The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
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The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is one of the world's most closed and isolated countries. It faces desperate economic conditions and is in its ninth year of food and energy shortages. Massive international food aid deliveries have allowed the regime to escape mass starvation since 1995, but the population remains vulnerable to prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions. Students at primary schools need food and basic necessities such as books, pencils and notebooks. The government does not reveal any official statistics about ICT, not even the number of people using computers.
In 1988, a three-year plan for the promotion of science and technology began, and the government started massive funding for information science and industry. The second three-year plan (1991-1994) aimed to computerise all sectors of the nation by the year 2000.