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

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Korea races to prepare for massive Russian grain aid following Beijing summit - DailyNKN. Korea races to prepare for massive Russian grain aid following Beijing summit  DailyNK Peacemaker, Pacemaker, Playmaker: The three- way formula for engaging North Korea - Lowy InstitutePeacemaker, Pacemaker, Playmaker: The three- way formula for engaging North Korea  Lowy Institute Kim Jong Un reinforced that daughter is successor by taking her to China: NIS - NK NewsKim Jong Un reinforced that daughter is successor by taking her to China: NIS  NK News China is ready to enhance strategic communication with North Korea, Xi Jinping tells Kim Jong Un - MoneycontrolChina is ready to enhance strategic communication with North Korea, Xi Jinping tells Kim Jong Un  Moneycontrol The China-Russia- North Korea alliance that needs no name - Lowy InstituteThe China-Russia- North Korea alliance that needs no name  Lowy Institute In '3670,' a gay North Korean defector embraces identities with eye on the future - Korea JoongAng DailyIn '3670,' a gay North Korean defector embraces identities with eye on the future  Korea JoongAng Daily China’s hosting of Russia’s Putin, North Korea’s Kim, and 24 other world leaders at military parade indicates will to champion reform of global governance - JanesChina’s hosting of Russia’s Putin, North Korea’s Kim, and 24 other world leaders at military parade indicates will to champion reform of global governance  Janes Emboldened Kim Jong Un oversees test of powerful new North Korean rocket engine days after China visit - CNNEmboldened Kim Jong Un oversees test of powerful new North Korean rocket engine days after China visit  CNN Rubio, Cho stress commitment to counter North Korea amid Hyundai raid tensions - NK NewsRubio, Cho stress commitment to counter North Korea amid Hyundai raid tensions  NK News North Korean leader’s sister says South Korea lying about thaw in ties - Al JazeeraNorth Korean leader’s sister says South Korea lying about thaw in ties  Al Jazeera South Korea, Japan defence ministers pledge to work with US to deter North Korea threats - ReutersSouth Korea, Japan defence ministers pledge to work with US to deter North Korea threats  Reuters North Korea conducts engine test for new long-range nuclear missile - NK NewsNorth Korea conducts engine test for new long-range nuclear missile  NK News Kim Jong-un ‘lining up daughter as next North Korean leader’ - The TimesKim Jong-un ‘lining up daughter as next North Korean leader’  The Times History Today: When Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, founded North Korea - FirstpostHistory Today: When Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, founded North Korea  Firstpost Book review: Interrogating North Korea’s role in Africa’s fight for freedom - NK NewsBook review: Interrogating North Korea’s role in Africa’s fight for freedom  NK News Mark Sauter: What to make of the reported US Navy SEAL mission into North Korea - NK NewsMark Sauter: What to make of the reported US Navy SEAL mission into North Korea  NK News South Korea to restore pact halting military activity on North Korea border - Al JazeeraSouth Korea to restore pact halting military activity on North Korea border  Al Jazeera North Korea’s Kim oversees test of solid-fuel engine for ICBMs - Anadolu AjansiNorth Korea’s Kim oversees test of solid-fuel engine for ICBMs  Anadolu Ajansi Xi shows Trump who holds the cards as he sets up meeting with Kim and Putin - BBCXi shows Trump who holds the cards as he sets up meeting with Kim and Putin  BBC China is ready to enhance strategic communication with North Korea, Xi tells Kim - ReutersChina is ready to enhance strategic communication with North Korea, Xi tells Kim  Reuters How Long Will China Support North Korea? 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