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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: 3.5 million

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

telephone system is believed to be available only to government officials and not to private individuals local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 earth station near P'yongyang, uses an Indian Ocean INTELSAT satellite; other international connections through Moscow and Beijing

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 11 televisions: 350,000 (1989)

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20%-25% of GDP (1991 est.); note - the officially announced but suspect figure is $2.2 billion (1994), about 12% of total spending KOREA, SOUTH

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 6,753,400; males fit for military service 4,094,854; males reach military age (18) annually 193,480 (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for about 25% of GDP and 36% of work force; principal crops - rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock and livestock products - cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient in grain

Budget [time series]

revenues: $19.3 billion expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s, but very little now

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 9,500,000 kW production: 50 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,053 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989)

Exports [time series]

$1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments) partners: China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$8 billion (1992 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Imports [time series]

$1.64 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods partners: China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate -7% to -9% (1992 est.)

Industries [time series]

machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA%

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power parity - $21.3 billion (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$920 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

0% (1994 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a Communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song in the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by 3%-5% annually during 1989-92 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations with the former USSR and China. In 1992, output dropped sharply, by perhaps 7%-9%, as the economy felt the cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support. The leadership insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since World War II. Output of the extractive industries includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, and a cumbersome distribution system have resulted in chronic food shortages. The collapse of Communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in 1989-91 has disrupted important technological links. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards. GDP is stagnant.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 120,540 sq km land area: 120,410 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi

Climate [time series]

temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

Coastline [time series]

2,495 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea

Irrigated land [time series]

14,000 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 1,673 km, China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 18% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 74% other: 7%

Location [time series]

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and Russia

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned

Natural resources [time series]

coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower

Note [time series]

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated

Terrain [time series]

mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Government

Abbreviation [time series]

DPRK

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)

Capital [time series]

P'yongyang

Constitution [time series]

adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

none

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: KIM Chong-il, is the son of and designated successor to former President KIM Il-song (who died 8 July 1994); formal succession has not yet taken place (January 1995); election last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA); results - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition head of government: Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992) cabinet: State Administration Council; appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

9 September 1948 note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day

Judicial branch [time series]

Central Court

Legal system [time series]

based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui): elections last held on 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: none note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country

National holiday [time series]

DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman

Suffrage [time series]

17 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

none

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30% (female 3,402,672; male 3,540,313) 15-64 years: 66% (female 7,840,465; male 7,741,155) 65 years and over: 4% (female 622,250; male 339,695) (July 1995 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

23.31 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.47 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

racially homogeneous

Infant mortality rate [time series]

26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

9.615 million by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64% note: shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

Languages [time series]

Korean

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.05 years male: 66.96 years female: 73.29 years (1995 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write Korean (1990 est.) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Population [time series]

23,486,550 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.78% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.34 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 49 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 5 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 12 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 6

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 30,000 km paved: 1,861 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 28,139 km (1992)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 87 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 727,631 GRT/1,149,291 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 70, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 3, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 note: North Korea owns an additional 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling approximately 32,405 DWT that operate under Honduran registry

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 37 km

Ports [time series]

Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

total: 4,915 km standard gauge: 4,250 km 1.435-m gauge (3,397 km electrified; 159 km double track) narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge (1989)

Korea, North