North Korea
Korea, North, officially
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, country in northeastern Asia that occupies the
northern portion of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea is bounded on the north by China, on
the northeast by Russia, on the east by the East Sea (Sea of Japan), on the south by South
Korea, and on the west by the Yellow Sea. It has an area of 120,538 sq km (46,540 sq mi).
The state of North Korea was established in 1948 as a result of the postWorld War II-
Soviet military occupation of the northern portion of the peninsula. The capital and
largest city of North Korea is P’yongyang.
North Korea is extremely
mountainous and marked by deep, narrow valleys. A complex system of ranges and spurs
extends across the country in a generally northeastern to southwestern direction. The most
prominent mountain range is the Nangnim-sanmaek, in the north central region. Mount Paektu
(2744 m/9003 ft), on the Chinese border, is the highest peak. Lowland plains comprise only
about one-fifth of the total area and are largely confined to the country’s western
coast and to the several broad river valleys of the west. Fertile alluvial soils are found
in these river valleys. Most of the soils in the mountainous regions lack organic material
and are relatively infertile. Nearly all the major rivers rise in the mountains and flow
west to the Yellow Sea. The longest river, the Yalu, forms part of the border with China.
Other streams include the Taedong, Ch’ong-ch’on, and Chaeryong rivers. Of the
major rivers only the Tumen flows to the eastern coast to empty into the East Sea.
North Korea has a
continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. The average July temperature at
P’yongyang is 24.4° C (76° F). Winter temperatures at Wonsan in the south average
-3.9.° C (25° F) but are considerably lower in the north. Annual precipitation in most
parts of the country is about 1000 mm (about 40 in) and is concentrated in the summer
months.
Extensive coniferous forests are found in the country’s mountainous interior.
Predominant species include spruce, pine, larch, fir, and cedar. The lowland areas of the
west have been deforested and are under cultivation. Because of deforestation, large
indigenous mammals of North Korea, which include leopards, tigers, deer, bears, and
wolves, are becoming increasingly rare, and are confined to remote forested regions.
Birdlife includes crane, heron, eagle, and snipe.
North Korea is one of the richer nations in Asia in terms of mineral resources. Major
reserves are found of coal, iron ore, tungsten, magnesite, and graphite. Among the other
minerals present are gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, and molybdenum.
North Korea has a
strongly centralized socialist government. The government’s structure is set forth in
the constitution promulgated in 1972, which replaced that of 1948. The constitution was
revised in 1992.
Executive power in North Korea is vested in a president, who is head of state, and a
premier, who is technically head of government. The president is elected by the Supreme
People’s Assembly for a four-year term. The president in turn appoints the members of
the Central People’s Committee, which is the government’s highest policymaking
body; the committee is chaired by the president. The post of president has been vacant
since the death of Kim Il Sung in 1994. Kim Il Sung had designated his son, Kim Jong Il,
as his successor; however, Kim Jong Il had not assumed the presidency as of mid-1997.
The legislature, which in theory is the supreme government organ, is the unicameral
Supreme People’s Assembly. Its 687 members are elected by direct vote for four-year
terms. The legislature generally meets only several times a year; its day-to-day duties
are performed by the standing committee of the assembly.
The judicial system of
North Korea consists of the central court and the provincial and people’s courts. The
central court is the state’s highest judiciary authority; its judges are appointed to
four-year terms by the standing committee.
North Korea is divided
into nine provinces, three special cities, and one special district. Provinces are further
subdivided into counties and districts. Each local administrative unit has an elected
people’s assembly.
The dominant political
party, and the actual source of political power, is the Korean Workers’ Party (1945).
Two smaller parties join with the Korean Workers’ Party in the Democratic Front for
the Reunification of the Fatherland.
All North Korean
citizens are entitled to disability benefits and retirement allowances. Medical care is
free and available at people’s clinics throughout the country.
The president of North
Korea is the commander in chief of the armed forces. The Korean Workers’ Party
maintains political control of the military. Military service of three to ten years is
compulsory for all able-bodied males. In the late 1980s the total military personnel was
about 1,040,000, distributed as follows: army, 930,000; navy, 40,000; and air force,
70,000. |
