1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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 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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 26% (male 2,800,857; female 2,669,250) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,089,039; female 7,406,901) 65 years and over: 6% (male 387,011; female 881,329) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
15.3 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
15.57 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Infant mortality rate
87.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Korean
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 51.32 years male: 48.88 years female: 53.88 years (1998 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 (1998 est.)
Population
21,234,387 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.03% (1998 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: 0.44 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
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)
Constitution
adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992
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
Executive branch
chief of state: KIM Chong-il [de facto]; note-President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994, leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor; KIM Chong-il became General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party on 8 October 1997, but has not assumed the presidency head of government: KANG Song-san is premier, but is in ill health; Vice Premier HONG Song-nam has been acting premier since NA February 1997 cabinet: State Administration Council 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, 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 Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note-North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Judicial branch
Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly Political parties and leaders: major party-Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Chong-il, General Secretary; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman
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 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); note-the term of the Assembly expired in April 1995 without a new election and it has not been convened since the death of KIM Il-song in July 1994 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 capital
P'yongyang
National holiday
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Economy
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: an estimated $200 million to $300 million in aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 1997
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 in the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by an average of 4%-5% or more annually during 1989-97 because of systemic problems and disruptions in economic and technological links with the former USSR and China. The leadership has insisted on 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 World War II. 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 is not yet self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, systemic inefficiencies, a cumbersome distribution system, and extensive floods in 1995-96 followed by a severe drought in 1997 have resulted in increasingly serious food shortages. Substantial grain shipments from Japan and South Korea are offsetting a portion of the losses. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
Electricity-capacity
9.5 million kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
1,499 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
35.2 billion kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
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)
Exports
total value: $912 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments) partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$21.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 25% industry: 60% services: 15% (1995 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$900 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
-3.7% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $1.95 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods partners: China, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Singapore
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 price index
NA%
Labor force
total: 9.615 million by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Radio broadcast stations
AM 18, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios
3.5 million
Telephone system
system is believed to be available principally for government business domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Telephones
30,000 (1990 est.)
Television broadcast stations
11
Televisions
400,000 (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Transportation
Airports
49 (1994 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: 105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 663,527 GRT/930,587 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 87, combination bulk 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 3, passenger 3, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 note: North Korea owns an additional 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,143 DWT operating under the registry of Honduras (1997 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 37 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 (standard and broad gauge) (1996 est.)
Waterways
2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Military and Security
Military branches
Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$5 billion to $7 billion (1995 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
25% (1995 est.)
Military manpower-availability
males age 15-49: 5,704,690 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 3,449,880 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-military age
18 years of age
Military manpower-reaching military age annually
males: 175,181 (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea