North Korea Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

North Korea – country information

Country name	North Korea
Official name	Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Capital	Pyongyang
Continent	Asia
Area	120,538 km²
Population	24,895,000 (2013)
Foundation of a state	8/15/1945
The highest mountains	Pektusan 2744 m
Longest rivers	Amnokgang (Jalu) 790 km
State system	a republic with a one-party system of government
The biggest cities	Pyongyang (capital) 3,250,000, Hamhung 950,000, Chongjin 875,000
Official language	Korean
Ethnicity/National Composition	Korean 99.8%, Chinese 0.2%
Religious affiliation	atheists 70%, Chondogyo 15%, traditional faith 13%, Buddhists 1.5%, Christians 0.5%
Currency	1 won (W) = 100 won
Average life expectancy of the population	71.65 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 32%, mining and industry 30%, construction 8%, services 30%

North Korea – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
China	Peking	9,640,820 km²	1,363,350,000
South Korea	Seoul	99,538 km²	50,219,669
Russia	Moscow	17,098,200 km²	143,700,000

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, communist North Korea occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in northeastern Asia. More than a third of the nation, which was divided after World War II, lives here.

Country data

Location: Osatasia

Time zone: CET + 7.5 (during summer time: CET + 6.5)

Total area: 120,538 km²

Land area: 120,408 km²

Water area: 130 km²

Length of the state border: 1,672 km

Bordering countries:
China: 1,416 km
Russian Federation: 18 km
South Korea: 238 km

Coastline: 2,495 km

Capital: Pyongyang

Provinces: 11
Chagang-do, Hamgyong-bukto, Hamgyong-namdo, Hwanghae-bukto, Hwanghae-namdo, Kangwon-do, Nason-si, P’yongan-bukto, P’yongan-namdo, P’yongyang-si, Yanggang -do

Electric current: 110, 220 V / 60 Hz

Telephone code: 00 850 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Paektu 2,744 m

Population

Population: approx. 25 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.5% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 207

Life expectancy: 66 (male), 74 (female)

Official language: Korean

Religions: Buddhists, Christians, others

Climate

The climate in North Korea is almost the same as in Central Europe.

The summer months are warm and humid. Most of the rain falls at this time of year, with temperatures around 25 ° C.

In winter it is dry and there is occasional snow at temperatures down to -10 ° C.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Won (KPW)

Division: 1 won = 100 chon

ATMs: are not available.

International credit cards: Very rarely accepted in some tourist hotels.

Regulations: Foreign currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. There is an obligation to declare.

The import and export of the local currency is prohibited.

All purchase receipts should be retained until departure.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

200 cigarettes or 250 g tobacco
1 liter of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Since there are seldom goods to buy, you should bring all the items you need with you when you arrive.

Expensive electrical appliances (laptops, cameras, TV sets, etc.) must be declared upon entry.

Travel advice

All tourists are constantly accompanied by an interpreter or control person.

Spontaneous individual excursions are not possible.

The population is prohibited from uncontrolled contact with local residents under threat of punishment.

Power and water failures and deficiencies in the supply of goods must always be expected.

Economy

North Korea’s tightly centralized planned economy is geared towards self-sufficiency. All major major industries are in state hands and are controlled by the country’s leadership elite.

Although a large part of the population works in agriculture, the yields are not sufficient for self-sufficiency.

Due to the abundant natural resources, a strong industry in the mining and processing area could develop.

Industries: mining, chemistry, power generation, food production, mechanical engineering, metal processing, military industry, textiles

Natural resources: lead, iron ore, gold, graphite, coal, copper, magnesium, molybdenum, salt, hydropower, tungsten, zinc

Land use: