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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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drives rocket launcher vehicle - Euronews.comVideo. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drives rocket launcher vehicle  Euronews.com North Korea showcases 600 mm multiple rocket launchers - JanesNorth Korea showcases 600 mm multiple rocket launchers  Janes North Korea: Party Congress Set to Bolster Repression - Human Rights WatchNorth Korea: Party Congress Set to Bolster Repression  Human Rights Watch N. Korea overhauls inner circle, removing old guard - The Korea TimesN. 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Korea opens rare party conclave to lay out key policy goals for next 5 years  The Korea Times North Korea opens Ninth Party Congress with optimistic message on economy - NK NewsNorth Korea opens Ninth Party Congress with optimistic message on economy  NK News North Korea's Kim Jong Un opens key party congress - DW.comNorth Korea's Kim Jong Un opens key party congress  DW.com Why North Korean POWs are rare - The Korea TimesWhy North Korean POWs are rare  The Korea Times North Korea’s Kim Jong Un sets stage for daughter as his successor: Seoul - Al JazeeraNorth Korea’s Kim Jong Un sets stage for daughter as his successor: Seoul  Al Jazeera North Korea's Kim Jong Un reviews country's progress at key party congress - CNANorth Korea's Kim Jong Un reviews country's progress at key party congress  CNA Sister of North Korea’s leader says South Korea’s drone regret was sensible but insufficient - Associated Press NewsSister of North Korea’s leader says South Korea’s drone regret was sensible but insufficient  Associated Press News North Korea’s Kim Jong Un triumphant at rare congress - Financial TimesNorth Korea’s Kim Jong Un triumphant at rare congress  Financial Times Spy agency says Kim Jong Un’s daughter is close to being designated North Korea’s future leader - Associated Press NewsSpy agency says Kim Jong Un’s daughter is close to being designated North Korea’s future leader  Associated Press News North Korean IT worker facilitator gets five years in prison - theregister.comNorth Korean IT worker facilitator gets five years in prison  theregister.com Ukrainian national gets 5-year sentence for involvement in North Korea IT worker scheme - The Record from Recorded Future NewsUkrainian national gets 5-year sentence for involvement in North Korea IT worker scheme  The Record from Recorded Future News North Korea convenes 9th Party Congress, KCNA reports - WKZONorth Korea convenes 9th Party Congress, KCNA reports  WKZO North Korea’s Kim opens 9th Party Congress citing economic achievements - The Mighty 790 KFGONorth Korea’s Kim opens 9th Party Congress citing economic achievements  The Mighty 790 KFGO Could this teenage girl be North Korea’s next leader? 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Korea says it tested new solid-fuel long-range missile - Associated Press NewsN. Korea says it tested new solid-fuel long-range missile  Associated Press News Trump, Kim end summit with standoff over easing US sanctions - Associated Press NewsTrump, Kim end summit with standoff over easing US sanctions  Associated Press News Kim Jong Un Fast Facts - CNNKim Jong Un Fast Facts  CNN North Korea Crisis | Global Conflict Tracker - Council on Foreign RelationsNorth Korea Crisis | Global Conflict Tracker  Council on Foreign Relations Kim Jong-Un | Facts, Biography, & Nuclear Program - BritannicaKim Jong-Un | Facts, Biography, & Nuclear Program  Britannica Keeping Up With The Kims: Who Will Be North Korea's Next Supreme Leader? - SheThePeopleKeeping Up With The Kims: Who Will Be North Korea's Next Supreme Leader?  SheThePeople Kim Jong Un Behind The Wheels Of Rocket Launcher In North Korea Nuclear Flex - NDTVKim Jong Un Behind The Wheels Of Rocket Launcher In North Korea Nuclear Flex  NDTV N. 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