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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Tourism -         Ministry Of Tourism

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Korea says 50,000-unit housing project in Pyongyang reaches final stage - The Korea timesN. Korea says 50,000-unit housing project in Pyongyang reaches final stage  The Korea times How South Korea can balance its US commitments with global engagement - Chatham HouseHow South Korea can balance its US commitments with global engagement  Chatham House Lee Jae-myung’s Latest Policy Signals to North Korea - The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs MagazineLee Jae-myung’s Latest Policy Signals to North Korea  The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine North Korea says South Korea's overtures 'great miscalculation' - The HinduNorth Korea says South Korea's overtures 'great miscalculation'  The Hindu South Korea’s president asks Trump to be ‘peacemaker’ with North Korea - The HinduSouth Korea’s president asks Trump to be ‘peacemaker’ with North Korea  The Hindu North Korea’s Kim says he is open to talks if US drops denuclearisation demand - DD NewsNorth Korea’s Kim says he is open to talks if US drops denuclearisation demand  DD News North Korean state-media slams US approval of South Korea’s drive to build nuclear-powered submarines - Anadolu AjansiNorth Korean state-media slams US approval of South Korea’s drive to build nuclear-powered submarines  Anadolu Ajansi South Korea calls for dialogue to secure return of detainees held by North Korea - NK NewsSouth Korea calls for dialogue to secure return of detainees held by North Korea  NK News North Korean soldier defects to South Korea across the heavily fortified border - The HinduNorth Korean soldier defects to South Korea across the heavily fortified border  The Hindu Europe’s Stalled North Korea Policy - 38 NorthEurope’s Stalled North Korea Policy  38 North N. 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Korea IT worker scheme involving US government contracts  The Record from Recorded Future News North Korea parade: Is Kim Jong Un stronger than ever? - Times of IndiaNorth Korea parade: Is Kim Jong Un stronger than ever?  Times of India North Korean military ramping up parade training ahead of 9th Party Congress - NK NewsNorth Korean military ramping up parade training ahead of 9th Party Congress  NK News With the draw for the 2026 North Korea-China World Cup over, Japan, the first country in the world t.. - ????With the draw for the 2026 North Korea-China World Cup over, Japan, the first country in the world t..  ???? Russia’s Kursk set to build memorial for North Korean troops who fought Ukraine - NK NewsRussia’s Kursk set to build memorial for North Korean troops who fought Ukraine  NK News Kim Jong Un bans words like ‘hamburgers’, ‘ice-cream’ in North Korea. Here’s why - The Indian ExpressKim Jong Un bans words like ‘hamburgers’, ‘ice-cream’ in North Korea. 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News from Fakti.bg - World  fakti.bg South Korea begins removing loudspeakers blaring anti-North Korean messages on border - The Indian ExpressSouth Korea begins removing loudspeakers blaring anti-North Korean messages on border  The Indian Express India appoints ambassador to North Korea after four-year envoy absence - NK NewsIndia appoints ambassador to North Korea after four-year envoy absence  NK News How researchers duped North Korean IT workers into revealing their secrets - NK NewsHow researchers duped North Korean IT workers into revealing their secrets  NK News South Korea, Japan, U.S. hold aerial drill in demonstration of strength against North Korea - The HinduSouth Korea, Japan, U.S. hold aerial drill in demonstration of strength against North Korea  The Hindu Ahn Hak-seop, the 95-year-old ex-combatant who wants to return to North Korea: ‘I must die there’ - EL PAÍS EnglishAhn Hak-seop, the 95-year-old ex-combatant who wants to return to North Korea: ‘I must die there’  EL PAÍS English Will North Korea defend China in a Taiwan war? - Lowy InstituteWill North Korea defend China in a Taiwan war?  Lowy Institute Russia sent abducted Ukrainian kids to North Korea, rights expert says - upi.comRussia sent abducted Ukrainian kids to North Korea, rights expert says  upi.com North Korea diplomacy after the US strikes on Iran - East-West CenterNorth Korea diplomacy after the US strikes on Iran  East-West Center