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Profile of North Korea

by Amy Zalman, Ph.D.
for About.com

North Korea map

North Korea

CIA World Factbook

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

Location:

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea.

Population:

23,113,019 (July 2006 est.)

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

Government:

Chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994)

Note - on 3 September 2003, 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 president of its Presidium also with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials; SPA appointed PAK Pong Ju premier head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 3 September 2003); Vice Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun (since 3 September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)

Cabinet: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA

Elections: last held in September 2003 (next to be held in September 2008)

Election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees for positions and ran unopposed.

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