East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Korea, North

- Introduction :: Korea, North
- Background:

  An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in 2010.

  Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has since occupied the regime's highest political and military posts. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has faced chronic food shortages. In recent years, the North's domestic agricultural production has increased, but still falls far short of producing sufficient food to provide for its entire population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but has made few other efforts to meet its goal of improving the overall standard of living. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community and have limited the DPRK's international engagement, particularly economically. In 2013, the DPRK declared a policy of simultaneous development of its nuclear weapons program and economy. In 2018, KIM Jong Un declared the North's nuclear weapons development complete, announced economic development as a leading priority, and increased diplomatic engagement.

  NORTH KOREA SUMMARY: PDF
- Geography :: Korea, North
- Location:
  Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
  Geographic coordinates:
  40 00 N, 127 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 120,538 sq km
  land: 120,408 sq km
  water: 130 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 100
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi
  Area comparison map:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Korea, North Print
  Image Description

  slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi

  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,607 km
  border countries (3): China 1352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km
  Coastline:
  2,495 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  note: 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

  Climate:
  temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters
  Terrain:
  mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east
  Elevation:
  mean elevation: 600 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Sea of Japan
  2744 highest point: Paektu-san
  Natural resources:
  coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 21.8% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 19.5% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.9% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0.4% (2011 est.)
  forest: 46% (2011 est.)
  other: 32.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  14,600 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution:
  population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east
  Natural hazards:

  late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

  volcanism: Changbaishan (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active

  Environment - current issues:
  water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
  signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
  Geography - note:
  strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
- People and Society :: Korea, North
- Population:
  25,381,085 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Nationality:
  noun: Korean(s)
  adjective: Korean
  Ethnic groups:
  racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
  Languages:
  Korean
  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

  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 20.65% (male 2,669,357 /female 2,571,195)
  15-24 years: 15.35% (male 1,959,440 /female 1,935,607)
  25-54 years: 44.17% (male 5,627,175 /female 5,583,008)
  55-64 years: 10.34% (male 1,241,473 /female 1,383,444)
  65 years and over: 9.5% (male 826,101 /female 1,584,285) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Korea, North Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Korea, North. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 44.5 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 30.5 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 14 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 34.2 years
  male: 32.7 years
  female: 35.8 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Population growth rate:
  0.52% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Birth rate:
  14.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Death rate:
  9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Population distribution:
  population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 61.9% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.82% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  3.038 million PYONGYANG (capital) (2018)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  82 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 79
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 23.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 71 years (2018 est.)
  male: 67.2 years (2018 est.)
  female: 75 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Total fertility rate:
  1.94 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  78.2% (2014)

  note: percent of women aged 20-49

  Physicians density:
  3.51 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
  Hospital bed density:
  13.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved: urban: 99.9% of population
  rural: 99.4% of population
  total: 99.7% of population
  unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
  rural: 0.6% of population
  total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved: urban: 87.9% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 72.5% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 81.9% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 12.1% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 27.5% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 18.1% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  6.8% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  15.2% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 100% (2015 est.)
  male: 100% (2015 est.)
  female: 100% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 11 years (2015)
  male: 11 years (2015)
  female: 11 years (2015)
- Government :: Korea, North
- 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
  etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the North Korean name "Choson" means "[Land of the] Morning Calm"
  Government type:
  dictactorship, single-party state; official state ideology of "Juche" or "national self-reliance
  Capital:
  name: Pyongyang
  geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
  time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

  note: on 5 May 2018, North Korea reverted to UTC+9, the same time zone as South Korea

  Administrative divisions:

  9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 cities (si, singular and plural)

  provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ryanggang;

  cities: Namp'o, P'yongyang, Rason

  note: Namp'o is sometimes designated as a metropolitan city, P'yongyang as a directly controlled city, and Rason as a city

  Independence:
  15 August 1945 (from Japan)
  National holiday:
  Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
  Constitution:
  history: previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998 (during KIM Jong Il era) (2018)
  amendments: proposed by the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA); passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the total SPA membership; revised 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016 (2019)
  Legal system:
  civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: no
  citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea
  dual citizenship recognized: no
  residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
  Suffrage:
  17 years of age; universal and compulsory
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of one judge and 2 "People's Assessors" or, for some cases, 3 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme People's Assembly for 5-year terms
  subordinate courts: lower provincial courts as determined by the Supreme People's Assembly
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Supreme People's Assembly President KIM Yong Nam (since 5 September 1998); note - functions as the technical head of state and performs related duties, such as receiving ambassadors' credentials
  head of government: State Affairs Commission Chairman KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011); note - functions as the commander-in-chief and chief executive
  cabinet: Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly except the Minister of People's Armed Forces
  elections/appointments: chief of state and premier indirectly elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held on 9 March 2014 (next election NA)
  election results: KIM Jong Un reelected unopposed

  note: the Korean Workers' Party continues to list deceased leaders KIM Il Sung and KIM Jong Il as Eternal President and Eternal General Secretary respectively

  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Korean Workers' Party selects all candidates
  elections: last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KWP 607, KSDP 50, Chondoist Chongu Party 22, General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) 5, religious associations 3; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; composition - men 575, women 112, percent of women 16.3%
  note: KWP, KSDP, Chondoist Chongu Party, and Chongryon are under the KWP's control; a token number of seats reserved for minor parties
  Political parties and leaders:
  major parties:
  Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un];
  General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon)
  minor parties:
  Chondoist Chongu Party (under KWP control)
  Social Democratic Party or KSDP [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)
  International organization participation:
  ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), 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; the broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow white bands stand for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism
  National symbol(s):
  red star, chollima (winged horse); national colors: red, white, blue
  National anthem:
  name: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song)
  lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun

  note: adopted 1947; both North Korea's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as "Ach'imun pinnara" (Let Morning Shine)

- Economy :: Korea, North
- Economy - overview:

  North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending and development of its ballistic missile and nuclear program severely draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power outputs have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel.

  The mid 1990s through mid-2000s were marked by severe famine and widespread starvation. Significant food aid was provided by the international community through 2009. Since that time, food assistance has declined significantly. In the last few years, domestic corn and rice production has improved, although domestic production does not fully satisfy demand. A large portion of the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed semi-private markets to begin selling a wider range of goods, allowing North Koreans to partially make up for diminished public distribution system rations. It also implemented changes in the management process of communal farms in an effort to boost agricultural output.

  In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, South Korea’s government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities. In February 2016, South Korea ceased its remaining bilateral economic activity by closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test a month earlier. This nuclear test and another in September 2016 resulted in two United Nations Security Council Resolutions that targeted North Korea’s foreign currency earnings, particularly coal and other mineral exports. Throughout 2017, North Korea’s continued nuclear and missile tests led to a tightening of UN sanctions, resulting in full sectoral bans on DPRK exports and drastically limited key imports. Over the last decade, China has been North Korea’s primary trading partner.

  The North Korean Government continues to stress its goal of improving the overall standard of living, but has taken few steps to make that goal a reality for its populace. In 2016, the regime used two mass mobilizations — one totaling 70 days and another 200 days — to spur the population to increase production and complete construction projects quickly. The regime released a five-year economic development strategy in May 2016 that outlined plans for promoting growth across sectors. Firm political control remains the government’s overriding concern, which likely will inhibit formal changes to North Korea’s current economic system.

  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $40 billion (2015 est.)
  $40 billion (2014 est.)
  $40 billion (2013 est.)

  note: data are in 2015 US dollars
  North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2015 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion.

  country comparison to the world: 117
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $28 billion (2013 est.) (2013 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -1.1% (2015 est.)
  1% (2014 est.)
  1.1% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $1,700 (2015 est.)
  $1,800 (2014 est.)
  $1,800 (2013 est.)

  note: data are in 2015 US dollars

  country comparison to the world: 214
  Gross national saving:

  NA

  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: NA (2014 est.)
  government consumption: NA (2014 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: NA (2014 est.)
  investment in inventories: NA (2014 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 5.9% (2016 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -11.1% (2016 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 22.5% (2017 est.)
  industry: 47.6% (2017 est.)
  services: 29.9% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, soybeans, pulses, beef, pork, eggs, fruit, nuts
  Industries:
  military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
  Industrial production growth rate:
  1% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Labor force:
  14 million (2014 est.)

  note: estimates vary widely

  country comparison to the world: 41
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 37%
  industry: 63% (2008 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  25.6% (2013 est.)
  25.5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Population below poverty line:
  NA
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA
  highest 10%: NA
  Budget:
  revenues: 3.2 billion (2007 est.)
  expenditures: 3.3 billion (2007 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  11.4% (of GDP) (2007 est.)

  note: excludes earnings from state-operated enterprises

  country comparison to the world: 209
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -0.4% (of GDP) (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):

  NA

  Exports:
  $45.82 billion (2017 est.)
  $2.908 billion (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Exports - partners:
  China 86.3% (2017)
  Exports - commodities:
  minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products
  Imports:
  $43.75 billion (2018 est.)
  $3.86 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Imports - commodities:
  petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
  Imports - partners:
  China 91.9% (2017)
  Debt - external:
  $5 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $1.878 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  $1.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Exchange rates:
  North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (average market rate)
  135 (2017 est.)
  130 (2016 est.)
  130 (2015 est.)
  98.5 (2013 est.)
  155.5 (2012 est.)
- Energy :: Korea, North
- Electricity access:
  population without electricity: 18.4 million (2013)
  electrification - total population: 30% (2013)
  electrification - urban areas: 41% (2013)
  electrification - rural areas: 13% (2013)
  Electricity - production:
  16.57 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Electricity - consumption:
  13.89 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  10.01 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  45% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  55% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Crude oil - imports:
  10,640 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  11,270 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 99
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 145
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  8,260 bbl/day (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 151
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  27.83 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
- Communications :: Korea, North
- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.18 million (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total subscriptions: 3.606 million (July 2016 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanded beyond Pyongyang; infrastructure underdeveloped yet growing mobile penetration by means of foreign investment; low broadband penetration; mobile penetration in North Korea believed to stay well below other Asian nations due to govt. restrictions; 3G network depolyed among universal population coverage (2017)
  domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; mobile service launched in late 2008 for the Pyongyang area and considerable progress in expanding to other parts of the country since; fixed-line 5 per 100 and mobile-cellular 14 per 100 subscriptions (2017)
  international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2015)
  Broadcast media:
  no independent media; radios and TVs are pre-tuned to government stations; 4 government-owned TV stations; the Korean Workers' Party owns and operates the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, and the state-run Voice of Korea operates an external broadcast service; the government prohibits listening to and jams foreign broadcasts (2015)
  Internet country code:
  .kp
- Transportation :: Korea, North
- National air transport system:
  number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 223,418 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,574,719 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
  P (2016)
  Airports:
  82 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 39 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 3 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)
  under 914 m: 4 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 43 (2013)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 15 (2013)
  under 914 m: 8 (2013)
  Heliports:
  23 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  6 km oil (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 7,435 km (2014)
  standard gauge: 7,435 km 1.435-m gauge (5,400 km electrified) (2014)

  note: figures are approximate; some narrow-gauge railway also exists

  country comparison to the world: 29
  Roadways:
  total: 25,554 km (2006)
  paved: 724 km (2006)
  unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Waterways:
  2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 37
  Merchant marine:
  total: 248 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 6, container ship 3, general cargo 184, oil tanker 25, other 30 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 61
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Namp'o, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan
- Military and Security :: Korea, North
- Military branches:
  Korean People's Army (KPA): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2018)
  Military service age and obligation:
  17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2017)
- Transnational Issues :: Korea, North
- Disputes - international:
  risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppressionNorth Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen RiversMilitary Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundaryNorth Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  IDPs: undetermined (periodic flooding and famine during mid-1990s) (2017)
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; many North Korean workers recruited to work abroad under bilateral contracts with foreign governments, most often Russia and China, are subjected to forced labor and do not have a choice in the work the government assigns them, are not free to change jobs, and face government reprisals if they try to escape or complain to outsiders; tens of thousands of North Koreans, including children, held in prison camps are subjected to forced labor, including logging, mining, and farming; many North Korean women and girls, lured by promises of food, jobs, and freedom, have migrated to China illegally to escape poor social and economic conditions only to be forced into prostitution, domestic service, or agricultural work through forced marriages
  tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government continued to participate in human trafficking through its use of domestic forced labor camps and the provision of forced labor to foreign governments through bilateral contracts; officials did not demonstrate any efforts to address human trafficking through prosecution, protection, or prevention measures; no known investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of trafficking offenders or officials complicit in trafficking-related offenses were conducted; the government also made no efforts to identify or protect trafficking victims and did not permit NGOs to assist victims (2015)
  Illicit drugs:
  at present there is insufficient information to determine the current level of involvement of government officials in the production or trafficking of illicit drugs, but for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine