North Korea
Democratic People's Republic of KoreaChoson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
authoritarian socialist
North Korea as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 108 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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-sung, 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 over 1 million, the fifth largest in the world. North Korea's long-range missile development and research into nuclear and chemical weapons are of major concern to the international community.
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 and sparsely populated
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2000 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 26% (male 2,843,250; female 2,705,206)
- 15-64 years:
- 68% (male 7,223,364; female 7,502,094)
- 65 years and over:
- 6% (male 448,242; female 965,394) (2000 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.96 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.46 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
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
Government
Authoritarian socialist; KIM Chong-il (since NA July 1994); Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998)
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, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
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
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 Young-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 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
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]
International organization participation
ESCAP, FAO, 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
North Korea ranks among the world's most centrally planned and isolated economies.
31 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
North Korea ranks among the world's most centrally planned and isolated economies. The resulting economic distortions and the government's reluctance to publicize economic data limit the amount of reliable information available. State-owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods, and the regime continues to devote its focus on heavy and military industries at the expense of light and consumer industries.
Economic conditions remain stagnant at best and the country's deepening economic slide has been fueled by acute energy shortages, poorly maintained and aging industrial facilities, and a lack of new investment. The agricultural outlook, though slightly improved over previous years, remains weak.
The combined effects of serious fertilizer shortages, successive natural disasters, and structural constraints - such as marginal arable land and a short growing season - have reduced staple grain output to more than 1 million tons less than what the country needs to meet even minimum international requirements.
The steady flow of international food aid has been critical in meeting the population's basic food needs. The impact of other forms of humanitarian assistance such as medical supplies and agricultural assistance largely has been limited to local areas. Even with aid, malnutrition rates are among the world's highest and estimates of mortality range in the hundreds of thousands as a direct result of starvation or famine-related diseases.
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
Exports - commodities
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments); agricultural and fishery products
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
Exchange rates
- official:
- 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);
- market: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 200
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
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 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (four rails interlaced) (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:
- 107 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 675,609 GRT/937,477 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 5, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, short-sea passenger 2 (1999 est.)
Military
Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
- 33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite;
- Demarcation Line with South Korea [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Korea, North.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-korea/2000.