Korea was one country until August 15, 1945. On that day, the Japanese surrendered, officially ending World War II. Korea, which had been occupied by Japan since 1910, was then split into two parts. The north was governed by the Russians, and the south by the Americans. After the Korean War, a 3-year conflict, the border that had separated the north and south at the start of the conflict became permanent.  

Because of this, the cuisines are pretty similar, but over the years, some differences have naturally popped up. For example, the main difference between North and South Korean food is how spicy it is. Food in the south tends to be a bit hotter. While North Korea definitely uses chili to flavor its dishes, it's often more subtle than in South Korea. And since North Korea is one of the most mysterious and isolated countries in the world, we don't know much about how their current cuisine is evolving. What we usually associate with and know about Korean food is often based on South Korean cuisine.

What we do know is that North Korean cuisine hasn't been touched by foreign influences. And due to economic restrictions and political isolation, they often have limited access to ingredients and different food varieties. This can lead to a more restricted diet in the north, focusing on simple, traditional dishes made with seasonal ingredients.