2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 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), Najin Sonbong-si*, Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (Pyongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25% (male 2,845,727; female 2,763,800) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 7,485,310; female 7,746,603) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 541,155; female 1,083,886) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

72 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3

total

34

under 914 m

3 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 11

under 914 m

7 (2002) Military Korea, North

Area

land

120,410 sq km

total

120,540 sq km

water

130 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Mississippi

Background

Following World War II, Korea was split, with the northern half coming under Communist domination and the southern portion becoming Western-oriented. 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, chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, North Korea repudiated a 1994 agreement that shut down its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors, further raising fears it would produce nuclear weapons. Geography Korea, North

Birth rate

17.61 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Capital

Pyongyang

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

abbreviation

DPRK

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

Currency

North Korean won (KPW)

Currency code

KPW

Death rate

6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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

Disputes - international

with China, certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers are in uncontested dispute; a section of boundary around Paektu-san (mountain) is indefinite; China objects to illegal migration of North Koreans into northern China; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$NA; note - nearly $300 million in food aid alone from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 2001 plus much additional aid from the UN and non-governmental organizations

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. Industrial and power output have declined in parallel. The nation has suffered its tenth year of food shortages because of a lack of arable land; collective farming; 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 mass starvation since 1995-96, but the population remains the victim of prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions. Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Recently, the regime has placed emphasis on earning hard currency, developing information technology, addressing power shortages, and attracting foreign aid, but in no way at the expense of relinquishing central control over key national assets or undergoing widespread market-oriented reforms. In 2003, heightened political tensions with key donor countries and general donor fatigue have held down the flow of desperately needed food aid and have threatened fuel aid as well.

Electricity - consumption

27.91 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

30.01 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

29%

hydro

71%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Paektu-san 2,744 m

lowest point

Sea of Japan 0 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 - 150 (December 2002), 2.15 (December 2001), 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990); market: North Korean won per US dollar - 300-600 (December 2002), 200 (December 2001)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly

chief of state

KIM Chong-il (since NA July 1994); note - on 3 September 2003, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority"; KIM Yong-nam was reelected President of the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentials

election results

HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of Supreme People's Assembly vote - NA%

elections

premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA)

head of government

Premier PAK Pong-chu (since 3 September 2003); Vice Premiers KWAK Pom-ki (since 5 September 1998), CHON Sung-hun (since 3 September 2003), NO Tu-chol (since 3 September 2003)

Exports

$842 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

China 23.5%, Japan 19.9%, Costa Rica 12.4%, Brazil 6.5% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Korea, North

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 Economy Korea, North

GDP

purchasing power parity - $22.26 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

30.4%

industry

32.3%

services

37.3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2002 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 People Korea, North

Government type

authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship

Highways

paved

1,997 km

total

31,200 km

unpaved

29,203 km (1999 est.)

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.314 billion c.i.f. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain

Imports - partners

China 24.9%, Brazil 12.1%, India 9.2%, Thailand 9.2%, Germany 7.8%, Japan 7.1%, Singapore 4.5%, Qatar 4% (2002)

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

female

23.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

27.45 deaths/1,000 live births

total

25.66 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

International organization participation

ARF (dialogue partner), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, 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 Transportation Korea, North

Irrigated land

14,600 sq km (1998 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

border countries

China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km

total

1,673 km

Land use

arable land

14.12%

other

83.39% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

2.49%

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; the KWP approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; some seats are held by minor parties

elections

last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.61 years (2003 est.)

male

68.1 years

total population

70.79 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write Korean

female

99% Government Korea, North

male

99%

total population

99%

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

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

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

32.3 years (2002)

male

30 years

total

31.1 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Denmark 1, Greece 2, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 8, cargo 120, combination bulk 2, container 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2

total

149 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 881,276 GRT/1,309,547 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$5,217.4 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

33.9% (FY02) Transnational Issues Korea, North

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

6,103,615 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

3,654,223 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

180,875 (2003 est.)

National holiday

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

Nationality

adjective

Korean

noun

Korean(s)

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 (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

85,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

oil 136 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Chondoist Chongu Party [YU Mi-yong, chairwoman]; Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong-tae, chairman]; major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Chong-il, general secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

22,466,481 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.07% (2003 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

narrow gauge

665 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)

standard gauge

4,549 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified)

total

5,214 km

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

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

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

2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

2,253 km

note

mostly navigable by small craft only