North Korea
An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic “self-reliance” as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang’s control. KIM Il Sung’s son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father’s successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM’s death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father’s successor in September 2010. Following KIM Jong Il’s death in December 2011, the regime began to take actions to transfer power to KIM Jong Un and KIM has now assumed many his father’s former titles and duties.
After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but then sought to roll back the scale of economic reforms in 2005 and 2009. North Korea’s history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, and 2013; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. The regime in 2013 announced a new policy calling for the simultaneous development of the North’s nuclear weapons program and its economy.
North Korean Flag
Geography
Location:
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates:
40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 120,538 sq km
country comparison to the world: 99
land: 120,408 sq km
water: 130 sq km
Area – comparative:
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries:
total: 1,672 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 18 km
Coastline:
2,495 km
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
Climate:
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain:
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources:
coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19.08%
permanent crops: 1.7%
other: 79.22% (2011)
Irrigated land:
14,600 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
77.15 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 8.66 cu km/yr (10%/13%/76%)
per capita: 360.6 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
volcanism: Changbaishan (elev. 2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P’aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active
Environment – current issues:
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment – international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography – note:
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
People & Society
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Languages:
Korean
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
Population:
24,851,627 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.5% (male 2,709,580/female 2,628,456)
15-24 years: 16.3% (male 2,041,861/female 1,997,413)
25-54 years: 44% (male 5,465,889/female 5,456,850)
55-64 years: 8.6% (male 1,007,667/female 1,127,455)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 826,175/female 1,590,281) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 44.9 %
youth dependency ratio: 31.1 %
elderly dependency ratio: 13.8 %
potential support ratio: 7.2 (2014 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.4 years
male: 31.8 years
female: 35 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.53% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Birth rate:
14.51 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Death rate:
9.18 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Net migration rate:
-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Urbanization:
urban population: 60.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas – population:
PYONGYANG (capital) 2.843 million (2011)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
81 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 82
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 75
male: 27.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.81 years
country comparison to the world: 154
male: 65.96 years
female: 73.86 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
68.6% (2002)
Physicians density:
3.29 physicians/1,000 population (2003)
Hospital bed density:
13.2 beds/1,000 population (2002)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 98.9% of population
rural: 96.9% of population
total: 98.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 3.1% of population
total: 1.9% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 87.9% of population
rural: 72.5% of population
total: 81.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 12.1% of population
rural: 27.5% of population
total: 18.2% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths:
NA
Obesity – adult prevalence rate:
3.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 173
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
18.8% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
Education expenditures:
NA
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2008 est.)
Government
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: Choson
abbreviation: DPRK
Government type:
Communist state one-man dictatorship
Capital:
name: Pyongyang
geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities (si, singular and plural)
provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon), P’yongan-bukto (North P’yongan), P’yongan-namdo (South P’yongan), Yanggang-do (Yanggang)
municipalities: Nason-si, P’yongyang-si (Pyongyang)
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Constitution:
previous 1948, 1972 (revised several times); latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era); revised 2009, 2012 (2012)
Legal system:
civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note – in 2014, the rubberstamp Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) re-elected KIM Yong Nam president of its Presidium with responsibility of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 2 April 2013); Vice Premiers: KIM Tok Hun (since 30 April 2014), KIM Yong Jin (since 6 January 2012), RI Chol Man (since 13 April 2012), RI Mu Yong (since 31 May 2011), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for the Minister of People’s Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: last election on 9 March 2014; date of next election NA
election results: KIM Jong Un elected unopposed
note: the Korean Workers’ Party continues to list deceased leaders KIM Il Sung and KIM Jong Il as Eternal President and Eternal General Secretary respectively
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 on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019)
election results: percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; a token number of seats are reserved for minor parties
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of the chief justice and two “People’s Assessors” and for some cases, 3 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme People’s Assembly for 5-year terms
subordinate courts: provincial, municipal, military, special courts; people’ courts (lowest level)
Political parties and leaders:
major party:
Korean Workers’ Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un]
minor parties:
Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control)
Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none; note – Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang 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; the broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow white bands stands for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism
National symbol(s):
red star
National anthem:
“Aegukka” (Patriotic Song)
Economy
Economy – overview:
North Korea, one of the world’s most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power output have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. Large-scale international food aid deliveries have allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions.
Since 2002, the government has allowed private “farmers’ markets” to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming – on an experimental basis – in an effort to boost agricultural output. In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea’s government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities, with the exception of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
In preparation for the 100th anniversary of KIM Il-sung’s birthday in 2012, North Korea continued efforts to develop special economic zones with China and expressed willingness to permit construction of a trilateral gas pipeline that would carry Russian natural gas to South Korea. The North Korean government often highlights its goal of becoming a “strong and prosperous” nation and attracting foreign investment, a key factor for improving the overall standard of living. In this regard, in 2013 the regime rolled out 14 new Special Economic Zones set up for foreign investors, though the initiative remains in its infancy. Nevertheless, firm political control remains the government’s overriding concern, which likely will inhibit changes to North Korea’s current economic system.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$40 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$40 billion (2011 est.)
$40 billion (2010 est.)
note: data are in 2012 US dollars;
North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown here are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2011 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea’s GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion.
GDP (official exchange rate):
$28 billion (2009 est.)
GDP – real growth rate:
1.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
0.8% (2011 est.)
-0.5% (2010 est.)
GDP – per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$1,800 (2010 est.)
$1,900 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
GDP – composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 23.4%
industry: 47.2%
services: 29.4% (2012 est.)
Agriculture – products:
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Industries:
military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
0.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Labor force:
12.6 million
country comparison to the world: 42
note: estimates vary widely (2012 est.)
Labor force – by occupation:
agriculture: 35%
industry and services: 65% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $3.2 billion
expenditures: $3.3 billion (2007 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
11.4% of GDP
country comparison to the world: 206
note: excludes earnings from state-operated enterprises (2007 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Exports:
$3.954 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$3.703 billion (2011 est.)
Exports – commodities:
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products
Exports – partners:
China 63%, South Korea 27% (2012 est.)
Imports:
$4.828 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$4.367 billion
Imports – commodities:
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
Imports – partners:
China 73%, South Korea 19% (2012 est.)
Debt – external:
$3 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Exchange rates:
North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (market rate)
157 (2013 est.)
155.5 (2012 est.)
145 (2010 est.)
3,630 (December 2008)
140 (2007)
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