Country	Korea-North
Capital	Pyongyang
Continent	Asia
Currency	North Korean won(KPW)
Languages	Korean

Locaion

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Geographic Co ordinates

40 00 N, 127 00 E

Land Boundries

Total:1,673 km
Border countries:China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km

Geography - note

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

Population

22,757,275 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:50

Nationality

Noun:Korean(s)
Adjective:Korean

Ethnic groups

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

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

Languages

Korean

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:Choson
abbreviation: DPRK

Government Type

Communist state one-man dictatorship

Capital

Name:Pyongyang
Geographic coordinates:39 01 N, 125 45 E
Time difference:UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National Holiday

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

Constitution

adopted 1948; revised several times most recently in 2009

Legal system

based on Prussian civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state:KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 9 April 2009, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA reelected KIM Yong Nam in 2009 president of its Presidium also with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials
Head of government:Premier KIM Yong Il (since 11 April 2007); Vice Premier KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), Vice Premier O Su Yong (since 13 April 2009), Vice Premier PAK Su Gil (since 18 September 2009), Vice Premier PAK Myong Su (since 4 September 2009), Vice Premier RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
Cabinet:Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:last election held in September 2003; date of next election NA
Election results:KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees for positions and ran unopposed

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 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

Judicial branch

Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)

Political Parties and Leaders

major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Il]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control), Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

Video

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Korea's Kim visits museum of Combat Feats at Overseas Military Operations - The Korea TimesN. 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Korea discusses implementation of parliamentary decisions at Cabinet committee meeting - The Korea TimesN. Korea discusses implementation of parliamentary decisions at Cabinet committee meeting  The Korea Times North Korea hackers suspected of attack on widely used software tool - The Japan TimesNorth Korea hackers suspected of attack on widely used software tool  The Japan Times North Korea's Kim Jong Un reappointed as president of state affairs - Le Monde.frNorth Korea's Kim Jong Un reappointed as president of state affairs  Le Monde.fr Chinese electrosurgical device spotted at new North Korean hospital - NK NewsChinese electrosurgical device spotted at new North Korean hospital  NK News The Evangelical Roots of North Korea’s Kim Family - christianitytoday.comThe Evangelical Roots of North Korea’s Kim Family  christianitytoday.com North Korea fires missiles into the sea as US and South Korea conduct military drills - The GuardianNorth Korea fires missiles into the sea as US and South Korea conduct military drills  The Guardian Longtime North Korean representative to Olympics dies at 87 - NK NewsLongtime North Korean representative to Olympics dies at 87  NK News Examining European Engagement With North Korea - 38 NorthExamining European Engagement With North Korea  38 North Kim Jong Un reappointed as president of North Korea - Al JazeeraKim Jong Un reappointed as president of North Korea  Al Jazeera North Korean hackers compromise major software used by thousands of companies - NK NewsNorth Korean hackers compromise major software used by thousands of companies  NK News North Korea discusses implementation of parliamentary decisions at Cabinet committee meeting - Korea JoongAng DailyNorth Korea discusses implementation of parliamentary decisions at Cabinet committee meeting  Korea JoongAng Daily North Korea's ambassador discusses recent party congress results with Chinese Communist Party officials in Beijing - Korea JoongAng DailyNorth Korea's ambassador discusses recent party congress results with Chinese Communist Party officials in Beijing  Korea JoongAng Daily Mojtaba Khamenei: North Korea voices support for Iran's new supreme leader amid West Asia tensions - The HinduMojtaba Khamenei: North Korea voices support for Iran's new supreme leader amid West Asia tensions  The Hindu ROK nonprofit says it seeks to hold an electric vehicle expo in North Korea - NK NewsROK nonprofit says it seeks to hold an electric vehicle expo in North Korea  NK News How North Korea Armed Iran’s Missile Forces Over Two Decades - Vision TimesHow North Korea Armed Iran’s Missile Forces Over Two Decades  Vision Times North Korea courts Chinese private investors for Pyongyang commercial complex - DailyNKNorth Korea courts Chinese private investors for Pyongyang commercial complex  DailyNK How North Korean operatives get hired, and how HR can stop them - HR ExecutiveHow North Korean operatives get hired, and how HR can stop them  HR Executive N. Korea condemns UN human rights resolution on Pyongyang: KCNA - The Korea TimesN. 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Korea to move up deployment of Iron Dome-like interceptor against N. Korean threats to 2029 - The Korea TimesS. Korea to move up deployment of Iron Dome-like interceptor against N. 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Korea denounces U.N. rights resolution as 'political provocation'  upi.com Military, intel officers referred to prosecutors over North Korea drone flights - NK NewsMilitary, intel officers referred to prosecutors over North Korea drone flights  NK News Code red: North Korean hackers behind compromised Axios npm package - Cyber DailyCode red: North Korean hackers behind compromised Axios npm package  Cyber Daily Backdooring of JavaScript Library Axios Tied to North Korea - GovInfoSecurityBackdooring of JavaScript Library Axios Tied to North Korea  GovInfoSecurity GTIG: How Did North Korean Hackers Compromise Axios? - Cyber MagazineGTIG: How Did North Korean Hackers Compromise Axios?  Cyber Magazine Kim Jong Un wins 99.9% in North Korea elections - CNNKim Jong Un wins 99.9% in North Korea elections  CNN Did Israel attack North Korea embassy? Fact-checking viral claim about missile strike amid Iran war | World News - Hindustan TimesDid Israel attack North Korea embassy? 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