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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North Korea Steps up Reporting on People’s Livelihoods, Hints Party Congress To Provide More Detailed Economic Plan - 38 NorthNorth Korea Steps up Reporting on People’s Livelihoods, Hints Party Congress To Provide More Detailed Economic Plan  38 North North Korea’s Kim slams US-Seoul nuclear submarine deal as ‘offensive act’ - Al JazeeraNorth Korea’s Kim slams US-Seoul nuclear submarine deal as ‘offensive act’  Al Jazeera North Korea searches for a path out of international isolation - East Asia ForumNorth Korea searches for a path out of international isolation  East Asia Forum North Korea Resumes Criticism of the US While Moderating Rhetoric, Accelerates Exchanges With China - 38 NorthNorth Korea Resumes Criticism of the US While Moderating Rhetoric, Accelerates Exchanges With China  38 North Pyongyang fires ballistic missiles as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung makes state visit to China - CNNPyongyang fires ballistic missiles as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung makes state visit to China  CNN North Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles - NBC NewsNorth Korea says it tested long-range cruise missiles  NBC News North Korea launches missiles toward sea ahead of South Korean leader's visit to China - NBC NewsNorth Korea launches missiles toward sea ahead of South Korean leader's visit to China  NBC News North Korea's Kim Yo Jong says South's hopes for better relations are an illusion - ReutersNorth Korea's Kim Yo Jong says South's hopes for better relations are an illusion  Reuters North, South Korea in 'very dangerous' standoff: Yonhap quotes President Lee saying - The HinduNorth, South Korea in 'very dangerous' standoff: Yonhap quotes President Lee saying  The Hindu More than 40 countries impacted by North Korea IT worker scams, crypto thefts - The Record from Recorded Future NewsMore than 40 countries impacted by North Korea IT worker scams, crypto thefts  The Record from Recorded Future News What’s next for North Korea-Venezuela ties after Maduro’s capture - NK NewsWhat’s next for North Korea-Venezuela ties after Maduro’s capture  NK News Investors in inter-Korean projects call for Seoul to lift North Korea sanctions - NK NewsInvestors in inter-Korean projects call for Seoul to lift North Korea sanctions  NK News North Korea-linked hackers weaponize Google ads in malware campaign - CybernewsNorth Korea-linked hackers weaponize Google ads in malware campaign  Cybernews South Korea's new president changes tactics on North Korea - dw.comSouth Korea's new president changes tactics on North Korea  dw.com China-North Korea trade grows after countries' leaders agreed to bolster ties - nhk.or.jpChina-North Korea trade grows after countries' leaders agreed to bolster ties  nhk.or.jp Kim Jong-un hails North Korea’s ‘invincible alliance’ with Russia in New Year’s message - The GuardianKim Jong-un hails North Korea’s ‘invincible alliance’ with Russia in New Year’s message  The Guardian Iran edges towards North Korea model internet amid protests - The New ArabIran edges towards North Korea model internet amid protests  The New Arab Over 100K South Koreans separated from family in North Korea have died: Data - NK NewsOver 100K South Koreans separated from family in North Korea have died: Data  NK News South Korean president urges China to mediate with North Korea - Anadolu AjansiSouth Korean president urges China to mediate with North Korea  Anadolu Ajansi North Korea’s Kim oversees test launch of long-range cruise missiles - Al JazeeraNorth Korea’s Kim oversees test launch of long-range cruise missiles  Al Jazeera Washington Post: Trump Administration De Facto Acknowledges North Korea's Nuclear Status - ????Washington Post: Trump Administration De Facto Acknowledges North Korea's Nuclear Status  ???? 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