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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Bush Presidential Center Businessman involved in illegal North Korea remittance case named among top tax dodgers - Korea JoongAng DailyBusinessman involved in illegal North Korea remittance case named among top tax dodgers  Korea JoongAng Daily North Korea Kicks off Workers’ Party Plenary Meeting - The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs MagazineNorth Korea Kicks off Workers’ Party Plenary Meeting  The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine Chinese manufacturers resume North Korean piecework after agreeing to 7–10% rate increase - DailyNKChinese manufacturers resume North Korean piecework after agreeing to 7–10% rate increase  DailyNK North Korea's Kim vows to root out 'evil', scolds lazy officials - YahooNorth Korea's Kim vows to root out 'evil', scolds lazy officials  Yahoo In North Korea, a Human Rights Crisis That Needs Urgent Attention - JAPAN ForwardIn North Korea, a Human Rights Crisis That Needs Urgent Attention  JAPAN Forward Pragmatic approach to 'END' initiative - The Korea TimesPragmatic approach to 'END' initiative  The Korea Times North Korea's Kim refers to overseas military mission at key party meeting - nhk.or.jpNorth Korea's Kim refers to overseas military mission at key party meeting  nhk.or.jp Russia sending Ukrainian children to 'harmful and abusive' camp in North Korea, says human rights group - Sky NewsRussia sending Ukrainian children to 'harmful and abusive' camp in North Korea, says human rights group  Sky News 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 says South Korea's overtures 'great miscalculation' - The HinduNorth Korea says South Korea's overtures 'great miscalculation'  The Hindu Military exercises 'critically important,' U.S. Forces Korea commander says - upi.comMilitary exercises 'critically important,' U.S. Forces Korea commander says  upi.com Prospects of US-North Korea peace talks bleak - BLiTZ - Fears None But GodProspects of US-North Korea peace talks bleak  BLiTZ - Fears None But God North Korea's omission - The Korea TimesNorth Korea's omission  The Korea Times US Sides With Russia and North Korea on UN Resolution - NewsweekUS Sides With Russia and North Korea on UN Resolution  Newsweek North Korea fires ballistic missile towards east, South Korea says - The HinduNorth Korea fires ballistic missile towards east, South Korea says  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 Korea’s Kim Jong Un lauds troops sent to fight overseas, vows to root out ‘evil’ - The Straits TimesNorth Korea’s Kim Jong Un lauds troops sent to fight overseas, vows to root out ‘evil’  The Straits Times North Korea's Kim Jong Un sends condolences to Russian embassy for ambassador's death, KCNA says - ReutersNorth Korea's Kim Jong Un sends condolences to Russian embassy for ambassador's death, KCNA says  Reuters North Korea Fires Rocket Launchers | Firstpost Spotlight - FirstpostNorth Korea Fires Rocket Launchers | Firstpost Spotlight  Firstpost 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 Crypto trading site faces $7.5M in US fines for enabling North Korean laundering - NK NewsCrypto trading site faces $7.5M in US fines for enabling North Korean laundering  NK News Kim vows to root out 'evil', hails troops as North Korea caps major meeting - CNAKim vows to root out 'evil', hails troops as North Korea caps major meeting  CNA North Korea-linked ‘EtherRAT’ backdoor used in React2Shell attacks - SC MediaNorth Korea-linked ‘EtherRAT’ backdoor used in React2Shell attacks  SC Media Lee Jae Myung’s END Strategy: Path to Progress or Dead End? - 38 NorthLee Jae Myung’s END Strategy: Path to Progress or Dead End?  38 North Trump security roadmap omits North Korea reference, raising diplomacy hopes - ReutersTrump security roadmap omits North Korea reference, raising diplomacy hopes  Reuters Russia’s Ambassador in North Korea Dies at 70 - The Moscow TimesRussia’s Ambassador in North Korea Dies at 70  The Moscow Times South Korea, US maintaining 'very close' cooperation on all North Korea-related issues: US envoy - lokmattimes.comSouth Korea, US maintaining 'very close' cooperation on all North Korea-related issues: US envoy  lokmattimes.com Will North Korea defend China in a Taiwan war? - Lowy InstituteWill North Korea defend China in a Taiwan war?  Lowy Institute Why are North and South Korea divided? - BritannicaWhy are North and South Korea divided?  Britannica N. 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