North Korea

Communist stateIndependence 9 September 1948

North Korea as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalP'yongyang
LocationEastern Asia, between China and South Korea
1994

Every edition of North Korea

Populationas each edition published it
23.07 million July 1994 est. · 21.29m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.83% 1994 est. · 1.86% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 31.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 69.51 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.37 children per woman 1994 est. · 2.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
27.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 27 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,000 1992 est. · $1,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
-9% 1992 est. · -10% in 1993

Geography

Eastern Asia, between China and South Korea

24 fields
Coastline
2,495km
Land boundaries
1,673km
total · China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Irrigated land
14,000sq km
(1989)

Location

Eastern Asia, between China and South Korea

Map references

Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

120,540 sq km

land area

120,410 sq km

comparative area

slightly smaller than Mississippi

territorial sea

12 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

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

International disputes

short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea

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

Natural resources

coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower

arable land

18%

permanent crops

1%

meadows and pastures

0%

forest and woodland

74%

other

7%

current issues

localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls

natural hazards

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; subject to occasional typhoons which occur during the early fall

international agreements

  • party to - Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification, Ship Pollution;
  • signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated

People

23 fields
Population
23,066,573
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 1.83% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
23.75Death
5.5Net migration
0
Labor force
9.615million
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

27.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

69.78 years

male

66.69 years

female

73.02 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.37 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Korean(s)

adjective

Korean

Ethnic divisions

racially homogeneous

Religions

Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo

note

autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom

Languages

Korean

total population

99%

male

99%

female

99%

by occupation

agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%

note

shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

Government

Communist state

26 fields

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

Type

Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship

Capital

P'yongyang

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi, 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

9 September 1948

note

15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day

National holiday

DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)

Constitution

adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

chief of state

  • President KIM Il-song (national leader since 1948, president since 28 December 1972);
  • designated successor KIM Chong-il (son of president, born 16 February 1942);
  • election last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA 1995);
  • results - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition

head of government

Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992)

cabinet

State Administration Council; appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly

Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui)

  • elections last held on 7-9 April 1993 (next to be held NA);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition;
  • minor parties hold a few seats

Judicial branch

Central Court

Political parties and leaders

  • major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary, and his son, KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee;
  • Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman;
  • Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman

Member of

ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Flag

  • 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

More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land | is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of | manufactured goods.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,000
(1992 est.)
External debt
$8billion
(1992 est.)

Overview

More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a Communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song and his son, KIM Chong-il.

Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by 3%-5% annually during 1989-92 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations with the former USSR and China. In 1992, output dropped sharply, by perhaps 7%-9%, as the economy felt the cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support.

The leadership insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since WWII. Output of the extractive industries includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals.

Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production.

Six consecutive years of poor harvests, coupled with distribution problems, have led to chronic food shortages. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $22 billion (1992 est.)

revenues

$19.3 billion

expenditures

$19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Exports

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)

partners

China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico

Imports

$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods

partners

China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore

capacity

7,300,000 kW

production

26 billion kWh

consumption per capita

1,160 kWh (1992)

Industries

machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing

Agriculture

  • accounts for about 25% of GNP and 36% of work force;
  • principal crops - rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses;
  • livestock and livestock products - cattle, hogs, pork, eggs;
  • not self-sufficient in grain

recipient

Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s, but very little now

Currency

1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon

Exchange rates

North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

15 fields

Networkskm

Railroads
4,915 (1989)Inland waterways
2,253
Railroads: ; 4,250 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge; 159 km double track; 3,084 km electrified; government owned · Inland waterways: ; mostly navigable by small craft only

Railroads

  • 4,915 km total;
  • 4,250 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge;
  • 159 km double track;
  • 3,084 km electrified;
  • government owned (1989)

total

30,000 km

paved

1,440 km

unpaved

gravel, crushed stone, earth 28,560 km (1991)

Inland waterways

2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only

Pipelines

crude oil 37 km

Ports

primary - Ch'ongjin, Hungnam (Hamhung), Najin, Namp'o, Wonsan; secondary - Haeju, Kimch'aek, Kosong, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang

Merchant marine

83 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 706,497 GRT/1,114,827 DWT, bulk 9, cargo 67, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 2, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1

total

55

usable

55 (est.)

with permanent-surface runways

about 30

with runways over 3,659 m

fewer than 5

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

20

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

30

Telecommunications

  • broadcast stations - 18 AM, no FM, 11 TV;
  • 300,000 TV sets (1989);
  • 3,500,000 radio receivers;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Korean People's Army (including the Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil | Security Forces

3 fields

Branches

Korean People's Army (including the Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces

Manpower availability

  • males age 15-49 6,658,529;
  • fit for military service 4,044,355;
  • reach military age (18) annually 196,763 (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

  • exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20%-25% of GNP (1991 est.);
  • note - the officially announced but suspect figure is $2.2 billion (1994), about 12% of total spending

Central Intelligence Agency. “Korea, North.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-korea/1994.

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