North Korea
Democratic People's Republic of KoreaChoson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
Communist stateIndependence 9 September 1948
North Korea as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 96 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 South | Korea
18 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 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
Natural hazards
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
Environment - current issues
- localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls;
- water pollution;
- inadequate supplies of potable water
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, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1997 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 30% (male 3,672,851; female 3,528,590)
- 15-64 years:
- 66% (male 7,996,814; female 8,068,347) 65 years and over : 4% (male 372,818; female 677,584) (July 1997 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.99 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.55 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 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 [de facto]
18 fieldsCountry 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
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
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 [de facto];
- note - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994 leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor;
- however the son has not assumed the titles that his father held and no new elections have been held or scheduled
- head of government :
- Acting Premier HONG Song-nam (since NA February 1997)
- cabinet:
- State Administration Council appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
- elections:
- premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
- election results:
- HONG Song-nam elected acting 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 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA);
- note - the term of the Assembly expired in April 1995 without a new election and it has not been convened since the death of KIM Il-song in July 1994
- 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
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
International organization participation
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 KIM Hyong-u
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
More than 90% of this command economy is | socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned | industry produces 95% of manufactured goods.
22 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(1995 est.)
Economy - 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 an average of 4%-5% annually during 1989-96 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations and technological links with the former USSR and China. The leadership has 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. 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, systemic inefficiencies, a cumbersome distribution system, and extensive floods in 1995-96 have resulted in recurring food shortages.
Substantial grain shipments from Japan and South Korea are offsetting a portion of the losses. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
Industries
- military products;
- machine building, electric power, chemicals;
- mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy;
- textiles, food processing
Exports
- total value:
- $805 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
- partners :
- China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia
Imports
- total value:
- $1.24 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
- commodities :
- petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods
- partners:
- China, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Singapore
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA note: small amounts of grant aid from South Korea, Japan, US and other countries
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)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
system is believed to be available principally for government business
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
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 (standard and broad gauge) (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine
- total :
- 99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 641,090 GRT/899,243 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 8, cargo 83, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 2, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2
note: North Korea owns an additional 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,435 DWT operating under the registries of Cambodia, Honduras, and Poland (1996 est.)
Military
Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air | Force), Civil Security Forces
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea KOREA, SOUTH
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Korea, North.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-korea/1997.