| Background: |
Following World
War II, Korea was split into a northern, communist half and
a southern, Western-oriented half. KIM Chong-il has ruled
North Korea since his father and the country's founder,
president KIM Il-song, died in 1994. After decades of
mismanagement, the North relies heavily on international
food aid to feed its population, while continuing to expend
resources to maintain an army of about 1 million. North
Korea's long-range missile development and research into
nuclear and chemical weapons are of major concern to the
international community. |
| Location: |
Eastern Asia,
northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea
Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
40 00 N, 127 00 E |
| Area: |
total:
120,540 sq km
land: 120,410 sq km
water: 130 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly smaller
than Mississippi |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
1,673 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea
238 km, Russia 19 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
territorial
sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
note: military boundary line 50 NM in the Sea
of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow
Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without
permission are banned |
| Climate: |
temperate with
rainfall concentrated in summer |
| Terrain: |
mostly hills and
mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains
wide in west, discontinuous in east |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m |
| Natural
resources: |
coal, lead,
tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold,
pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
14%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 61%
other: 23% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
14,600 sq km
(1993 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
late spring
droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional
typhoons during the early fall |
| Environment
- current issues: |
water pollution;
inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease;
deforestation; soil erosion and degradation |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea |
| Geography
- note: |
strategic
location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia;
mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated |
| Population: |
21,968,228 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
25.52% (male 2,873,390; female 2,733,163)
15-64 years: 67.63% (male 7,301,531; female
7,556,554)
65 years and over: 6.85% (male 486,805; female
1,016,785) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.22% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
19.1 births/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
6.92 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
23.55
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 71.02 years
male: 68.04 years
female: 74.15 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.26 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
NA% |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Korean(s)
adjective: Korean |
| Ethnic
groups: |
racially
homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few
ethnic Japanese |
| Religions: |
traditionally
Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic
Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now
almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups
exist to provide illusion of religious freedom |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write Korean
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form:
Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: none
note: the North Koreans generally use the term
"Choson" to refer to their country
abbreviation: DPRK |
| Government
type: |
authoritarian
socialist; one-man dictatorship |
| Administrative
divisions: |
9 provinces (do,
singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (si, singular and
plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto
(North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong
Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province),
Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong
City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o
City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province),
P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang
City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province) |
| Independence: |
15 August 1945
(from Japan) |
| National
holiday: |
Founding of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September
(1948) |
| Constitution: |
adopted 1948,
completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April
1992 and September 1998 |
| Legal
system: |
based on German
civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist
legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
17 years of age;
universal |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: KIM Chong-il (since NA July 1994); note -
in September 1998, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of
the National Defense Commission, a position accorded the
nation's "highest administrative authority"; KIM
Yong-nam was named President of the Supreme People's
Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility of
representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier HONG Song-nam
(since 5 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for
the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the
Supreme People's Assembly
elections: premier elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly; election last held NA September 1998
(next to be held NA)
election results: HONG Song-nam elected
premier; percent of Supreme People's Assembly vote - NA% |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be
held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - the KWP approves a single list of
candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties
hold a few seats |
| Judicial
branch: |
Central Court
(judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Chondoist Chongu
Party [YU Mi-yong, chairwoman]; Korean Social Democratic
Party [KIM Pyong-sik, chairman]; major party - Korean
Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Chong-il, General Secretary] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ARF (dialogue
partner), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO,
IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
none; note -
North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York,
headed by YI Hyong-chol |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
none (Swedish
Embassy in P'yongyang represents the US as consular
protecting power) |
| Flag
description: |
three horizontal
bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red
band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is
a white disk with a red five-pointed star |
| Economy
- overview: |
North Korea, one
of the world's most centrally planned and isolated
economies, faces desperate economic conditions. Industrial
capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years
of underinvestment and spare parts shortages. The nation
faces its seventh year of food shortages because of
weather-related problems, including major drought in 2000,
and chronic shortages of fertilizer and fuel. Massive
international food aid deliveries have allowed the regime to
escape the major consequence of spreading economic failure,
such as mass starvation, but the population remains
vulnerable to prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating
living conditions. Large-scale military spending eats up
resources needed for expanding investment and consumption
goods. In 2000, the regime placed emphasis on expanding
foreign trade links, embracing modern technology, and
attracting foreign investment, but in no way at the expense
of relinquishing central control over key national assets or
undergoing market-oriented reforms. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $22 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
-3% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $1,000 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
30%
industry: 42%
services: 28% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
NA% |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agricultural 36%,
nonagricultural 64% |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital
expenditures of $NA |
| Industries: |
military
products; machine building, electric power, chemicals;
mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc,
lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food
processing; tourism |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA% |
| Electricity
- production: |
28.6 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
34.62%
hydro: 65.38%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
26.598 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
rice, corn,
potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs |
| Exports: |
$520 million
(f.o.b., 1999 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
minerals,
metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments);
agricultural and fishery products |
| Exports
- partners: |
Japan 28%, South
Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany 4%, Russia 1% (1995) |
| Imports: |
$960 million
(c.i.f., 1999 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
petroleum, coking
coal, machinery and equipment; consumer goods, grain |
| Imports
- partners: |
China 33%, Japan
17%, Russia 5%, South Korea 4%, Germany 3% (1995) |
| Debt
- external: |
$12 billion (1996
est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$NA; note - an
estimated $200 million to $300 million in humanitarian aid
from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 1997 plus much
additional aid from the UN and non-governmental
organizations; substantial continuing humanitarian aid,
1998-2000 |
| Currency: |
North Korean won
(KPW) |
| Exchange
rates: |
official: North
Korean won per US dollar - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992),
2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December
1989); market: North Korean won per US dollar - 200 |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
1.1 million
(1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
NA |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean region);
other international connections through Moscow and Beijing |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 16, FM 14,
shortwave 12 (1999) |
| Radios: |
3.36 million
(1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
38 (1999) |
| Televisions: |
1.2 million
(1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.kp |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
5,000 km
standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500
km electrified; 159 km double track)
narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge
dual gauge: 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges
(four rails interlaced) (1996 est.) |
| Highways: |
total:
31,200 km
paved: 1,997 km
unpaved: 29,203 km (1996) |
| Waterways: |
2,253 km
note: mostly navigable by small craft only |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 37 km;
petroleum product 180 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Ch'ongjin, Haeju,
Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju,
Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 661,792 GRT/903,367
DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 94, combination
bulk 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 2 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
39
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
48
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 8 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Korean People's
Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 5,943,735 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 3,574,050 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
179,136 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$3.7 billion to
$4.9 billion (FY98 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
25% to 33% (FY98
est.) |
| Disputes
- international: |
33-km section of
boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is
indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea |
|
