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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- FirstpostIs North Korea is ‘executing’ children for watching Squid Game, listening to K-pop?  Firstpost New poll shows strong support for peace with North Korea & dialogue with China - American Friends Service CommitteeNew poll shows strong support for peace with North Korea & dialogue with China  American Friends Service Committee Belarus shipped tons of meat to North Korea with help of Polish firm: Report - NK NewsBelarus shipped tons of meat to North Korea with help of Polish firm: Report  NK News Ukraine has legal obligation not to repatriate North Korean POWs: UN envoy - NK NewsUkraine has legal obligation not to repatriate North Korean POWs: UN envoy  NK News North Korea: People 'executed for watching South Korean TV', bribery to escape punishment widespread - Amnesty InternationalNorth Korea: People 'executed for watching South Korean TV', bribery to escape punishment widespread  Amnesty International North, South Korea in 'very dangerous' standoff: Yonhap quotes President Lee saying - thehindu.comNorth, South Korea in 'very dangerous' standoff: Yonhap quotes President Lee saying  thehindu.com North Korea to hold 9th Workers’ Party Congress in late February - The News InternationalNorth Korea to hold 9th Workers’ Party Congress in late February  The News International North Korea Launches Missile Test Amid Rising Tensions - Evrim AgaciNorth Korea Launches Missile Test Amid Rising Tensions  Evrim Agaci Across The River A Forbidden Faith: One South Korean’s Mission To Reach The North - Religion UnpluggedAcross The River A Forbidden Faith: One South Korean’s Mission To Reach The North  Religion Unplugged North Korea fires missiles towards sea as South Korean leader visits China - Al JazeeraNorth Korea fires missiles towards sea as South Korean leader visits China  Al Jazeera North Korea appears to give veiled response to human rights lawsuit in Japan - NK NewsNorth Korea appears to give veiled response to human rights lawsuit in Japan  NK News Hope for thaw? Seoul hints at ‘new progress’ in US-North Korea ties - South China Morning PostHope for thaw? 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Poor North Koreans face harsher penalties for watching K-dramas: Report - NK NewsPoor North Koreans face harsher penalties for watching K-dramas: Report  NK News North Korea to hold party congress later this month: KCNA - The Korea HeraldNorth Korea to hold party congress later this month: KCNA  The Korea Herald UN Security Council to grant sanctions exemption for humanitarian aid to North Korea: Source - Korea JoongAng DailyUN Security Council to grant sanctions exemption for humanitarian aid to North Korea: Source  Korea JoongAng Daily North Korea Announces 9th Workers’ Party Congress in Late February 2026 - ????North Korea Announces 9th Workers’ Party Congress in Late February 2026  ???? N. Korea to convene key party congress in late February - The Korea HeraldN. 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Korea - The Korea TimesTrump administration grants sanctions relief for humanitarian aid to N. Korea  The Korea Times North Korea’s Kim fires vice premier, calls him ‘a goat yoked to pull an ox cart’ - cnn.comNorth Korea’s Kim fires vice premier, calls him ‘a goat yoked to pull an ox cart’  cnn.com Kim expected to issue major policy goals at North Korea party congress in late February - Toronto StarKim expected to issue major policy goals at North Korea party congress in late February  Toronto Star North Korea's Kim purges vice premier, slams ‘incompetent’ officials - France 24North Korea's Kim purges vice premier, slams ‘incompetent’ officials  France 24 In rare blunder, North Korean newspaper publishes same photo twice in one issue - NK NewsIn rare blunder, North Korean newspaper publishes same photo twice in one issue  NK News Cheong Wa Dae hopes for N. Korea's response after UN decides to exempt sanctions on humanitarian aid - The Korea TimesCheong Wa Dae hopes for N. Korea's response after UN decides to exempt sanctions on humanitarian aid  The Korea Times North Korea’s Two Koreas Policy and Prospects of Inter-Korean Relations - East-West CenterNorth Korea’s Two Koreas Policy and Prospects of Inter-Korean Relations  East-West Center North expected to open 9th Congress soon amid speculation over Kim Jong-un adopting 'president' title - Korea JoongAng DailyNorth expected to open 9th Congress soon amid speculation over Kim Jong-un adopting 'president' title  Korea JoongAng Daily Tokyo court finds North Korea’s “Paradise on Earth” survivors were misled - Lowy InstituteTokyo court finds North Korea’s “Paradise on Earth” survivors were misled  Lowy Institute South Korea proposes talks with North Korea on military demarcation line - Al JazeeraSouth Korea proposes talks with North Korea on military demarcation line  Al Jazeera North Korea to convene ruling party congress in late February - nhk.or.jpNorth Korea to convene ruling party congress in late February  nhk.or.jp North Korea Takes Its Place at “Eurasian Charter” Table - 38 NorthNorth Korea Takes Its Place at “Eurasian Charter” Table  38 North 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 Assessing the Impact of the US’ New Foreign Policy Approach on North Korea’s Arms Trafficking Activity - 38 NorthAssessing the Impact of the US’ New Foreign Policy Approach on North Korea’s Arms Trafficking Activity  38 North N Korea’s Kim oversees hypersonic missile tests, cites geopolitical crisis - Al JazeeraN Korea’s Kim oversees hypersonic missile tests, cites geopolitical crisis  Al Jazeera Previewing North Korea’s Grand Strategy for 2026 - The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs MagazinePreviewing North Korea’s Grand Strategy for 2026  The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific Current Affairs Magazine Why North Korea is modernising its conventional arsenal - Lowy InstituteWhy North Korea is modernising its conventional arsenal  Lowy Institute A new start for Pyongyang? Fears mount as US-Russia nuclear pact expires - South China Morning PostA new start for Pyongyang? Fears mount as US-Russia nuclear pact expires  South China Morning Post North Korea's Kim shakes up security detail amid 'decapitation' fears - Euronews.comNorth Korea's Kim shakes up security detail amid 'decapitation' fears  Euronews.com North Korea to hold party congress in February, first since 2021 - The Straits TimesNorth Korea to hold party congress in February, first since 2021  The Straits Times North Korea sits out Winter Olympics as it holds own national games - The IndependentNorth Korea sits out Winter Olympics as it holds own national games  The Independent North Korea-Belarus Trade: Meat for Automotive Parts - ????North Korea-Belarus Trade: Meat for Automotive Parts  ???? 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