Korea, North

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.kp

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)

Radios

3.36 million (1997)

Telephone 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

Telephones - main lines in use

1.1 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

38 (1999)

Televisions

1.2 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

North Korean won (KPW)

Currency code

KPW

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 plus much additional aid from the UN and non-governmental organizations; substantial continuing humanitarian aid, 1998-2000

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. The nation faces its seventh year of food shortages because of 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 the major consequence of spreading economic failure, such as mass starvation, but the population remains vulnerable to prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions. Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed for expanding investment and consumption goods. In 2000, the regime placed emphasis on expanding foreign trade links, embracing modern technology, and attracting foreign investment, but in no way at the expense of relinquishing central control over key national assets or undergoing market-oriented reforms.

Electricity - consumption

26.598 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

28.6 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 34.62% hydro: 65.38% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

official: North Korean won per US dollar - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989); market: North Korean won per US dollar - 200

Exports

$520 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $22 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 30% industry: 42% services: 28% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-3% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$960 million (c.i.f., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

9.6 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

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

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 127 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (Swedish Embassy in P'yongyang represents the US as consular protecting power)

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 (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 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 September 1998 (next to be held NA) election results: HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of Supreme People's Assembly vote - 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

authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship

Independence

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

International organization participation

ARF (dialogue partner), 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

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 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

National holiday

Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Background

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-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 and chemical weapons are of major concern to the international community.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.7 billion to $4.9 billion (FY98 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

25% to 33% (FY98 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 5,943,735 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 3,574,050 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 179,136 (2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.52% (male 2,873,390; female 2,733,163) 15-64 years: 67.63% (male 7,301,531; female 7,556,554) 65 years and over: 6.85% (male 486,805; female 1,016,785) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

19.1 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

6.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

23.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

Korean

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.02 years male: 68.04 years female: 74.15 years (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Population

21,968,228 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.22% (2001 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

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: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.26 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

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

Airports

87 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 39 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 48 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 8 (2000 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 661,792 GRT/903,367 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 94, combination bulk 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (2000 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

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.)

Waterways

2,253 km note: mostly navigable by small craft only