North Korea officially speaks Korean.
Korean: The Official Language of North Korea
Korean is the sole official language of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea. This language is not unique to North Korea; it is also the official language of the Republic of Korea, or South Korea. Despite the significant political and cultural divergence between the two nations, they share a common linguistic heritage.
The Korean language boasts a rich history and distinct characteristics that set it apart. While the spoken language is fundamentally the same across the peninsula, minor dialectal variations and differences in vocabulary have emerged over decades due to political separation and isolation.
Key Aspects of the Korean Language
- Shared Heritage: The language spoken in North Korea is part of the broader Korean language family, which is also spoken by millions in South Korea and by Korean diaspora communities worldwide.
- Unique Script: Korean is written using Hangul, a phonetic alphabet created in the 15th century. Hangul is celebrated for its scientific design and ease of learning, contributing to high literacy rates.
- Dialectal Nuances: While mutually intelligible, the standard language in North Korea (often referred to as Munhwaŏ) and South Korea (Standard Seoul Korean) have developed subtle differences in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary due to distinct government policies on language standardization and influences.
| Country | Official Language | Writing System |
|---|---|---|
| North Korea | Korean | Hangul |
| South Korea | Korean | Hangul |
For more detailed information on the Korean language, including its history and characteristics, you can refer to authoritative sources such as Britannica's entry on the Korean language.
