North Korea
Democratic People's Republic of KoreaChoson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
Communist stateIndependence 9 September 1948
North Korea as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean peninsula | bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and Russia
14 fieldsLand useshare of 120,540 sq km
Location
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and Russia
International disputes
short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
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
Environment
- current issues:
- localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls;
- water pollution;
- inadequate supplies of potable water
- natural hazards:
- late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
- 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
Note
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1995 est.)
Male · female(1995 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 30% (female 3,402,672; male 3,540,313)
- 15-64 years:
- 66% (female 7,840,465; male 7,741,155)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (female 622,250; male 339,695) (July 1995 est.)
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
Government
Communist state; KIM Chong-il, is the son of and designated successor to former President KIM Il-song (who died 8 July 1994); Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992)
19 fieldsNames
- 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
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
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- KIM Chong-il, is the son of and designated successor to former President KIM Il-song (who died 8 July 1994);
- formal succession has not yet taken place (January 1995);
- election last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA);
- 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
Legislative branch
unicameral
- Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui):
- elections last held on 7-9 April 1990 (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
Political parties and leaders
- major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), 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, IFRCS, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, 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.
18 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 9,500,000 kW
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 in the past and now 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 World War II. 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.
Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, and a cumbersome distribution system have resulted in chronic food shortages. The collapse of Communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in 1989-91 has disrupted important technological links. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards. GDP is stagnant.
Exports
$1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
- commodities:
- minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
- partners:
- China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong
Imports
$1.64 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
- commodities:
- petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods
- partners:
- China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore
Industries
machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing
Agriculture
- accounts for about 25% of GDP 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
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)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 49 in all
Networkskm
Railroads
- total:
- 4,915 km
- standard gauge:
- 4,250 km 1.435-m gauge (3,397 km electrified; 159 km double track)
- narrow gauge:
- 665 km 0.762-m gauge (1989)
Ports
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine
- total:
- 87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 727,631 GRT/1,149,291 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 9, cargo 70, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 3, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1
note: North Korea owns an additional 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 32,405 DWT that operate under Honduran registry
Communications
3 fieldsTelephone system
telephone system is believed to be available only to government officials and not to private individuals
- local:
- NA
- intercity:
- NA
- international:
- 1 earth station near P'yongyang, uses an Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite; other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Defense Forces
Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil | Security Forces
3 fieldsManpower availability
- males age 15-49 6,753,400;
- males fit for military service 4,094,854;
- males reach military age (18) annually 193,480 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures
- exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20%-25% of GDP (1991 est.);
- note - the officially announced but suspect figure is $2.2 billion (1994), about 12% of total spending KOREA, SOUTH
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Korea, North.” The World Factbook 1995. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-korea/1995.