There are numerous similarities between North Korea, the United States, and China. You could make this statement about some aspects of the three countries simply by looking at what is written on paper. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Fact Book, all three countries have the three essential branches of government; executive, legislative and judicial (2012). But it doesn't take much to peel back the first layer and see the big differences between the United States and the communist countries China and North Korea. This document is designed to remove this second layer and reveal the differences between the communist countries of China and North Korea. By examining aspects of how each country selects its leaders, how the government is structured, the political culture of each country, human rights or lack thereof, and the economic environment of the two countries, the paper will highlight numerous contrasts between the way the two countries countries choose to operate. The process of selecting a leader is somewhat similar between North Korea and China. It is the leaders selected and the level of freedom given to the country in selecting such leaders that varies between the two countries. In North Korea, the Supreme People's Assembly is elected by popular vote and holds office for five years (CIA, 2012). In China, the National People's Congress is elected by municipal, regional and provincial people's congresses and the People's Liberation Army, also for a five-year term (CIA, 2012). What is not taken into account is that the candidates are running unopposed and are all members of the same political party (CIA, 2012). It's a bit like walking into a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop and only finding yourself in the middle of paper......e-world-factbook/geos/ch.htmlGuo, S. (2009). Implementation of human rights treaties by Chinese courts: Problems and prospects. China Journal of International Law, 8(1), 161-179.Kaplan, R. M. (2011). The long goodbye. World Affairs, 174(1), 7.North Korea (2012). In the United States Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook [online]. Retrieved May 20, 2012, from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.htmlChina's National Human Rights Action Plan (2009–2010)*. (2009). China Journal of International Law, 8(3), 741-777. doi:10.1093/chinesejil/jmp024U.S, Department of State website (2012) Background note: North Korea. Retrieved May 20, 2012, from: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2792.htm#profileU.S, Department of State website (2012) Endnote: China. Retrieved May 20, 2012, from: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/18902.htm