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WEEKLY NEWS 1: North Koreans Take U.S. Test

North Korea may be seen as a reclusive nation, but it isn't unaware of the importance of the English language. According to several South Korean officials, North Koreans are looking to English as a way to acquire job security.

The North Korean education system introduced English into its curriculum in the mid-1960s as part of its "knowing the enemy" campaign. Now, English is seen as a requirement for international communication. The U.S.-based Educational Testing Service states that the number of North Koreans taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) has increased nearly five times within the last five years.

The TOEFL, introduced in 1964 by the United States, measures a non-native English speaker's ability in the language. The test is not available in North Korea, a country that has no diplomatic relations with the United States. Most of the North Koreans taking the test live in Japan or China.

--Written by Teresa Liao

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