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
- S. Korea halts Panmunjom tour again over armed N. Korean troops in DMZby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- A tour program to the truce village of Panmunjom on the inter-Korean border has been suspended again as safety concerns increased due to North Korean soldiers armed with pistols in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the
- U.S. military unveils photos of training near DMZ amid heightened tensionby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has released photos of a U.S. Army chemical corps company conducting joint drills with South Korean forces near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) amid heightened tension along the border with North Ko
- (LEAD) N. Korea condemns S. Korea over suspension of military accordby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES with defense ministry's response in last 2 paras) SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korea denounced South Korea on Thursday over the partial suspension of a 2018 military tension-reduction agreement, saying Seoul has "pulled the last rema
- (2nd LD) N. Korea rules out talks with U.S.by YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
(ATTN: ADDS remarks, details in last two paras) By Lee Minji SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday ruled out the possibility of resuming dialogue with the United States amid fresh tensions over Py
- (LEAD) N. Korea rules out talks with U.S.by YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with details, CHANGES headline) By Lee Minji SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday ruled out the possibility of resuming dialogue with the United States amid fresh tensio
- N. Korea condemns S. Korea over suspension of military accordby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korea denounced South Korea on Thursday over the partial suspension of a 2018 military tension-reduction agreement, saying Seoul has "pulled the last remaining safety pin with its own hands." The criticism came as Se
- N. Korea says spy satellite took photos of U.S. bases in San Diego, Japanby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Thursday the country's military spy satellite has taken photos of U.S. military facilities in San Diego and Japan, as well as the Suez Canal in Egypt. Leader Kim Jong-un viewed the satellite photos taken W
- N. Korea says it will 'never sit face to face' with Washington for talksby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday dismissed the possibility of resuming dialogue with the United States, saying that Pyongyang will "never sit face to face" with Washington. The statement by Kim Yo-
- (3rd LD) U.S. sanctions cryptocurrency mixer used by N. Koreaby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead) By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Wednesday sanctioned a cryptocurrency mixer for serving as a "key money-laundering tool" of a North Korea-linked hacking group, in the
- (2nd LD) U.S. slaps additional N. Korea, Iran-related sanctionsby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
(ATTN: RECASTS 8th para; ADDS more info in paras 10-11) By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced additional North Korea and Iran-related sanctions on Wednesday, after Pyongyang's space rocket launch
- (LEAD) U.S. slaps additional N. Korea, Iran-related sanctionsby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout; ADDS photo) By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced additional North Korea and Iran-related sanctions on Wednesday, after Pyongyang's space rocket launch last week and ten
- U.S. slaps additional N. Korea, Iran-related sanctionsby YonhapNews on November 30, 2023
By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced additional North Korea and Iran-related sanctions on Wednesday, after Pyongyang's space rocket launch last week and tensions with the Islamic republic over Te
- (LEAD) Unification minister says inflow of outside information important for N.K. residentsby YonhapNews on November 29, 2023
(ATTN: ADDS details in last four paras, photo) SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's point man on North Korea stressed Wednesday the importance of providing outside information to North Korean people as a means to improve dire human rights condition
- Unification minister says inflow of outside information important for N.K. residentsby YonhapNews on November 29, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's point man on North Korea stressed Wednesday the importance of providing outside information to North Korean people as a means to improve dire human rights conditions in the North. Unification Minister Kim Yun
- N. Korea closes diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, DR Congo: reportsby YonhapNews on November 29, 2023
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- In yet another closure of diplomatic missions, North Korea has been shutting down its embassies in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo, foreign news reports showed Wednesday. They are the latest in the list of
- S. Korea mulling restoring disarmed guard post on eastern front: sourcesby YonhapNews on November 29, 2023
By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military is considering restoring a disarmed guard post on the eastern front in a tit-for-tat response to North Korea's latest move to rebuild its own and redeploy weapons in the Demilitarized
- U.S. says 'plenty' of White House, Pentagon images available online after N.K. claim on satellite imageryby YonhapNews on November 29, 2023
By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of Defense said Tuesday that there are "plenty" of images of the White House and the Pentagon already available online, after North Korea claimed its military spy satellite took photos
- (LEAD) Yoon vows stronger deterrence against N.K. nuclear threatby YonhapNews on November 28, 2023
(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in last 5 paras) By Lee Haye-ah SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Tuesday to work together with the United States and Japan to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threat and improve t
- Yoon vows stronger deterrence against N.K. nuclear threatby YonhapNews on November 28, 2023
By Lee Haye-ah SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Tuesday to work together with the United States and Japan to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's nuclear threat and improve the human rights situation in the country. Yo
- (LEAD) N. Korean soldiers in truce village armed with pistols: sourcesby YonhapNews on November 28, 2023
(ATTN: ADDS defense chief's remark in last para; ADDS photo) By Kim Eun-jung SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korean soldiers stationed in the Joint Security Area (JSA) of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) have been carrying pistols since the North scrappe
- A window into secretive North Korea – in picturesby Tariq Zaidi (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 28, 2023
These images from a book by Tariq Zaidi offer rare glimpses of the North Korean people’s daily struggles and ways of lifeIn January 2020, North Korea closed its borders. Before that date, people fortunate enough to enter the country were met with strict rules that severely restricted the practice of photography. North Korea has always been shrouded in […]
- North Korea claims spy satellite has photographed White House and Pentagonby Justin McCurry in Tokyo (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 28, 2023
Recently launched Malligyong-1 also sent ‘detailed’ pictures of US nuclear aircraft carriers, says regime, although claims are not verifiedNorth Korea has claimed its recently launched satellite has sent back “detailed” images of the White House, the Pentagon and US nuclear aircraft carriers that have been viewed by the regime leader, Kim […]
- North Korea moves heavy weapons to border with Southby Justin McCurry in Tokyo, and agencies (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 27, 2023
Seoul condemns ‘provocative acts’ as tensions rise after launch of spy satellite in defiance of UN sanctionsNorth Korea has started rebuilding guard posts and stationing heavy weapons along its border with South Korea, the defence ministry in Seoul has said, after the countries’ withdrawal from a key confidence-building agreement designed to prevent a […]
- ‘Nuclear tinderbox’: Kim’s threats put North Korea on wrong side of history | Simon Tisdallby Simon Tisdall (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 25, 2023
As a distracted world looks elsewhere, US and China have a common interest in halting Asia’s accelerating nuclear arms raceFor western liberals and progressive champions of open, democratic government, a clutch of recalcitrant regimes around the world seems firmly stuck on what Barack Obama once called “the wrong side of history”. Iran’s […]
- North Korean spy satellite team attend banquet with Kim Jong-un and daughter Ju Aeby Guardian staff and agencies (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 24, 2023
Dictator seen with daughter at celebration for scientists and technicians who finally put Malligyong-1 into space after two failed attemptsThe North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-un, has celebrated a “new era of a space power” with his family including daughter Ju Ae and the scientists who put the North’s first spy satellite into orbit.Pyongyang’s […]
- North Korea to restore ‘all military measures’ on South Korea borderby Justin McCurry in Osaka and agencies (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 23, 2023
As Seoul claims Russia helped Pyongyang carry out spy satellite launch, North Korea warns of stronger armed forces on borderNorth Korea has warned it will deploy new weapons and stronger armed forces along its heavily armed border with South Korea, as officials in Seoul claimed that Russia had helped Pyongyang carry out a satellite launch.In a sign of […]
- North Korea’s spy satellite is a big deal, regardless of how advanced its technology isby Justin McCurry in Osaka (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 22, 2023
Rocket launch underlines Kim Jong-un’s ability to sidestep UN sanctions and suggests ballistic missile building abilities have reached a higher levelNorth Korea is already believed to be capable of striking the US mainland with a nuclear weapon; now it claims that it can spy on enemy troops, after state media reported the regime’s first successful […]
- South Korea to partially suspend military deal with North after launch of spy satelliteby Guardian staff and agencies (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 22, 2023
Pyongyang claims success on third attempt – breaching a 2018 agreement meant to reduce tensions, says SouthSouth Korea has moved to partially suspend a 2018 military agreement with North Korea, which said it had successfully launched its first military spy satellite into orbit, the Yonhap news agency reported.“North Korea is clearly demonstrating that […]
- Kim Jong-un closes slate of North Korea’s embassies as sanctions biteby Justin McCurry in Tokyo (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 10, 2023
Regime can no longer afford all its diplomatic missions, including some to longtime allies such as Angola where it has maintained ties since 1975While Kim Jong-un basks in the afterglow of his recent visit to Russia, North Korea is scaling back its presence overseas, with reported plans to close almost a quarter of its diplomatic missions blamed on its […]
- Ukraine reports most extensive Russian shelling of the yearby Luke Harding (North Korea | The Guardian) on November 2, 2023
Russia bombards 100 settlements within 24 hours as top Ukrainian commander warns war has become deadlockedRussia has carried out its biggest artillery attack so far this year, Ukraine has said, as Kyiv’s top general admitted the war had reached a deadlock, with little prospect that his troops would make “a deep and beautiful breakthrough”.Gen Valerii […]