Outline of North Korea

The Flag of North Korea		The Emblem of North Korea

An enlargeable map of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

See also: Index of North Korea-related articles

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea or the DPRK,^[1] is a sovereign country located on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.^[2] To the south, separated by the Korean Demilitarized Zone, lies South Korea, with which it formed one nation until division following World War II. At its northern Amnok River border are China and, separated by the Tumen River in the extreme north-east, Russia. The capital of North Korea is the city of Pyongyang.

North Korea is widely considered to be a Stalinist dictatorship.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]} The country's government styles itself as following the Juche ideology of self reliance, developed by Kim Il-sung, the country's former leader. The current leader is Kim Jong-il, the late president Kim Il-sung's son. Relations are strongest with other officially socialist states: Vietnam, Laos, especially China and Russia, as well as with Cambodia and Myanmar. Following a major famine in the early 1990s, due partly to the collapse of the Soviet Union (previously a major economic partner), leader Kim Jong-il instigated the "Military-First" policy in 1995, increasing economic concentration and support for the military.

North Korea's culture is officially promoted and heavily controlled by the government. The Mass Games are government-organized events glorifying its two leaders, involving over 100,000 performers.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to North Korea:

General reference

An enlargeable relief map of North Korea

• Pronunciation:
• Common English country name: North Korea
• Official English country name: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea
• Common endonym(s):
• Official endonym(s):
• Adjectival(s): North Korean
• Demonym(s):
• Etymology: Name of North Korea
• ISO country codes: KP, PRK, 408
• ISO region codes: See ISO 3166-2:KP
• Internet country code top-level domain: .kp

Geography of North Korea

An enlargeable topographic map of North Korea

Main article: Geography of North Korea

• North Korea is: a country
• Location:
  • Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere
  • Eurasia
    • Asia
      • East Asia
        • Korean Peninsula
  • Time zone: Korea Standard Time (UTC+09)
  • Extreme points of North Korea
    • High: Paektu-san 2,744 m (9,003 ft)
    • Low: Sea of Japan and Yellow Sea 0 m
  • Land boundaries: 1,673 km

 China 1,416 km

 South Korea 238 km

 Russia 19 km

• Coastline: 2,495 km

• Population of North Korea: 23,790,000 - 47th most populous country
• Area of North Korea: 120,540 km²
• Atlas of North Korea

Environment of North Korea

An enlargeable satellite image of North Korea

Main article: Environment of North Korea

• Climate of North Korea
• Environmental issues in North Korea
• Ecoregions in North Korea
• Renewable energy in North Korea
• Geology of North Korea
• Protected areas of North Korea
  • Biosphere reserves in North Korea
  • National parks of North Korea
• Wildlife of North Korea
  • Flora of North Korea
  • Fauna of North Korea
    • Birds of North Korea
    • Mammals of North Korea

Natural geographic features of North Korea

Main article: Landforms of North Korea

• Islands of North Korea
• Lakes of North Korea
• Mountains of North Korea
  • Volcanoes in North Korea
• Rivers of North Korea
  • Waterfalls of North Korea
• Valleys of North Korea
• List of World Heritage Sites in North Korea

Regions of North Korea

Main article: Regions of North Korea

Ecoregions of North Korea

Main articles: List of ecoregions in North Korea and Ecoregions in North Korea

Administrative divisions of North Korea

Main article: Administrative divisions of North Korea

• First-level divisions
  • Second-level divisions
    • Third-level divisions

Provinces of North Korea

Main article: Administrative divisions of North Korea

Provinces
Special Administrative Regions
Directly-governed cities

Chagang Province (Chagang-do; 자강도; 慈江道) North Hamgyŏng Province (Hamgyŏng-pukto; 함경 북도; 咸鏡北道) South Hamgyŏng Province (Hamgyŏng-namdo; 함경 남도; 咸鏡南道) North Hwanghae Province (Hwanghae-pukto; 황해 북도; 黃海北道) South Hwanghae Province (Hwanghae-namdo; 황해 남도; 黃海南道) Kangwŏn Province (Kangwŏndo; 강원도; 江原道) North P'yŏngan Province (P'yŏngan-pukto; 평안 북도; 平安北道)

South P'yŏngan Province (P'yŏngan-namdo; 평안 남도; 平安南道) Ryanggang Province (Ryanggang-do; 량강도; 兩江道)1 Note:Sometimes also spelled as "Yanggang" in English. Kaesŏng Industrial Region (Kaesŏng Kongŏp Chigu; 개성 공업 지구; 開城工業地區) Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region (Kŭmgangsan Kwan'gwang Chigu; 금강산 관광 지구; 金剛山觀光地區) Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region (Sinŭiju T'ŭkbyŏl Haengjeonggu; 신의주 특별 행정구; 新義州特別行政區) P'yŏngyang (P'yŏngyang Chikhalsi; 평양 직할시; 平壤直轄市) Rasŏn (Rajin-Sŏnbong)(Rasŏn (Rajin-Sŏnbong) Chikhalsi; 라선 (라진-선봉) 직할시; 羅先 (羅津-先鋒) 直轄市)

Second-level administrative districts of North Korea

Main article: List of second-level administrative divisions of North Korea

Associated First-level district	City(-ies)	County(-ies)	Workers' District(s)	District(s)	Ward(s)
P'yŏngyang Directly Governed City	N/A	4 counties: Kangnam Chunghwa Sangwŏn Kangdong	N/A	N/A	19 wards
Rasŏn Directly Governed City	N/A	1 county: Sŏnbong	N/A	N/A	1 ward: Rajin
Chagang Province	3 cities: Manp'o Kanggye Hŭich'ŏn	15 counties: Changgang Chasŏng Chŏnch'ŏn Ch'osan Chunggang Hwap'yŏng Kop'ung Rangrim Ryongrim Sijung Sŏnggan Songwŏn Usi Wiwŏn	N/A	N/A	N/A
North Hamgyŏng Province	3 cities: Ch'ŏngjin Hoeryŏng Kimch'aek	12 counties: Hwasŏng Hwadae Kilchu Kyŏngsŏng Musan Myŏngch'ŏn Onsŏng Ŏrang Puryŏng Saebyŏl Ŭndŏk Yŏnsa	N/A	N/A	N/A
South Hamgyŏng Province	4 cities: Hamhŭng Hŭngnam Sinp'o Tanch'on	15 counties: Changjin Ch'ŏngp'yŏng Hamju Hŏch'ŏn Hongwŏn Kowŏn Kŭmya Pujŏn Pukch'ŏng Ragwŏn Riwŏn Sinhŭng Tŏksŏng Yŏnggwang Yodŏk	1 district: Sudong	1 worker's district: Kŭmho	N/A
North Hwanghae Province	3 cities: Sariwŏn Kaesŏng Songrim	16 counties: Changp'ung Hwangju Kaep'ung Koksan Kŭmch'ŏn Pongsan P'yŏngsan Rinsan Sin'gye* Sinp'yŏng Sŏhŭng Suan T'osan Ŭnp'a Yŏnsan Yŏntan	N/A	N/A	N/A
South Hwanghae Province	1 city: Haeju	19 counties: Anak Chaeryŏng* Changyŏn Ch'ŏngdan Kangryŏng Kwail Ongjin Paekch'ŏn Pongch'ŏn Pyŏksŏng Ryongyŏn Samch'ŏn Sinch'ŏn Sinwŏn Songhwa T'aet'an Ŭnryul Ŭnch'ŏn Yŏnan	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kangwŏn Province	2 cities: Munch'ŏn Wŏnsan	15 counties: Anbyŏn Ch'angdo Ch'ŏrwŏn Ch'ŏnnae Hoeyang Ich'ŏn Kimhwa Kosan Kosŏng Kŭmgang P'an'gyo Pŏptong P'yŏnggang Sep'o T'ongch'ŏn	N/A	N/A	N/A
North P'yŏngan Province	3 cities: Sinŭiju Chŏngju Kusŏng	22 counties: Ch'angsŏng Ch'ŏlsan Ch'ŏnma Hyangsan, Kujang Kwaksan Nyŏngbyŏn Pakch'ŏn P'ihyŏn Pyŏktong Ryongch'ŏn Sakchu Sindo Sŏnch'ŏn T'aech'ŏn Taegwan Tongch'ang Tongrim Ŭiju Unjŏn Unsan Yŏmju	N/A	N/A	N/A
South P'yŏngan Province	1 special city: Namp'o 5 cities: P'yŏngsŏng Anju Kaech'ŏn Sunch'ŏn Tŏkch'ŏn	1 district: Ch'ŏngnam	2 workers' districts: Tŭkchang Un'gok	19 counties: Chungsan Hoech'ang Maengsan Mundŏk Onch'ŏn Pukch'ang P'yŏngwŏn Sinyang Sŏngch'ŏn Sukch'ŏn Taehŭng Taedong Ŭnsan Yangdŏk	N/A
Ryanggang Province	1 city: Hyesan	11 counties: Kapsan Kimjŏngsuk Kimhyŏnggwŏn Kimhyŏngjik Paegam Poch'ŏn P'ungsŏ Samjiyŏn Samsu Taehongdan Unhŭng	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kaesŏng Industrial Region	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Municipalities of North Korea

Main article: Municipalities of North Korea

• Capital of North Korea: Pyongyang
• Cities of North Korea

Demography of North Korea

Main article: Demographics of North Korea

Government and politics of North Korea

Main article: Government of North Korea and Politics of North Korea

• Form of government:
• Capital of North Korea: Pyongyang

• Elections in North Korea
  • (specific elections)
• Political parties in North Korea
• Political scandals of North Korea
• Taxation in North Korea

Branches of the government of North Korea

Main article: Government of North Korea

Executive branch of the government of North Korea

• Head of state: President of North Korea,
• Head of government: Prime Minister of North Korea,
• Cabinet of North Korea

Legislative branch of the government of North Korea

• Parliament of North Korea (unicameral)

Judicial branch of the government of North Korea

Main article: Court system of North Korea

• Supreme Court of North Korea

Foreign relations of North Korea

Main article: Foreign relations of North Korea

• Diplomatic missions in North Korea
• Diplomatic missions of North Korea
• North Korea–South Korea relations

International organization membership

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a member of:^[2]

Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Group of 77 (G77) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Olympic Committee (IOC) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM) International Telecommunication Union (ITU) International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Nonaligned Movement (NAM) United Nations (UN) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Universal Postal Union (UPU) World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) World Health Organization (WHO) World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

North Korea is 1 of only 7 U.N. members which is not a member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Law and order in North Korea

Main article: Law of North Korea

• Capital punishment in North Korea
• Constitution of North Korea
• Crime in North Korea
• Human rights in North Korea
  • LGBT rights in North Korea
  • Freedom of religion in North Korea
• Law enforcement in North Korea

Military of North Korea

Main article: Military of North Korea

• Command
  • Commander-in-chief:
    • Ministry of Defence of North Korea
• Forces
  • Army of North Korea
  • Navy of North Korea
  • Air Force of North Korea
  • Special forces of North Korea
• Military history of North Korea
• Military ranks of North Korea

Local government in North Korea

Main article: Local government in North Korea

History of North Korea

Main article: History of North Korea, Timeline of the history of North Korea, and Current events of North Korea

• Economic history of North Korea
• Military history of North Korea

Culture of North Korea

Main article: Culture of North Korea

• Architecture of North Korea
• Cuisine of North Korea
• Languages of North Korea
• Media in North Korea
• National symbols of North Korea
  • Coat of arms of North Korea
  • Flag of North Korea
  • National anthem of North Korea
• People of North Korea
• Prostitution in North Korea
• Public holidays in North Korea
• Records of North Korea
• Religion in North Korea
  • Buddhism in North Korea
  • Christianity in North Korea
  • Hinduism in North Korea
  • Islam in North Korea
• List of World Heritage Sites in North Korea

Art in North Korea

• Art in North Korea
• Cinema of North Korea
• Literature of North Korea
• Music of North Korea
• Television in North Korea
• Theatre in North Korea

Sports in North Korea

Main article: Sports in North Korea

• Football in North Korea
• North Korea at the Olympics

Economy and infrastructure of North Korea

Main article: Economy of North Korea

• Economic rank, by nominal GDP (2007): 155th (one hundred and fifty fifth)

• Agriculture in North Korea
• Banking in North Korea
  • National Bank of North Korea
• Communications in North Korea
  • Internet in North Korea
• Companies of North Korea
• Currency of North Korea: Won
  • ISO 4217: KPW
• Economic history of North Korea
• Energy in North Korea
  • Energy policy of North Korea
  • Oil industry in North Korea
• Health care in North Korea
• Mining in North Korea
• North Korea Stock Exchange
• Tourism in North Korea
• Transport in North Korea
  • Airports in North Korea
  • Rail transport in North Korea
  • Roads in North Korea
• Water supply and sanitation in North Korea

Education in North Korea

Main article: Education in North Korea

See also

	North Korea portal
	Asia portal

Main article: North Korea

• Index of North Korea-related articles
• List of international rankings
• List of North Korea-related topics
• Member state of the United Nations
• Outline of Asia
• Outline of geography
• Outline of South Korea

References

1. ^ Another acronym occasionally used in the media is DPRNK, as for Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.
2. ^ ^{a b} "North Korea". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 2, 2009. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html. Retrieved July 23, 2009. 
3. ^ Spencer, Richard (2007-08-28). "North Korea power struggle looms". The Telegraph (online version of UK national newspaper). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/08/28/wnkorea128.xml. Retrieved 2007-10-31. "A power struggle to succeed Kim Jong-il as leader of North Korea's Stalinist dictatorship may be looming after his eldest son was reported to have returned from semi-voluntary exile." 
4. ^ Brooke, James (2003-10-02). "North Korea Says It Is Using Plutonium to Make A-Bombs". The New York Times (online version of New York, United States newspaper). http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/international/asia/02CND-KORE.html?ex=1380513600&en=a29d7f1e49aabee0&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND. Retrieved 2007-10-31. "North Korea, run by a Stalinist dictatorship for almost six decades, is largely closed to foreign reporters and it is impossible to independently check today's claims." 
5. ^ Parry, Richard Lloyd (2007-09-05). "North Korea's nuclear 'deal' leaves Japan feeling nervous". The Times (online version of UK's national newspaper of record). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2388356.ece. Retrieved 2007-10-31. "The US Government contradicted earlier North Korean claims that it had agreed to remove the Stalinist dictatorship’s designation as a terrorist state and to lift economic sanctions, as part of talks aimed at disarming Pyongyang of its nuclear weapons." 
6. ^ Walsh, Lynn (2003-02-08). "The Korean crisis". CWI online: Socialism Today, February 2003 edition, journal of the Socialist Party, CWI England and Wales. socialistworld.net, website of the committee for a worker’s international. http://socialistworld.net/eng/2003/02/08korea.html. Retrieved 2007-10-31. "Kim Jong-il's regime needs economic concessions to avoid collapse, and just as crucially needs an end to the strategic siege imposed by the US since the end of the Korean war (1950-53). Pyongyang's nuclear brinkmanship, though potentially dangerous, is driven by fear rather than by militaristic ambition. The rotten Stalinist dictatorship faces the prospect of an implosion. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, which deprived North Korea of vital economic support, the regime has consistently attempted to secure from the US a non-aggression pact, recognition of its sovereignty, and economic assistance. The US's equally consistent refusal to enter into direct negotiations with North Korea, effectively ruling out a peace treaty to formally close the 1950-53 Korean war, has encouraged the regime to resort to nuclear blackmail." 
7. ^ Oakley, Corey (October 2006). "US is threat to peace not North Korea". Edition 109 - October–November 2006. Socialist Alternative website in Australia. http://www.sa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=333&Itemid=106. Retrieved 2007-10-31. "In this context, the constant attempts by the Western press to paint Kim Jong Il as simply a raving lunatic look, well, mad. There is no denying that the regime he presides over is a nasty Stalinist dictatorship that brutally oppresses its own population. But in the face of constant threats from the US, Pyongyang's actions have a definite rationality from the regime's point of view." 
8. ^ Baruma, Ian. "Leader Article: Let The Music Play On". The Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Let_The_Music_Play_On/articleshow/2859521.cms. Retrieved 2008-03-27. "North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is one of the world's most oppressive, closed, and vicious dictatorships. It is perhaps the last living example of pure totalitarianism — control of the state over every aspect of human life. Is such a place the right venue for a western orchestra? Can one imagine the New York Philharmonic, which performed to great acclaim in Pyongyang, entertaining Stalin or Hitler?" 

External links

Wikimedia Atlas of North Korea

• Official Website of the DPR Korea
• Official Website of the DPR Korea in Switzerland
• North Korea Uncovered, (North Korea Google Earth) Comprehensive mapping on Google Earth of the DPRK's political and economic infrastructure, including railways, hotels, factories, military facilities, tourist destinations, cultural facilities, ports, communications, and electricity grid.
• KCNA - Korean Central News Agency, the official news agency of the DPRK
• Naenara - ("My country") DPRK's Official Web Portal run by Korea Computer Company
• Outline of North Korea at the Open Directory Project