Being able to read is a physical, neurological skill. Having anything worth reading outside of technical manuals is another thing. It's possible to master the entire vocabulary and read the complete national bibliography of a nation with strict censorship, because there isn't much available to read.
In other words, I doubt that North Koreans' reading ability does them much good. What good is an omelette pan if there are no eggs?
You probably went to the World Factbook. If you did, scroll up to the "Geography" section and take a look at "Environment-Current Issues". Shortage of potable water and water-bourne diseases tells me one thing, anyway: their water and sewage systems are deteriorating and may have comingled in places. That would be enough to lower any nation's average life expectancy. Then scroll down to "Economy" and look at the overview. These people have nothing.
BTW, Canada's 97% literacy rate is nothing to sneeze at.
Off Topic » in reply to re: North Korea
Literacy rates
The whole thread (34 posts)
- World's worst genocide
- Most American Aborigines died of European illnesses, not deliberate warfare or genocide.
- re: World's worst genocide
- re: It was a barbaric time
- clearly a biased list, but
- re: clearly a biased list
- Lets look at your irreavent link....
- :) Tom I posted that for the sole reason that I knew you would reply exactly as you did- THANKS FOR PLAYING, KIDDO... a challenge to partisans of either ilk
- The Native American genocide counts as starting with Columbus.
- I honestly don't know about it being in the top 5 or 10...
- re: clearly a biased list