Korea, North

Radio broadcast stations

AM 27, FM 14, shortwave 3

Radios

4.7 million

Telephone system

domestic: system is being expanded with installation of fiber-optic cable nationwide; access traditionally reserved for official and business subscribers; public access is expected to increase international: satellite earth stations--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing

Telephones

1.4 million (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations

38

Televisions

2 million

Agriculture--products

rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs

Budget

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

Currency

1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon

Debt--external

$12 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$NA; note?an estimated $200 million to $300 million in humanitarian aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 1997

Economy--overview

North Korea is the world's most centrally planned economy. Agricultural land is collectivized, state-owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods, and heavy and military industries have long been developed at the expense of light and consumer industries. Open-air markets since 1995 have gained increasing importance in the distribution of food and consumer goods but private production remains extremely limited. Total economic output has fallen steadily since 1991--perhaps by as much as one-half--when the country's economic ties to the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc collapsed. The slide has also been fueled by serious energy shortages, aging industrial facilities, and a lack of maintenance and new investment. The leadership has tried to maintain a high level of military spending but the armed forces have nonetheless been affected by the general economic decline. Although North Korea has long depended on imports to meet food needs, serious fertilizer shortages in recent years have combined with structural constraints--such as a shortage of arable land and a short growing season--to reduce staple grain output to more than 1 million tons below what the country needs to meet even minimal demand. Widespread famine and disease have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of North Koreans in 1994-98. The US, China, the international community, and nongovernmental organizations have sent aid but the problems remain extremely serious.

Electricity--consumption

34 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

34 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel: 35.29% hydro: 64.71% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

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

Exports

$743 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities

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

Exports--partners

Japan 28%, South Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany 4%, Russia 1% (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity--$21.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector

agriculture: 25% industry: 60% services: 15% (1995 est.)

GDP--per capita

purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate

-5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.83 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities

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

Imports--partners

China 33%, Japan 17%, Russia 5%, South Korea 4%, Germany 3% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate

-7% to -9% (1992 est.)

Industries

military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

9.615 million

Labor force--by occupation

agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 120,540 sq km land: 120,410 sq km water: 130 sq km

Area--comparative

slightly smaller than Mississippi

Climate

temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

Coastline

2,495 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

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

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 127 00 E

Geography--note

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

Irrigated land

14,600 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km

Land use

arable land: 14% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 61% other: 23% (1993 est.)

Location

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: 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

Natural hazards

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

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)

Capital

P'yongyang

Constitution

adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998

Country 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

Data code

KN

Diplomatic representation from the US

none

Diplomatic representation in the US

none; note--North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol

Executive branch

chief of state: KIM Chong-il; 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: renamed DPRK Cabinet (naegak) on 5 September 1998; was previously called the State Administrative Council; Cabinet 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 results: NA

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

Government type

Communist state; one-man dictatorship

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

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

Judicial branch

Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly

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

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) 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

National holiday

Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)

Political parties and leaders

major party--Korean Workers' Party chairwoman]

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Background

At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. The North's heavy investment in military forces has produced an army of 1 million troops equipped with thousands of tanks and artillery pieces. Despite growing economic hardships, North Korea continues to devote a significant portion of its scarce resources to the military.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$5 billion to $7 billion (1997 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

25% to 33% (1997 est.)

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 5,768,038 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 3,483,188 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--military age

18 years of age

Military manpower--reaching military age annually

males: 177,888 (1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26% (male 2,800,748; female 2,666,207) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,143,969; female 7,447,147) 65 years and over: 6% (male 412,161; female 915,877) (1999 est.)

Birth rate

21.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate

6.92 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups

racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese

Infant mortality rate

25.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages

Korean

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.07 years male: 67.41 years female: 72.86 years (1999 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)

Nationality

noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population

21,386,109 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

1.45% (1999 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

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: 0.45 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes--international

33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea

Airports

49 (1994 est.) (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways

total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)

Highways

total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 691,802 GRT/992,789 DWT ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 37 km; petroleum product 180 km

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

broad gauge: NA km 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 (three rails) (1996 est.)

Waterways

2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only