Page last updated on February 3, 2014
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 September 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in December 2011, the regime began to take actions to transfer power to KIM Jong Un and KIM has now assumed many his father's former titles and duties. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but then sought to roll back the scale of economic reforms in 2005 and 2009. 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, and 2013; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. The regime in 2013 announced a new policy calling for the simultaneous development of the North's nuclear weapons program and its economy.
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
total: 120,538 sq km
country comparison to the world: 99
land: 120,408 sq km
water: 130 sq km
slightly smaller than Mississippi
total: 1,671.5 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 17.5 km
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
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
arable land: 19.08%
permanent crops: 1.7%
other: 79.22% (2011)
total: 8.66 cu km/yr (10%/13%/76%)
per capita: 360.6 cu m/yr (2005)
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
volcanism: Changbaishan (elev. 2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
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
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
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
24,720,407 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
0-14 years: 21.7% (male 2,726,275/female 2,650,143)
15-24 years: 16.4% (male 2,059,388/female 2,005,987)
25-54 years: 43.8% (male 5,411,221/female 5,415,744)
55-64 years: 8.5% (male 988,922/female 1,108,156)
65 years and over: 9.5% (male 798,363/female 1,556,208) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 45.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 31.5 %
elderly dependency ratio: 13.7 %
potential support ratio: 7.3 (2013)
total: 33.2 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 34.8 years (2013 est.)
0.53% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
14.49 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
9.15 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
urban population: 60.3% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.63% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
PYONGYANG (capital) 2.843 million (2011)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
81 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 83
total: 25.34 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 76
male: 28.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 69.51 years
country comparison to the world: 155
male: 65.65 years
female: 73.55 years (2013 est.)
1.99 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
3.29 physicians/1,000 population (2003)
13.2 beds/1,000 population (2002)
3.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 173
20.6% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 31
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2008 est.)
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: Choson
abbreviation: DPRK
Communist state one-man dictatorship
name: Pyongyang
geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities (si, singular and plural)
provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan), Yanggang-do (Yanggang)
municipalities: Nason-si, P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang)
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
previous 1948, 1972 (revised several times); latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era); revised 2009, 2012 (2012)
civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
17 years of age; universal
chief of state: KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note - the rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Yong Nam in 2009 president of its Presidium with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier PAK Pong-ju (since 2 April 2013); Vice Premiers: HAN Kwang Bok (since 7 June 2010), JO Pyong Ju (since 7 June 2010), JON Ha Chol (since 7 June 2010), KANG Nung Su (since 7 June 2010), KANG Sok Ju (since 23 September 2010), KIM In Sik (since 13 April 2012), KIM Rak Hui (since 7 June 2010), KIM Yong Jin (since 6 January 2012), PAK Su Gil (since 18 September 2009), RI Chol Man (since 13 April 2012), RI Mu Yong (since 31 May 2011), RI Sung Ho (since 13 April 2012), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
elections: last election held in April 2012; date of next election NA
election results: KIM Jong Un elected unopposed
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
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 on 8 March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; a token number of seats are reserved for minor parties
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of the chief justice and two "People's Assessors" and 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: provincial, municipal, military, special courts; people' courts (lowest level)
major party:
minor parties:
ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power
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 stands for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism
name: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song)
lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun
note: adopted 1947; both North Korea 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)
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 draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power output 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. Large-scale international food aid deliveries as well as aid from China has allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed private "farmers' markets" to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming - on an experimental basis - 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 destroyer Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea's government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities, with the exception of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex. In 2012, KIM Jong Un's first year of leadership, the North displayed increased focus on the economy by renewing its commitment to special economic zones with China, negotiating a new payment structure to settle its $11 billion Soviet-era debt to Russia, and purportedly proposing new agricultural and industrial policies to boost domestic production. The North Korean government often highlights its goal of becoming a "strong and prosperous" nation and attracting foreign investment, a key factor for improving the overall standard of living. Nevertheless, firm political control remains the government's overriding concern, which likely will inhibit fundamental reforms of North Korea's current economic system.
$40 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
note: data are in 2011 US dollars;
0.8% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$1,800 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
agriculture: 23.3%
industry: 42.9%
services: 33.8% (2012 est.)
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
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
12.2 million
country comparison to the world: 43
note: estimates vary widely (2009 est.)
agriculture: 35%
industry and services: 65% (2008 est.)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $3.2 billion
expenditures: $3.3 billion (2007 est.)
11.4% of GDP
country comparison to the world: 205
note: excludes earnings from state-operated enterprises (2007 est.)
-0.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
$4.707 billion (2011)
country comparison to the world: 115
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products
China 67.2%, South Korea 19.4%, India 3.6% (2011 est.)
$4.33 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
China 61.6%, South Korea 20%, European Union 4% (2011 est.)
$12.5 billion (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (market rate)
21.04 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
17.62 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
9.5 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
47.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
52.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
87.2 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
6,540 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 148
6,965 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
15,070 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
5,787 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 154
65.96 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
1.18 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 70
1.7 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 148
general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanding beyond Pyongyang
domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; GSM mobile-cellular service initiated in 2002 but suspended in 2004; Orascom Telecom Holding, an Egyptian company, launched W-CDMA mobile service on 15 December 2008 for the Pyongyang area, has expanded service to several large cities and now has a 1-million-person subscriber base
international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2011)
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 (2008)
8 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 226
82 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 67
total: 39
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2013)
total: 43
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m:
total: 5,242 km
country comparison to the world: 33
standard gauge: 5,242 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2009)
total: 25,554 km
country comparison to the world: 100
paved: 724 km
unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)
2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 38
total: 158
country comparison to the world: 37
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 131, carrier 1, chemical tanker 1, container 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 13 (Belgium 1, China 3, Nigeria 1, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Syria 4, UAE 2)
registered in other countries: 6 (Mongolia 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 3) (2010)
major seaport(s): Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Namp'o, Senbong, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan
North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005)
18 is presumed to be the legal minimum age for compulsory military service; 16-17 is the presumed legal minimum age for voluntary service (2012)
males age 16-49: 6,515,279
females age 16-49: 6,418,693 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 4,836,567
females age 16-49: 5,230,137 (2010 est.)
male: 207,737
female: 204,553 (2010 est.)
risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)
IDPs: undetermined (periodic flooding and famine during mid-1990s) (2007)
current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor, forced marriage, and sex trafficking; in the recent past, many North Korean women and girls lured by promises of food, jobs, and freedom migrated to China illegally to escape poor social and economic conditions only to be forced into prostitution, marriage, or exploitative labor arrangements; North Koreans do not have a choice in the work the government assigns them and are not free to change jobs at will; many North Korean workers recruited to work abroad under bilateral contracts with foreign governments are subjected to forced labor and reportedly face government reprisals if they try to escape or complain to outsiders; thousands of North Koreans, including children, are subjected to forced labor in prison camps
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 has conducted no known investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of trafficking offenders or officials complicit in forced labor or forced prostitution; the government also has reported no efforts to identify or assist trafficking victims and continues to deny human trafficking is a problem; authorities provide no discernible protection services to trafficking victims and does not permit NGOs to assist victims (2013)
