to the State Department, with a combined total of almost two million military personnel under the control of Pyongyang (1.2 million), Seoul (680,000) and foreign powers including the United States (28,000). North Korean arms outnumber those in the South by about two to one, including offensive weapons such as tanks, long-range artillery, aircraft and armored personnel carriers. However, much of the military equipment in North Korea is obsolete.


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