*Korea, North, Geography

Location:
  Northeast Asia, between China and South Korea
Map references:
  Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  120,540 km2
 land area:
  120,410 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries:
  total 1,673 km, China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline:
  2,495 km
Maritime claims:
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 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
International disputes:
  short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with
  South Korea
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
Natural resources:   coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold,
  pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use:
 arable land:
  18%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  74%
 other:
  7%
Irrigated land:
  14,000 km2 (1989)
Environment:
  mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely
  populated; late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding
Note:
  strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia

*Korea, North, People

Population:
  22,645,811 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  1.86% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  24.09 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  69.51 years
 male:
  66.42 years
 female:
  72.75 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Korean(s)
 adjective:
  Korean
Ethnic divisions:
  racially homogeneous
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
Languages:
  Korean
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  99%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  99%
Labor force:
  9.615 million
 by occupation:
  agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
 note:
  shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

*Korea, North, Government

Names:
 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
Abbreviation:
  DPRK
Digraph:
  KN
Type:
  Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship
Capital:
  P'yongyang
Administrative divisions:
  9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi,,   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
 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
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
National holiday:
  DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Political parties and leaders:
  major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary,
  and his son, KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social
  Democratic Party, KIM Yong-ho, vice-chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, CHONG
  Sin-hyok, chairman
Suffrage:
  17 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA 1994); results - President KIM
  Il-song was reelected without opposition
 Supreme People's Assembly:
  last held on 7-9 April 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
  by party NA; seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of
  candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few
  seats
Executive branch:
  president, two vice presidents, premier, ten vice premiers, State
  Administration Council (cabinet)

*Korea, North, Government

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui)
Judicial branch:
  Central Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President KIM Il-song (national leader since 1948, president since 28
  December 1972); designated successor KIM Chong-il (son of president, born 16
  February 1942)
 Head of Government:
  Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992)
Member of:
  ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU,
  LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none
US diplomatic representation:
  none
Flag:
  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

*Korea, North, Economy

Overview:
  More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is
  collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods.
  State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a Communist
  country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the
  strict rule of KIM Il-song and his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during
  the period 1984-88 averaged 2-3%, but output declined by 3-5% annually
  during 1989-92 because of systemic problems and disruptions in
  socialist-style economic relations with the former USSR and China. In 1992,
  output dropped sharply, by perhaps 10-15%, as the economy felt the
  cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support. The leadership
  insisted in maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking
  economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical
  shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in
  industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed
  the basis of industrial development since WWII. Output of the extractive
  industries includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead,
  and precious metals. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including
  military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use
  of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of
  fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food
  production. Five consecutive years of poor harvests, coupled with
  distribution problems, have led to chronic food shortages. North Korea
  remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
National product:
  GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $22 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -10% to -15% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,000 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $18.5 billion; expenditures $18.4 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
  $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products,
  manufactures (including armaments)
 partners:
  China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico
Imports:
  $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods
 partners:
  China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore
External debt:
  $8 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate -15% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
  7,300,000 kW capacity; 26,000 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita
  (1992)

*Korea, North, Economy

Industries:
  machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining,
  metallurgy, textiles, food processing
Agriculture:
  accounts for about 25% of GNP and 36% of work force; principal crops - rice,
  corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock and livestock products - cattle,
  hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient in grain; fish catch estimated at 1.7
  million metric tons in 1987
Economic aid:
  Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s
Currency:
  1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates:
  North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1
  (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989), 2.13 (December 1988), 0.94 (March 1987)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Korea, North, Communications

Railroads:
  4,915 km total; 4,250 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 665 km 0.762-meter
  narrow gauge; 159 km double track; 3,084 km electrified; government owned
  (1989)
Highways:
  about 30,000 km (1991); 92.5% gravel, crushed stone, or earth surface; 7.5%
  paved
Inland waterways:
  2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines:
  crude oil 37 km
Ports:
  primary - Ch'ongjin, Hungnam (Hamhung), Najin, Namp'o, Wonsan; secondary -
  Haeju, Kimchaek, Kosong, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang
Merchant marine:
  80 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 675,666 GRT/1,057,815 DWT; includes 1
  passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 67 cargo, 2 oil tanker,
  5 bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 container
Airports:
 total:
  55
 usable :
  55 (est.)
 with permanent-surface runways:
  about 30
 with runways over 3,659 m:   fewer than 5
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  20
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  30
Telecommunications:
  broadcast stations - 18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 300,000 TV sets (1989); 3,500,000
  radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*Korea, North, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Korean People's Army (including the Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security
  Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,567,684; fit for military service 3,996,893; reach
  military age (18) annually 208,132 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20-25% of GNP (1991 est.); note
  - the officially announced but suspect figure is $1.9 billion (1991) 8% of
  GNP (1991 est.)