Part 6 of 6 in our Inside the Hermit Kingdom series on the people and culture of North Korea. Worldfocus multimedia producer Ben Piven writes about the stark contrast between the stagnant North Korean economy and the booming economies of China and South Korea to the north and south.

Part 4 of 6 of our Inside the Hermit Kingdom series on the people and culture of North Korea. Worldfocus multimedia producer Ben Piven writes about popular music, food and beer in the most isolated country on earth. Believe it or not, North Koreans know about Beyonce and Michael Jackson.

Part 2 of 6 in our series on the people and culture of North Korea, Worldfocus multimedia producer Ben Piven explains the powerful ideology of Juche -- which some call the isolated country's state religion. Photos show notable Juche monuments throughout the Hermit Kingdom.