Area Total | 99,720 sq km |
Climate | temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters |
Natural Resources | coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals,hydropower |
Imports | China 91.9% (2017) – petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain |
Exports | China 86.3% (2017) – minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products |
Government | dictactorship, single-party state; official state ideology of “Juche” or “national self-reliance” |
Capital | Pyongyang |
Population | 25.4 million (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese |
Language | Korean |
News about North Korea
- Unification minister, senior German official discuss unification issuesby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho on Friday met with a senior German official and discussed Berlin's unification experience and the possibility of a unified Korea, Seoul's unification ministry said. Kim met with Carsten Schne
- Germany has yet to decide whether to reopen embassy in Pyongyang: envoyby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- German Ambassador to Seoul Georg Schmidt said Friday his country has yet to decide whether to reopen its embassy in North Korea following its withdrawal in early 2020 due to Pyongyang's COVID-19 border shutdown. In February,
- N. Korea approves 1st post-pandemic entry of Chinese studentsby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has approved the entry of more than 80 Chinese students seeking to study in the North in the first such acceptance of overseas students after years of stringent border lockdowns aimed at fending off the pandemic.
- S. Korean military shoots down unidentified balloon near western maritime border in Marchby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military shot down an unidentified balloon over the Yellow Sea in March as it crossed the western maritime border, sources said Friday. The Marine Corps stationed in Baengnyeong Island near the Northern Limi
- Toy Story's animated character found at N. Korea's fashion show in suspected trademark violationby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to have violated trademark rights as it displayed clothing with a famous animated character from Disney-Pixar's 2010 movie "Toy Story 3" at the latest fashion exhibition, photos carried by state media showed
- N. Korean economic delegation returns from Iran amid suspected military tiesby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean economic delegation has returned home from Iran, Pyongyang's state media said Friday, ending a rare trip that raised suspicions of possible weapons cooperation between the two nations. The delegation, headed b
- N. Korea touts disabilities education policy amid rights abuse criticismby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea highlighted its education policy for people with disabilities Friday amid continued international criticism over its dire rights situation. A ceremony welcoming new students was held at a vocational school run by
- (3rd LD) Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White Houseby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 2-3) By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Russia delivered more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea in March alone, a White House official said Thursday, noting its shipments thus
- (2nd LD) Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White Houseby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
(ATTN: ADDS State Department's comment in 7th para) By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Russia delivered more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea in March alone, a White House official said Thursday, noting its shipments
- (LEAD) Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White Houseby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout; RECASTS throughout) By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Russia delivered more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea in March alone, a White House official said Thursday, noting its shipments thus
- U.S. releases new cybersecurity advisory against N.K.-linked cyber incursion groupby YonhapNews on May 3, 2024
By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The United States issued a cybersecurity advisory against a North Korea-linked cyber incursion group Thursday, accusing its actors of using malicious emails to glean intelligence for Pyongyang to inform its
- Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March alone: White Houseby YonhapNews on May 2, 2024
By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Russia delivered more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea in March alone, a White House official said Thursday. National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby made the remarks a
- China further repatriates hundreds of N. Korean defectors: civic groupby YonhapNews on May 2, 2024
SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Chinese authorities have resumed the forced repatriation of hundreds of North Korean defectors detained in China, a Seoul human rights group claimed Thursday, despite Seoul's repeated calls to stop the act. Around 200 North
- N. Korea dismantles S. Korean building near shuttered Kaesong complexby YonhapNews on May 2, 2024
SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to have taken down a building located near the now-shuttered inter-Korean factory park in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, the unification ministry said Thursday. The dismantled building had been
- (LEAD) N. Korea holds 1st meeting of police officials in 12 years amid drive to tighten social controlby YonhapNews on May 2, 2024
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in last 2 paras) SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has held a meeting of chiefs of branch public security stations earlier this week, state media reported Thursday, in an apparent move to tighten the country's grip o
- N. Korea holds 1st meeting of police officials in 12 years amid drive to tighten social controlby YonhapNews on May 2, 2024
SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has held a meeting of chiefs of branch public security stations earlier this week, state media reported Thursday, in an apparent move to tighten the country's grip on social discipline. North Korea held the fifth
- N. Korean media makes no mention of Cuba among nations sending congratulatory messages over late founder's birthdayby YonhapNews on May 1, 2024
SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's state media on Wednesday did not mention Cuba when it reported a list of countries that have sent congratulatory messages over the 112th birthday in April of the North's late founder Kim Il-sung. North Korea mi
- U.S. calls on N. Korea to give 'full' accounting of Japanese abducteesby YonhapNews on May 1, 2024
By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, April 30 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. State Department spokesperson called on North Korea Tuesday to offer a "full" account of Japanese citizens abducted by it decades ago, amid reports that a group of their families will visit the Un
- Debris from North Korean missile found in Kharkiv, say UN sanctions monitorsby Reuters at the United Nations (North Korea | The Guardian) on April 29, 2024
Report to United Nations security council says remnants of Hwasong-11 violate arms export embargo on Russian ally The debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on 2 January was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, UN sanctions monitors told a security council committee in a report seen by Reuters.In the 32-page […]
- North Korea airs song praising Kim Jong-un as 'friendly father' – videoby (North Korea | The Guardian) on April 18, 2024
A song aired on North Korean state television shows jubilant citizens hailing Kim Jong-un as their 'friendly father', with people of different ages and backgrounds singing Kim's praises. The song was released after the leader inaugurated a new residential development Continue reading...
- China reaffirms ties with North Korea in high-level meetingby Associated Press in Beijing (North Korea | The Guardian) on April 13, 2024
Top-ranking Chinese official Zhao Leji met Kim Jong-un during three-day visit to PyongyangA top ranking Chinese official reaffirmed ties with North Korea during a meeting in Pyongyang on Saturday with the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, China’s state media reported, in the highest-level talks between the allies in years.The visit by Zhao Leji, who ranks […]
- ‘Luxury’ skiing in North Korea: the Russians allowed behind the borderby Pjotr Sauer (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 31, 2024
Kim Jong-un’s selected few are ‘100% satisfied’ but find a country steeped in hopelessness under sanctionsGliding down pristine, untouched mountain runs, Olga Shpalok said she was “getting 100% satisfaction”.After a full day of skiing, the Russian designer from Vladivostok wound down with a visit to her hotel’s well-equipped spa and sauna. […]
- After Titchmarsh, we must recork the skinny jeans genie | Lettersby Guardian Staff (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 29, 2024
Roger Newman Turner says North Korea has the right idea blurring jeans, and calls skinny ones an abomination. John Bailey thinks they probably forgot who made themWhen it comes to Alan Titchmarsh’s jeans, I’m with North Korea (Alan Titchmarsh’s jeans blurred by North Korean TV censors, 26 March). It’s not so much the US imperialism that they may or […]
- Russia criticised for using veto to end UN monitoring of North Korea sanctionsby AP at the United Nations (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 28, 2024
Ukraine’s foreign minister calls veto ‘guilty plea’ amid claims Pyongyang is aiding Moscow’s war against KyivRussia has blocked the renewal of a UN panel monitoring sanctions against North Korea, weeks after the body said it was investigating reports of arms transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang.The move was met with a flurry of criticism, […]
- North Korean TV censors BBC presenter's jeans to hide ‘symbol of US imperialism’ – videoby (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 26, 2024
His calm demeanour and wholesome vocation have apparently endeared him to one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world. But there is something about Alan Titchmarsh that North Korea’s censors can’t quite forgive – his jeans. The green-fingered broadcaster and author of raunchy novels has been a fixture on state television since 2022, albeit with […]
- Alan Titchmarsh’s jeans blurred by North Korean TV censorsby Justin McCurry in Tokyo (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 26, 2024
Footage of green-fingered BBC presenter obscured from waist down to hide ‘symbol of US imperialism’His calm demeanour and wholesome vocation have apparently endeared him to one of the most authoritarian regimes in the world. But there is something about Alan Titchmarsh that North Korea’s censors can’t quite forgive – his jeans.The green-fingered […]
- North Korea cancels World Cup qualifier against Japanby Justin McCurry in Tokyo (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 22, 2024
Last-minute decision on Tuesday’s match leaves football bodies searching for alternative venueNorth Korea has abruptly cancelled its 2026 World Cup qualifying match with Japan next week, leaving organisers frantically searching for an alternative venue.North Korea reportedly decided it would no longer host the match, which had been scheduled for next […]
- Long lens glimpses of everyday life in North Korea – in picturesby Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 22, 2024
AFP photographer Pedro Pardo gained access to a remote stretch of frontier in China’s north-east Jilin province. Between rusting factories and peeling housing blocks were glimpses of daily life in North Korea Continue reading...
- Japan v North Korea World Cup qualifier resumes rivalry that extends beyond footballby Justin McCurry in Tokyo (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 20, 2024
Crunch fixture taps into a complicated underlying political history, with 150,000 North Koreans living in JapanA place at the next football World Cup is not all that is at stake when Japan and North Korea meet on Thursday for the first of two qualifying matches, in a resumption of one of the fiercest rivalries in international football.Despite the huge gap […]
- North Korean state media shows Kim Jong-un overseeing 'super-large' rocket launcher drills – videoby (North Korea | The Guardian) on March 19, 2024
The supreme leader of North Korea has been seen in footage aired by the state-run broadcaster KRT showing firing drills by artillery units in the country's western regions. Kim Jong-un is seen walking near a number of rocket launchers, which are later fired. According to the Korean Central News Agency, the state news agency of North Korea, the drills […]