2018 Edition

Background

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 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has since occupied the regime's highest political and military posts. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has faced chronic food shortages. In recent years, the North's domestic agricultural production has increased, but still falls far short of producing sufficient food to provide for its entire population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but has made few other efforts to meet its goal of improving the overall standard of living. 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, 2013, 2016, and 2017; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community and have limited the DPRK's international engagement, particularly economically. In 2013, the DPRK declared a policy of simultaneous development of its nuclear weapons program and economy. In 2018, KIM Jong Un declared the North's nuclear weapons development complete, announced economic development as a leading priority, and increased diplomatic engagement.

Area

land

120,408 sq km

total

120,538 sq km

water

130 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi

Climate

temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters

Coastline

2,495 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Sea of Japan

mean elevation

600 m

note

2744 highest point: Paektu-san

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

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

Irrigated Land

14,600 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (3)

China 1352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km

total

1,607 km

Land Use

arable land: 19.5% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.9% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

21.8% (2011 est.)

forest

46% (2011 est.)

other

32.2% (2011 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

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

Natural Hazards

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fallvolcanism: Changbaishan (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active

Natural Resources

coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower

Population Distribution

population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east

Terrain

mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east

Age Structure

0-14 years

20.65% (male 2,669,357 /female 2,571,195)

15-24 years

15.35% (male 1,959,440 /female 1,935,607)

25-54 years

44.17% (male 5,627,175 /female 5,583,008)

55-64 years

10.34% (male 1,241,473 /female 1,383,444)

65 years and over

9.5% (male 826,101 /female 1,584,285) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

14.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

15.2% (2012)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

78.2% (2014)

note

percent of women aged 20-49

Death Rate

9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

14 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

7.1 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

44.5 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

30.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.9% of population

rural: 99.4% of population

total: 99.7% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population

rural: 0.6% of population

total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

NA

Ethnic Groups

racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

13.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

23.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Korean

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

75 years (2018 est.)

male

67.2 years (2018 est.)

total population

71 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

100% (2015 est.)

male

100% (2015 est.)

total population

100% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

3.038 million PYONGYANG (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

82 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

35.8 years (2018 est.)

male

32.7 years

total

34.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Korean

noun

Korean(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

6.8% (2016)

Physicians Density

3.51 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

25,381,085 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.52% (2018 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

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 87.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 72.5% of population (2015 est.)

total: 81.9% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 12.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 27.5% of population (2015 est.)

total: 18.1% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

11 years (2015)

male

11 years (2015)

total

11 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.9 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.53 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.94 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.82% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

61.9% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 cities (si, singular and plural)provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ryanggang; cities: Namp'o, P'yongyang, Rason

note

Namp'o is sometimes designated as a metropolitan city, P'yongyang as a directly controlled city, and Rason as a city

Capital

geographic coordinates

39 01 N, 125 45 E

name

Pyongyang

note

on 5 May 2018, North Korea reverted to UTC+9, the same time zone as South Korea

time difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

unknown

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA); passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the total SPA membership; revised 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016 (2019)

history

previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era) (2018)

Country Name

abbreviation

DPRK

conventional long form

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

conventional short form

North Korea

etymology

derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the North Korean name "Choson" means "[Land of the] Morning Calm"

local long form

Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk

local short form

Choson

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

note

none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

note

none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly except the Minister of People's Armed Forces

chief of state

Supreme People's Assembly President KIM Yong Nam (since 5 September 1998); note - functions as the technical head of state and performs related duties, such as receiving ambassadors' credentials

election results

KIM Jong Un reelected unopposed

elections/appointments

chief of state and premier indirectly elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held on 9 March 2014 (next election NA)

head of government

State Affairs Commission Chairman KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note - functions as the commander-in-chief and chief executive

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

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 stand for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism

Government Type

dictactorship, single-party state; official state ideology of "Juche" or "national self-reliance

Independence

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation

ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of one judge and 2 "People's Assessors" or, 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

lower provincial courts as determined by the Supreme People's Assembly

Legal System

civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Korean Workers' Party selects all candidates

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KWP 607, KSDP 50, Chondoist Chongu Party 22, General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) 5, religious associations 3; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; composition - men 575, women 112, percent of women 16.3%note: KWP, KSDP, Chondoist Chongu Party, and Chongryon are under the KWP's control; a token number of seats reserved for minor parties

elections

last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun

name

"Aegukka" (Patriotic Song)

note

adopted 1947; both North Korea's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as "Ach'imun pinnara" (Let Morning Shine)

National Holiday

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

National Symbol S

red star, chollima (winged horse); national colors: red, white, blue

Political Parties And Leaders

major parties:Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un]; General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) minor parties: Chondoist Chongu Party (under KWP control)Social Democratic Party or KSDP [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal and compulsory

Agriculture Products

rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, soybeans, pulses, beef, pork, eggs, fruit, nuts

Budget

expenditures

3.3 billion (2007 est.)

revenues

3.2 billion (2007 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.4% (of GDP) (2007 est.)

Debt External

$5 billion (2013 est.)

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 and development of its ballistic missile and nuclear program severely draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power outputs 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.The mid 1990s through mid-2000s were marked by severe famine and widespread starvation. Significant food aid was provided by the international community through 2009. Since that time, food assistance has declined significantly. In the last few years, domestic corn and rice production has improved, although domestic production does not fully satisfy demand. A large portion of the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed semi-private markets to begin selling a wider range of goods, allowing North Koreans to partially make up for diminished public distribution system rations. It also implemented changes in the management process of communal farms 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 in 2010, South Korea’s government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities. In February 2016, South Korea ceased its remaining bilateral economic activity by closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test a month earlier. This nuclear test and another in September 2016 resulted in two United Nations Security Council Resolutions that targeted North Korea’s foreign currency earnings, particularly coal and other mineral exports. Throughout 2017, North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile tests led to a tightening of UN sanctions, resulting in full sectoral bans on DPRK exports and drastically limited key imports. Over the last decade, China has been North Korea’s primary trading partner.The North Korean Government continues to stress its goal of improving the overall standard of living, but has taken few steps to make that goal a reality for its populace. In 2016, the regime used two mass mobilizations — one totaling 70 days and another 200 days — to spur the population to increase production and complete construction projects quickly. The regime released a five-year economic development strategy in May 2016 that outlined plans for promoting growth across sectors. Firm political control remains the government’s overriding concern, which likely will inhibit formal changes to North Korea’s current economic system.

Exchange Rates

North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (average market rate)

135 (2017 est.)

130 (2016 est.)

130 (2015 est.)

98.5 (2013 est.)

155.5 (2012 est.)

Exports

$45.82 billion (2017 est.)

$2.908 billion (2015 est.)

Exports Commodities

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

Exports Partners

China 86.3% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

5.9% (2016 est.)

government consumption

NA (2014 est.)

household consumption

NA (2014 est.)

imports of goods and services

-11.1% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

NA (2014 est.)

investment in inventories

NA (2014 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

22.5% (2017 est.)

industry

47.6% (2017 est.)

services

29.9% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$28 billion (2013 est.) (2013 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$1,700 (2015 est.)

$1,800 (2014 est.)

$1,800 (2013 est.)

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$40 billion (2015 est.)

$40 billion (2014 est.)

$40 billion (2013 est.)

note

data are in 2015 US dollarsNorth Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2015 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 Real Growth Rate

-1.1% (2015 est.)

1% (2014 est.)

1.1% (2013 est.)

Gross National Saving

note

NA

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$43.75 billion (2018 est.)

$3.86 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

China 91.9% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1% (2017 est.)

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

note

NA

Labor Force

14 million (2014 est.)

note

estimates vary widely

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

37%

industry

63% (2008 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

NA

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$1.878 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

11.4% (of GDP) (2007 est.)

note

excludes earnings from state-operated enterprises

Unemployment Rate

25.6% (2013 est.)

25.5% (2012 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

27.83 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

10,640 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

13% (2013)

electrification - total population

30% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

41% (2013)

population without electricity

18.4 million (2013)

Electricity Consumption

13.89 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

45% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

55% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

10.01 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

16.57 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

8,260 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

11,270 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadcast Media

no independent media; radios and TVs are pre-tuned to government stations; 4 government-owned TV stations; the Korean Workers' Party owns and operates the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, and the state-run Voice of Korea operates an external broadcast service; the government prohibits listening to and jams foreign broadcasts (2015)

Internet Country Code

.kp

Telephone System

domestic

fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; mobile service launched in late 2008 for the Pyongyang area and considerable progress in expanding to other parts of the country since; fixed-line 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular 14 per 100 subscriptions (2017)

general assessment

nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanded beyond Pyongyang; infrastructure underdeveloped yet growing mobile penetration by means of foreign investment; low broadband penetration; mobile penetration in North Korea believed to stay well below other Asian nations due to govt. restrictions; 3G network depolyed among universal population coverage (2017)

international

country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2015)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

1.18 million (July 2016 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

3.606 million (July 2016 est.)

Airports

82 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

8 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

22 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2017)

over 3,047 m

3 (2017)

total

39 (2017)

under 914 m

4 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

17 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

3 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

15 (2013)

total

43 (2013)

under 914 m

8 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

P (2016)

Heliports

23 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 6, container ship 3, general cargo 184, oil tanker 25, other 30 (2017)

total

248 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1,574,719 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

223,418 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

17 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2015)

Pipelines

6 km oil (2013)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Namp'o, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan

Railways

note

figures are approximate; some narrow-gauge railway also exists

standard gauge

7,435 km 1.435-m gauge (5,400 km electrified) (2014)

total

7,435 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

724 km (2006)

total

25,554 km (2006)

unpaved

24,830 km (2006)

Waterways

2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)

Military Branches

Korean People's Army (KPA): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2018)

Military Service Age And Obligation

17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2017)

Disputes International

risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppressionNorth Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen RiversMilitary Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundaryNorth Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)

Illicit Drugs

at present there is insufficient information to determine the current level of involvement of government officials in the production or trafficking of illicit drugs, but for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

IDPs

undetermined (periodic flooding and famine during mid-1990s) (2017)

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; many North Korean workers recruited to work abroad under bilateral contracts with foreign governments, most often Russia and China, are subjected to forced labor and do not have a choice in the work the government assigns them, are not free to change jobs, and face government reprisals if they try to escape or complain to outsiders; tens of thousands of North Koreans, including children, held in prison camps are subjected to forced labor, including logging, mining, and farming; many North Korean women and girls, lured by promises of food, jobs, and freedom, have migrated to China illegally to escape poor social and economic conditions only to be forced into prostitution, domestic service, or agricultural work through forced marriages

tier rating

Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government continued to participate in human trafficking through its use of domestic forced labor camps and the provision of forced labor to foreign governments through bilateral contracts; officials did not demonstrate any efforts to address human trafficking through prosecution, protection, or prevention measures; no known investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of trafficking offenders or officials complicit in trafficking-related offenses were conducted; the government also made no efforts to identify or protect trafficking victims and did not permit NGOs to assist victims (2015)