Korea, North

Korea, North (official name Democratic People's Republic of Korea) A north-east Asian country. Consisting of the northern half of the Korean peninsula, mostly above the 38th parallel, North Korea was formed from the zone occupied by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. It borders to the south with South Korea and to the north with the People's Republic of China.

Physical

North Korea is largely mountainous with narrow valleys, extensive forests, and rivers which freeze in winter.

Economy

North Korea is rich in metal deposits such as iron ore, magnesite, phosphate, sulphur, zinc, and copper, which are major exports. 90% of cultivated land is owned by cooperatives producing the principal crops of rice, maize, and potatoes. The main trading partners have been the former Soviet Union and China; North Korea received substantial aid from the former. It is believed that over a quarter of GNP is spent on the armed forces, which are thought to be amongst the world's largest.

History

The Democratic People's Republic was proclaimed an independent state on 1 May 1948. Intent on reuniting Korea, North Korea launched a surprise attack on South KOREA in June 1950, suffering considerable damage and loss of life in the following three years of the indecisive KOREAN WAR. After the war, the ruling communist party of KIM IL SUNG (first President of North Korea) undertook a programme of reconstruction, using the country's mineral and power resources to finance economic development. From the early 1980s, however, the economy was stagnant and then in decline. This was a factor in the decision in 1985 to hold a series of economic talks with South Korea, after the many years of tension. The result was a marked upturn in trade between the two countries ($25 million in 1990 to $192 million in 1991). Kim Il Sung was re-elected in 1990; he supported a policy of seeking ‘normalization’ with South Korea, but not of reunification. Talks between respective premiers began in September 1990 and continued into 1992, when an economic agreement was signed. Tensions flared again in 1994 when North Korea refused to allow international inspectors to examine its nuclear reactors, amid allegations that it was building nuclear weapons. Following US intervention, North Korea agreed to inspections of its nuclear sites, but disputes between the two Koreas continued. Kim Jong Il (1942– ) succeeded his father as President in 1995. From 1995 to 1997 the country was hit by floods and famine.

Capital:	Pyongyang
Area:	122,400 sq km (47,300 sq miles)
Population:	21,234,000 (1998 est)
Currency:	1 won = 100 chon
Religions:	Atheist or non-religious 67.9%; traditional beliefs 15.6%; Ch'ondogyo 13.9%; Buddhist 1.7%; Christian 0.9%
Ethnic Groups:	Korean 99.8%; Chinese 0.2%
Languages:	Korean (official); Chinese
International Organizations:	UN