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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ABC NewsNorth Korea accuses South of 'serious provocation' over border warning shots  ABC News North Korea says South Korea's overtures 'great miscalculation' - The HinduNorth Korea says South Korea's overtures 'great miscalculation'  The Hindu North Korea dismisses South Korean president's 'gibberish' ahead of US summit - ReutersNorth Korea dismisses South Korean president's 'gibberish' ahead of US summit  Reuters North Korea says Trump must accept new nuclear reality - The HinduNorth Korea says Trump must accept new nuclear reality  The Hindu North Korea says it has ‘no interest’ in dialogue with South Korea - Al JazeeraNorth Korea says it has ‘no interest’ in dialogue with South Korea  Al Jazeera 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 decorates soldiers from Russia, consoles children with hugs - ReutersNorth Korea's Kim decorates soldiers from Russia, consoles children with hugs  Reuters Kim Jong Un acknowledges Ukraine war losses at ceremony for fallen soldiers - 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Korea installs 2 additional loudspeakers along border - Latest news from AzerbaijanSeoul says N. Korea installs 2 additional loudspeakers along border  Latest news from Azerbaijan South Korea’s Lee to urge US-North Korea talks at Trump summit - The Spokesman-ReviewSouth Korea’s Lee to urge US-North Korea talks at Trump summit  The Spokesman-Review With new weapons, cash and battleground experience from Ukraine, North Korea has become much more formidable - The ConversationWith new weapons, cash and battleground experience from Ukraine, North Korea has become much more formidable  The Conversation Ex-North Korean soldier, 95, appeals to return after decades in South - NK NewsEx-North Korean soldier, 95, appeals to return after decades in South  NK News South Korea-US drills trigger Kim Jong-un to vow nuclear force boost - Euronews.comSouth Korea-US drills trigger Kim Jong-un to vow nuclear force boost  Euronews.com Coinbase CEO says he's mandating in-person orientation to combat North Korean hackers seeking remote jobs - Business InsiderCoinbase CEO says he's mandating in-person orientation to combat North Korean hackers seeking remote jobs  Business Insider North Korea confirms over 100 dead troops from Ukraine war at Pyongyang ceremony - NK NewsNorth Korea confirms over 100 dead troops from Ukraine war at Pyongyang ceremony  NK News North Korean military officials return from fighting in Russia’s war on Ukraine - NK NewsNorth Korean military officials return from fighting in Russia’s war on Ukraine  NK News North Korean leader slams South Korea-US military drills while inspecting his most powerful warship - ABC NewsNorth Korean leader slams South Korea-US military drills while inspecting his most powerful warship  ABC News Exclusive | North Korea Has a Secret Long-Range Missile Base Near Chinese Border, Report Says - The Wall Street JournalExclusive | North Korea Has a Secret Long-Range Missile Base Near Chinese Border, Report Says  The Wall Street Journal Coinbase Tightens Workforce Security After North Korea Remote Worker Threats - CointelegraphCoinbase Tightens Workforce Security After North Korea Remote Worker Threats  Cointelegraph Kim Jong Un's sister says South Korea will never be a diplomatic partner - upi.comKim Jong Un's sister says South Korea will never be a diplomatic partner  upi.com North Korea says South Korea troops fired warning shots near border - CNANorth Korea says South Korea troops fired warning shots near border  CNA Kim Jong-un welcomes soldiers back home from fighting for Russia - Euronews.comKim Jong-un welcomes soldiers back home from fighting for Russia  Euronews.com Kim’s sister says North Korea will never see the South as a diplomatic partner - AP NewsKim’s sister says North Korea will never see the South as a diplomatic partner  AP News North Korea Rejects Seoul's Peace Bid: Kim Yo Jong Calls It a ‘Great Miscalculation’ - Deccan HeraldNorth Korea Rejects Seoul's Peace Bid: Kim Yo Jong Calls It a ‘Great Miscalculation’  Deccan Herald North Korea accuses South Korea of firing warning shots at its troops in border area this week - Korea JoongAng DailyNorth Korea accuses South Korea of firing warning shots at its troops in border area this week  Korea JoongAng Daily ROK military blocks unconverted POW from crossing into North Korea - NK NewsROK military blocks unconverted POW from crossing into North Korea  NK News Kim Jong-un builds destroyers his grandfather never could – to what ends? 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