| 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
- N. Korea touts achievements in 'rural revolution' ahead of key party congress
by Kim Hyun-soo (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 7, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday hailed the country's endeavor...
- N.K. leader's daughter appearing at center stage likely aimed at socialist family imagery: official
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 6, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- The appearances of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's d...
- N. Korea accuses Japan of reinvasion plotting over record-high defense budget
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 6, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Tuesday bristled at Japan's allocation ...
- (LEAD) N. Korea's Kim inspects construction of memorial for soldiers killed in Ukraine war
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 5, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the constr...
- N. Korea's Kim inspects construction of memorial for soldiers killed in Ukraine war
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 5, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the constr...
- Seoul says N. Korea's condemnation of Maduro's capture part of anti-U.S. solidarity
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 5, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's recent condemnation of the United States...
- (2nd LD) N. Korea says it tested hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong-un attending
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea test-launched hypersonic missiles in Pyong...
- (LEAD) N. Korea says it tested hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong-un attending
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea test-launched hypersonic missiles in Pyong...
- N. Korea says it tested hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong-un attending
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- North Korea test-launched hypersonic missiles in Pyong...
- (URGENT) N. Korea's Kim says necessity for advancing nuclear capabilities is 'exemplified by recent geopolitical crisis'
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026(END)
- (URGENT) N. Korea says it tested hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong-un attending Sundayby Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026
(END)
- (LEAD) N. Korea 'strongly' denounces U.S. capture of Venezuela's Maduro
by Woo Jae-yeon (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Sunday "strongly" denounced the U.S. mi...
- N. Korea strongly denounces U.S. capture of Venezuela's Maduro
by Woo Jae-yeon (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Sunday denounced the U.S. military stri...
- (URGENT) N. Korea slams U.S. capture of Venezuela's Maduro as 'most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty'by Woo Jae-yeon (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026
(END)
- (2nd LD) Cheong Wa Dae urges N. Korea to cease provocations following missile launch
by Yoo Jee-ho (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- The Office of National Security at the presidential of...
- (LEAD) Cheong Wa Dae urges N. Korea to cease provocations following missile launchby Kim Eun-jung (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- The Office of National Security at the presidential of...
- Cheong Wa Dae urges N. Korea to cease provocations following missile launchby Kim Eun-jung (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- The Office of National Security at the presidential of...
- (URGENT) Office of National Security convenes emergency meeting over N. Korea's missile launchby Kim Eun-jung (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026
(END)
- (2nd LD) N. Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
by Kim Hyun-soo (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward t...
- (URGENT) N. Korea's ballistic missiles flew some 900 km: JCSby Kim Hyun-soo (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026
(END)
- (LEAD) N. Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCSby Lee Minji (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 4, 2026
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward t...
- N. Korea fires ballistic missile toward East Sea: JCSby Lee Minji (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 3, 2026
SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea fired at least one unidentified ballistic ...
- (URGENT) N. Korea fires ballistic missile toward East Sea: JCSby Lee Minji (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 3, 2026
(END)
- N. Korea's Kim inspects production of tactical guided weapons at munitions factory
by Park Boram (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 3, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected the prod...
- N.K. leader inspects greenhouse farm construction site in 1st 'field guidance' of 2026
by Kim Eun-jung (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 3, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected the cons...
- Unification minister urges N. Korea to return to dialogue, end hostilities
by Yi Wonju (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 2, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Chung Dong-young urged North Kore...
- Prosecutors appeal court ruling on cover-up of border killing by N. Korea
by Park Sang-soo (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 2, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Friday that they will appeal a court ...
- (3rd LD) Daughter of N. Korea's Kim pays tribute at family mausoleum for 1st timeby Lee Minji (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 2, 2026
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's teenage daughter Ju-...
- Top security adviser raises alarm about N. Korea's unveiling of what it calls nuclear subby Kim Eun-jung (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 2, 2026
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday that...
- Summary of inter-Korean news this week
by Kim Hyun-soo (Yonhap News Agency | North Korea) on January 2, 2026SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of inter-Korean news this w...
