2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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)
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.)
Agriculture - products
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
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.) Korea, North Military
Area
total: 120,540 sq km land: 120,410 sq km water: 130 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Mississippi
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. Korea, North Geography
Birth rate
19.1 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Capital
P'yongyang
Climate
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Coastline
2,495 km
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
Currency
North Korean won (KPW)
Currency code
KPW
Death rate
6.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$12 billion (1996 est.)
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
Disputes - international
33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
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)
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
Ethnic groups
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
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
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%
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 Korea, North Communications
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 Korea, North Economy
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.)
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 Korea, North People
Government type
authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship
Highways
total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1996)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
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)
Independence
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
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
Infant mortality rate
23.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
NA%
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
Internet country code
.kp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
NA Korea, North Transportation
Irrigated land
14,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Judicial branch
Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Labor force
9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation
agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
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.)
Languages
Korean
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
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.) Korea, North Government
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
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.)
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.) Korea, North Transnational Issues
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.)
National holiday
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Nationality
noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
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
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 37 km; petroleum product 180 km
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
Population
21,968,228 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
1.22% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Radio broadcast stations
AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)
Radios
3.36 million (1997)
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.)
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.)
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
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)
Terrain
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Total fertility rate
2.26 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Waterways
2,253 km note: mostly navigable by small craft only