The differences between North and South Korea
The fractious nations unite at the Olympics for a selfie
LIFESTYLE Politics
Following the end of fighting in the Korean War in 1953, the Korean Peninsula was effectively halved, divided by a demilitarized zone that sliced the nation in two.
Two countries emerged, North Korea and South Korea. In the decades since, the south has become a thriving democracy and economic powerhouse. In contrast, the north is today one of the most isolated countries in the world, a communist dictatorship ruling over an impoverished people and a tightly controlled economy. Many of the differences are stark in their appearance. Others are more subtle. And with unification remaining a seemingly insurmountable goal, the two Koreas are as distant now as they were 70 years ago.
Despite the increasing political tensions between the two nations, the athletes representing the north and the south at the Paris Olympics have shown an unprecedented level of comradery. The two countries went head to head in one of their strongest Olympic sports—table tennis—in the mixed doubles competition. The South Korean team won gold and the North Korean team won silver, meaning they both earned places on the podium. As they stood there together in victory, South Korea's Lim Jong-hoon took out his phone to snap a selfie of the whole group. North and South Korean athletes smiled together for the photo which has now gone viral around the world for its rare show of harmony.
But what exactly are the differences between North Korea and South Korea? Click through and learn more about this divided land.