Secretive and closed off for decades , North Korea is known as the Hermit Kingdom . It's a country that has been isolated from the rest of the world since it was founded in 1948 by Kim Il Sung ( who died ). In recent years , N. Korean refugees have fled into China seeking food , jobs , freedom . The gap between reality and illusion remains profound . Tentative reforms have been aborted and North Korea remains isolated and poor .
Secretive and closed off for decades , North Korea is known as the Hermit Kingdom . It's a country that has been isolated from the rest of the world since it was founded in 1948 by Kim Il Sung ( who died ). In recent years , N. Korean refugees have fled into China seeking food , jobs , freedom . Tentative reforms have been aborted and North Korea remains isolated and poor .