North Korea
Democratic People's Republic of KoreaChoson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
authoritarian socialistIndependence 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
North Korea as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Communist domination and the southern portion becoming Western oriented. 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, chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, North Korea repudiated a 1994 agreement that shut down its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors, further raising fears it would produce nuclear weapons.
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
- 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
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2002 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 25.4% (male 2,888,478; female 2,747,133)
- 15-64 years:
- 67.4% (male 7,380,183; female 7,612,275)
- 65 years and over:
- 7.2% (male 527,256; female 1,068,870) (2002 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:
- 0.49 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 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 short form:
- none
- local long form:
- Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
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 4 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), Najin Sonbong-si*, Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (Pyongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)
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 Yong-nam was named President of the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials
- 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%
- cabinet:
- Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
- head of government:
- Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998); Vice Premiers CHO Ch'ang-tok (since NA), KWAK Pom-ki (since NA), Sin IL-nam (since NA April 2002)
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 Yong-tae, chairman];
- major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Chong-il, General Secretary]
International organization participation
ARF (dialogue partner), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, 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
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, one of the world's most centrally planned and isolated economies, faces desperate economic conditions.
32 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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. Industrial and power output have declined in parallel.
Despite a good harvest in 2001, the nation faces its ninth year of food shortages because of a lack of arable land; collective farming; 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 mass starvation since 1995-96, but the population remains vulnerable to prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions.
Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Recently, the regime has placed emphasis on earning hard currency, developing information technology, addressing power shortages, and attracting foreign aid, but in no way at the expense of relinquishing central control over key national assets or undergoing widespread market-oriented reforms.
In 2002, heightened political tensions with key donor countries and general donor fatigue have held down the flow of desperately needed food aid and threaten fuel aid as well.
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); textiles and fishery products
Economic aid - recipient
$NA; note - nearly $300 million in food aid alone from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 2001 plus much additional aid from the UN and non-governmental organizations
Exchange rates
- official:
- North Korean won per US dollar - 2.15 (December 2001), 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990);
- market: North Korean won per US dollar - 200 (December 2001)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone 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
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-tracked)
- narrow gauge:
- 665 km 0.762-m gauge
- dual gauge:
- 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails provide two gauges) (1996)
Ports and harbors
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine
- total:
- 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 738,886 GRT/1,037,506 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 2, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)
- ships by type:
- bulk 4, cargo 102, combination bulk 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 3, short-sea passenger 2
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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Korea, North.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/north-korea/2002.