North Korea is one of the most isolated and mysterious countries in the world. Here are 52 riddles about different aspects of North Korea, along with the answers, to test your knowledge about this reclusive nation. From geography and leaders to culture and military, see how many you can get right!
Geography
Riddle 1
I’m the highest point in North Korea at 9,003 feet. Mount Paektu may be more famous, but I tower over it. What am I?
Answer
Mount Kumgang
Riddle 2
I’m the largest lake that lies entirely within North Korean borders, with a surface area of over 420 square miles. Who am I?
Answer
Lake Chon
Riddle 3
I’m the river that forms part of the border between North Korea and China. I originate on Mount Paektu and flow for 521 miles before emptying into the Korea Bay. What river am I?
Answer
The Yalu River
Leaders
Riddle 4
I was the first Supreme Leader of North Korea, ruling from 1948 until my death in 1994. My son then succeeded me. Who am I?
Answer
Kim Il-sung
Riddle 5
I ruled North Korea from 1994 to 2011 after the death of my father Kim Il-sung. I’m remembered for worsening relations with the West over North Korea’s nuclear program. Who am I?
Answer
Kim Jong-il
Riddle 6
I gained power in 2011 after the death of Kim Jong-il. I met with Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019 to discuss denuclearization. What is my name?
Answer
Kim Jong-un
Culture
Riddle 7
I’m a flower named after Mount Paektu that is a national symbol of North Korea. I’m depicted on the emblem of an Air Koryo plane. What type of flower am I?
Answer
A Kimjongilia, a cultivated begonia.
Riddle 8
We’re a duo of bronze statues located in Pyongyang depicting Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. North Koreans are expected to lay flowers and respectfully bow to us. What are we called?
Answer
The Mansudae Grand Monuments
Riddle 9
I’m an opera said to have been composed by Kim Jong-il. Performances can last up to 5 hours and also involve dancing and circus acts. What opera am I?
Answer
The Flower Girl
Military
Riddle 10
I’m North Korea’s largest military branch, with over 1 million active personnel and the fourth largest army in the world. What branch am I?
Answer
The Korean People’s Army (Ground Force)
Riddle 11
We make up the world’s largest special forces and are trained to be absolutely loyal to the Supreme Leader. What North Korean special forces unit are we?
Answer
The Korean People’s Army Special Operation Force
Riddle 12
I’m a North Korean ballistic missile first tested in 2017 said to have intercontinental range capabilities that poses a threat to countries like the United States. What missile am I?
Answer
The Hwasong-15
Nuclear Program
Riddle 13
I’m North Korea’s primary nuclear research center located about 90 km northwest of Pyongyang. What facility am I named after?
Answer
The Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center
Riddle 14
We conducted North Korea’s first nuclear detonation test on October 9, 2006 during Kim Jong-il’s rule. At what location did this test occur?
Answer
The Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site
Riddle 15
I’m an underground nuclear testing facility consisting of north, west and south main tunnels that North Korea detonated several bombs within. What am I?
Answer
The Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site
Economy
Riddle 16
I account for about half of North Korea’s economy due to international sanctions limiting trade. Foreign embassies even procure me to sell overseas. What black market activity am I?
Answer
The manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamines or other illicit drugs.
Riddle 17
We are a special administrative region jointly operated by North Korea and China that allows Quanhe to act as a window to the outside world. What are we?
Answer
Rason Special Economic Zone
Riddle 18
In 2002, some of us were allowed limited capitalism which led to the growth of street stalls and markets. Today, some officials turn a blind eye to us. What segment of the economy are we?
Answer
North Korea’s informal private economy
International Relations
Riddle 19
I’m the 1953 armistice signed by the United States, North Korea, and China that ended open hostilities of the Korean War but did not lead to a formal peace treaty or resolution. What treaty am I?
Answer
The Korean Armistice Agreement
Riddle 20
I was a South Korean president who met with Kim Jong-il in 2000 and 2007 to pursue peace and reconciliation between the Koreas. Who am I?
Answer
Kim Dae-jung
Riddle 21
We are a pair of North and South Korean cities linked by the Gyeongui railway line whose name means “peace” and “prosperity” in Korean. What cities are we?
Answer
Kaesong and Dorasan
Propaganda
Riddle 22
I’m the state-controlled agency responsible for censoring communications and distributing propaganda in North Korea. What agency am I?
Answer
The Propaganda and Agitation Department (PAD)
Riddle 23
I’m a government-run North Korean website launched in 2010 aimed at spreading propaganda internationally in several languages. What am I called?
Answer
Uri Minzokkiri or “Our Nation”
Riddle 24
We are over 30 enormous concrete slabs located near Pyongyang engraved with propaganda slogans praising Kim Il-sung and the ruling party. Foreign visitors are often brought to view us. What monument are we?
Answer
The Grand People’s Study House
Human Rights
Riddle 25
I’m a large political prison camp in North Korea operated since the 1950s housing over 50,000 detainees subjected to brutal conditions and forced labor. What am I called?
Answer
Camp 22 or Kwan-li-so No. 22
Riddle 26
My 2014 report detailed North Korea’s extensive use of political prison camps, starvation, torture and public executions. What UN Commission was I?
Answer
The UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea
Riddle 27
We are three generations of a North Korean family punished under the “guilt by association” system for an ancestor’s alleged political crime. Who are we?
Answer
Political prisoners in North Korea
Defection
Riddle 28
I’m the village located in the Korean Demilitarized Zone where a Soviet embassy vehicle defected south in 1984. What am I called?
Answer
Panmunjom
Riddle 29
I was a high-level North Korean army officer who dramatically defected south across the DMZ in 1998. What is my name?
Answer
Lee Jin-su
Riddle 30
We are the stretch of shallow river flowing between North Korea and China that some desperate defectors try to secretly cross at night. What river are we?
Answer
The Tumen River
Famine
Riddle 31
I’m the name of the devastating famine which struck North Korea between 1994-1998 killing up to 3 million people. What was I called?
Answer
The Arduous March or North Korean Famine
Riddle 32
I’m nicknamed the “Train to Nowhere” and was used by Kim Jong-il for lavish banquets and parties while millions starved outside during the 1990s famine. What am I?
Answer
Kim Jong-il’s Personal Armored Train
Riddle 33
We’re a common crude food source some North Koreans resorted to boiling and eating out of desperation to survive famine and starvation. What are we?
Answer
Grass, bark, and tree leaves
Population
Riddle 34
I’m a social classification system used in North Korea that ranks citizens on socioeconomic status and perceived loyalty to the regime. What caste system am I?
Answer
Songbun
Riddle 35
We’re a marginalized group of North Koreans stuck in an undesirable “hostile” songbun class making socioeconomic advancement difficult. Who are we?
Answer
Children of political prisoners or defectors
Riddle 36
I’m the estimated 200,000-400,000 North Korean orphans termed “wandering swallows” struggling to survive through begging and scavenging after losing caregivers during the Great Famine. Who am I?
Answer
The “Kkotjebi” homeless children in North Korea
Restrictions
Riddle 37
I prohibit North Korean citizens from freely traveling abroad without state permission, listening to unauthorized foreign broadcasts, or practicing religion. What do I rigidly govern?
Answer
Private life and civil liberties in North Korea
Riddle 38
As a North Korean citizen, it’s forbidden for me to wear jeans, grow my hair long, or watch a foreign film without facing severe punishment or imprisonment. What restrictive social system do I live under?
Answer
North Korea’s authoritarian social controls
Riddle 39
We’re illegal smuggled Chinese cell phones allowing some North Koreans access to unauthorized foreign media despite facing imprisonment or even execution if caught. What are we?
Answer
Notel or Jangmadang phones
Technology
Riddle 40
I’m North Korea’s state-controlled intranet providing approved websites and email only accessible within the country. What am I called?
Answer
The Kwangmyong network
Riddle 41
I’m the North Korean tablet computer released in 2013 containing educational apps and e-books approved by the regime. Who manufactured me?
Answer
The Samjiyon tablet computer manufactured by Pyongyang Informatics Company
Riddle 42
We’re the estimated 4 million North Korean smartphone users able to connect to the global internet via networks near the Chinese border outside of state control. Who are we?
Answer
Users of illegal Chinese mobile phones in North Korea
Influence of Kim Jong-il
Riddle 43
I’m the former North Korean Information Minister reported executed in 2013 for supposedly dozing off during a speech by Kim Jong-un. What is my name?
Answer
Kim Chol
Riddle 44
In my book “On the Art of Cinema”, I narcissistically praised my filmmaking talents and ability to inspire hundreds of movies. Who wrote these outlandish claims?
Answer
Kim Jong-il
Riddle 45
As leader, I claimed to have revolutionized the opera and theater scene by creating several new “revolutionary” operas for the people’s enjoyment myself. Who am I?
Answer
Kim Jong-il
Sports
Riddle 46
We are the two rival women’s football clubs sponsored by Mokran Trading Company in Pyongyang. Powerful Football Club has won more league titles, but who are we?
Answer
The Pyongyang Sports Club Women’s Football Teams: “Powerful Football Club” and “Sports Club”
Riddle 47
I hosted the largest sports event North Korea has ever seen when they co-hosted the soccer World Cup with South Korea in 1966. What city stadium with a capacity of 150,000 did this take place in?
Answer
The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang
Riddle 48
I’m a former Olympic gold medalist in women’s figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics though faced accusations my true age was falsified by North Korea. Who am I?
Answer
Kim Yu-na (not the South Korean Kim Yuna but a different North Korean athlete of the same name)
Natural Wonders
Riddle 49
I’m a majestic currently active stratovolcano located on the border with China designated as a natural treasure and listed by KCNA as the highest mountain on the Korean peninsula. What mountain am I?
Answer
Mount Paektu
Riddle 50
I’m a scenic diamond-shaped mountain in North Korea’s Ryongyon County alternatively called Mount Geumgangsan or the “mountain of unusual beauty.” What’s my name?
Answer
Mount Kumgang
Riddle 51
We’re the two scenic waterfalls located at Mount Paektu considered sacred sites with historical and cultural importance by both North and South Korea. Name us!
Answer
Janggun Waterfall and Hwangjin Waterfall on Mount Paektu
Conclusion
Riddle 52
I’m the nickname given to reclusive North Korea, the “Hermit Kingdom”, due to my extreme isolationism and limited access for foreigners. What country am I?
Answer
North Korea
Summary
In review, these 52 riddles covered a wide range of topics related to the mysterious and perplexing nation of North Korea – from it’s dictatorial leaders, military and nuclear weapons programs, to culture, sports and economy. North Korea’s extreme secrecy makes it a fascinating topic for riddles as so much about the country remains unknown or confusing to outsiders. Getting these riddles right shows an impressive familiarity with perhaps the world’s most inaccessible state!
