Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of theInteriornote: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior acceptedrestoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reeffrom the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to beadministered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; thisrefuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife ofKingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Kingman Reef
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Kingman Reef
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and AmericanSamoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938(2004 est.)
Military Kingman Reef
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Kingman Reef
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Kiribati
Introduction Kiribati
Background:The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 andcomplete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The USrelinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and LineIsland groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.
Geography Kiribati
Location:Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddlingthe equator; the capital Tarawa is about one-half of the way fromHawaii to Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimedthat all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its GilbertIslands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the LineIslands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of theInternational Date Line
Geographic coordinates:1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 811 sq kmland: 811 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,Phoenix Islands
Area - comparative:four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,143 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use: arable land: 2.74% permanent crops: 50.68% other: 46.58% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make themvery sensitive to changes in sea level
Environment - current issues:heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavymigration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrinesand open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) inKiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru
People Kiribati
Population:103,092 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.9% (male 20,342/female 19,806)15-64 years: 57.7% (male 29,362/female 30,136)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,477/female 1,969) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 20.05 yearsmale: 19.61 yearsfemale: 20.58 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.25% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:30.86 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 48.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 53.64 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 43.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.71 yearsmale: 58.71 yearsfemale: 64.86 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups:Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, someSeventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Churchof God (1999)
Languages:I-Kiribati, English (official)
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Kiribati
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Kiribaticonventional short form: Kiribatinote: pronounced keer-ree-bahssformer: Gilbert Islands
Government type:republic
Capital:Tarawa
Administrative divisions:3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - inaddition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, LineIslands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 islandcouncils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama,Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati,Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea,Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence:12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution:12 July 1979
Legal system:NA
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); VicePresident Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief ofstate and head of governmenthead of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); VicePresident Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief ofstate and head of governmentcabinet: 12-member Cabinet appointed by the president from among themembers of the House of Parliamentelections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidentialcandidates from among its members and then those candidates competein a general election; president is elected by popular vote for afour-year term; election last held 4 July 2003 (next to be held notlater than July 2007); vice president appointed by the presidentelection results: Anote TONG 47.4%, Harry TONG 43.5%, Banuera BERINA9.1%
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (42 seats;39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member - the attorneygeneral, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other; membersserve four-year terms)elections: first round elections last held 29 November 2002; secondround elections held 6 December 2002 (next to be held by November2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -BTK 17, MTM 16, independents 7, other 2 (includes attorney general)note: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the firstround on 9 May 2003 and the second round on 14 May 2003
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at alllevels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban TeMauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP[leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG]note: there is no tradition of formally organized political partiesin Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groupsbecause they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or partystructures
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honoraryconsulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fijiis accredited to Kiribati
Flag description:the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over ayellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontalwavy white stripes to represent the ocean
Economy Kiribati
Economy - overview:A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has fewnatural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits wereexhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra andfish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economyhas fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development isconstrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure,and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides morethan one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is at an early stage ofdevelopment as is the expansion of private sector initiatives.Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, andChina equals 25%-50% of GDP. Remittances from workers abroad accountfor more than $5 million each year.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $79 million - supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $800 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 30%industry: 7%services: 63% (1998 est.)
Labor force:7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001est.)
Unemployment rate:2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $28.4 millionexpenditures: $37.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Industries:fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (1991 est.)
Electricity - production:7 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.51 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$35 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners:France 45.7%, Japan 29.2%, US 9.1%, Thailand 5.4% (2004)
Imports:$83 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufacturedgoods, fuel
Imports - partners:Australia 33.6%, Fiji 29.8%, Japan 10.3%, New Zealand 6.9%, France4.1% (2004)
Debt - external:$10 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$15.5 million largely from UK and Japan (2001 est.)
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003),1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
Fiscal year:NA
Communications Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use:4,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally good quality national andinternational servicedomestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati;connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wirelessservice available in Tarawa since 1999international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to thePacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which shouldimprove telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)
Radios:17,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ki
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:2,000 (2002)
Transportation Kiribati
Highways: total: 670 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2003)
Ports and harbors:Betio
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWTby type: passenger/cargo 1 (2005)
Airports:20 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Military Kiribati
Military branches:no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out lawenforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police postsare on all islands)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance isprovided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues Kiribati
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Korea, North
Introduction Korea, North
Background:An independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of thepast millennium, Korea was occupied by Japan in 1905 following theRusso-Japanese War; five years later, Japan formally annexed theentire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with thenorthern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist domination.After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backedrepublic in the southern portion by force, North Korea, under itsfounder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensiblediplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against excessiveSoviet or Communist Chinese influence. It molded political,economic, and military policies around the core ideologicalobjective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang'scontrol. KIM's son, the current ruler KIM Jong Il, was officiallydesignated as KIM's successor in 1980 and assumed a growingpolitical and managerial role until his father's death in 1994. Heassumed full power without opposition. After decades of economicmismanagement and resource misallocation, the North since themid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed itspopulation while continuing to expend resources to maintain an armyof about 1 million. North Korea's long-range missile development andresearch into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massiveconventional armed forces are of major concern to the internationalcommunity. In December 2002, following revelations it was pursuing anuclear weapons program based on enriched uranium in violation of a1994 agreement with the United States to freeze and ultimatelydismantle its existing plutonium-based program, North Korea expelledmonitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). InJanuary 2003, it declared its withdrawal from the internationalNon-Proliferation Treaty. In mid-2003 Pyongyang announced it hadcompleted the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods (to extractweapons-grade plutonium) and was developing a "nuclear deterrent."From August 2003, North Korea has participated on and off insix-party talks with the China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and theUnited States to resolve the stalemate over its nuclear programs.
Geography Korea, North
Location:Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering theKorea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates:40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 120,540 sq kmland: 120,410 sq kmwater: 130 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries: total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline:2,495 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmnote: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and theexclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreignvessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate:temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain:mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys;coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 mhighest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources:coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper,gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 20.76% permanent crops: 2.49% other: 76.75% (2001)
Irrigated land:14,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasionaltyphoons during the early fall
Environment - current issues:water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterbornedisease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia;mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
People Korea, North
Population:22,912,177 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.2% (male 2,816,844/female 2,735,478)15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,668,581/female 7,883,267)65 years and over: 7.9% (male 625,819/female 1,182,188) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 31.74 yearsmale: 30.47 yearsfemale: 33 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.9% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:16.09 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 25.77 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 22.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.37 yearsmale: 68.65 yearsfemale: 74.22 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.15 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Korean(s)adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a fewethnic Japanese
Religions:traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian andsyncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion ofreligious freedom
Languages:Korean
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99%
Government Korea, North
Country name:conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Koreaconventional short form: North Korealocal long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguklocal short form: nonenote: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer totheir countryabbreviation: DPRK
Government type:Communist state one-man dictatorship
Capital:Pyongyang
Administrative divisions:9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities (si,singular and plural): provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong),Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae),Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon),P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan),Yanggang-do (Yanggang): municipalites: Kaesong-si (Kaesong), Najin Sonbong-si (Najin),Namp'o-si (Namp'o), P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang)
Independence:15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9September (1948)
Constitution:adopted 1948; completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again inApril 1992, and September 1998
Legal system:based on German civil law system with Japanese influences andCommunist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 3September 2003, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA)reelected KIM Jong Il Chairman of the National Defense Commission, aposition accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPAreelected KIM Yong Nam President of its Presidium also withresponsibility of representing state and receiving diplomaticcredentials; SPA appointed PAK Pong Ju Premierhead of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 3 September 2003);Vice Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun(since 3 September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister ofPeople's Armed Forces, are appointed by the SPAelections: election last held in September 2003 (next to be held inSeptember 2008)election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nomineesfor positions and ran unopposed
Legislative branch:unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are electedwithout opposition; some seats are held by minor parties
Judicial branch:Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Il, general secretary]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong, chairwoman] (under KWP control); Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae, chairman] (under KWP control)
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU,NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consularprotecting power)
Flag description:three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band isa white disk with a red five-pointed star
Economy Korea, North
Economy - overview:North Korea, one of the world's most centrally planned and isolatedeconomies, faces desperate economic conditions. Industrial capitalstock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years ofunderinvestment and spare parts shortages. Industrial and poweroutput have declined in parallel. The nation has suffered itseleventh year of food shortages because of a lack of arable land,collective farming, weather-related problems, and chronic shortagesof fertilizer and fuel. Massive international food aid deliverieshave allowed the regime to escape mass starvation since 1995, butthe population remains the victim of prolonged malnutrition anddeteriorating living conditions. Large-scale military spending eatsup resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. In July2002, the government took limited steps toward a freer marketeconomy. In 2004, heightened political tensions with key donorcountries and general donor fatigue threatened the flow ofdesperately needed food aid and fuel aid. Black market prices havecontinued to rise following the increase in official prices andwages in the summer of 2002, leaving some vulnerable groups, such asthe elderly and unemployed, less able to buy goods. In 2004, theregime allowed private markets to sell a wider range of goods andpermitted private farming on an experimental basis in an effort toboost agricultural output. Firm political control remains theCommunist government's overriding concern, which will constrain anyfurther loosening of economic regulations.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$40 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30.2% industry: 33.8% services: 36% (2002 est.)
Labor force:9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation:agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate:NA (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA (2003 est.)
Budget: revenues: NA expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Industries:military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals;mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, andprecious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:33.62 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29% hydro: 71% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:31.26 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:85,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:11,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Exports:$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (includingarmaments); textiles and fishery products
Exports - partners:China 29.9%, South Korea 24.1%, Japan 13.2% (2004)
Imports:$2.1 billion c.i.f. (2003)
Imports - commodities:petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain
Imports - partners:China 32.9%, Thailand 10.7%, Japan 4.8% (2004)
Debt - external:$12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA; note - over $117 million in food aid through the World FoodProgram in 2003 plus additional aid from bilateral donors andnon-governmental organizations
Currency (code):North Korean won (KPW)
Currency code:KPW
Exchange rates:official: North Korean won per US dollar - 170 (December 2004), 150(December 2002), 2.15 (December 2001); market: North Korean won perUS dollar - 300-600 (December 2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use:1.1 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean region); otherinternational connections through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations:AM 17 (including 11 stations of Korean Central BroadcastingStation), FM 14, shortwave 14 (2003)
Radios:3.36 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (includes Korean Central Television, Mansudae Television, KoreanEducational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong Television targetingSouth Korea) (2003)
Televisions:1.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:.kp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Korea, North
Railways: total: 5,214 km standard gauge: 5,214 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2004)
Highways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 2,250 km note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)
Pipelines:oil 154 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine:total: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 985,108 GRT/1,389,389 DWTby type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 191, container 2, livestock carrier4, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 5,roll on/roll off 5foreign-owned: 52 (China 1, Denmark 2, France 1, Greece 4, Italy 1,Lebanon 4, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 1, Pakistan 2, Romania 10,Russia 2, Singapore 2, South Korea 2, Syria 9, Turkey 6, Ukraine 1,UAE 3) (2005)
Airports:78 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 35 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 19 (2004 est.)
Military Korea, North
Military branches:North Korean People's Army: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force; CivilSecurity Forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 5,851,801 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 4,810,831 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 194,605 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$5,217.4 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Korea, North
Disputes - international:China seeks to stem illegal migration of tens of thousands of NorthKoreans escaping famine, economic privation, and politicaloppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certainislands in Yalu and Tumen rivers and a section of boundary aroundPaektu-san (mountain) is indefinite; Military Demarcation Linewithin the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North fromSouth Korea since 1953; periodic maritime disputes with South overthe Northern Limit Line; North Korea supports South Korea inrejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 50,000-250,000 (government repression and famine) (2004)
Illicit drugs:for years, from the 1970's into the 2000's, citizens of theDemocratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of themdiplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroadwhile trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December2004; in recent years, police investigations in Taiwan and Japanhave linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin andmethamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchantship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003;all indications point to North Korea emerging as an importantregional source of illicit drugs targeting markets in Japan, Taiwan,the Russian Far East, and China
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Korea, South
Introduction Korea, South
Background:Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for mostof the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-JapaneseWar in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formallyannexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, a republic was setup in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while aCommunist-style government was installed in the north. During theKorean War (1950-53), US and other UN forces intervened to defendSouth Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. Anarmistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along ademilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, SouthKorea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income risingto roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Koreanvoters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years ofmilitary dictatorships. South Korea today is a fully functioningmodern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summittook place between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and theNorth's leader KIM Jong Il.
Geography Korea, South
Location:Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering theSea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates:37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 98,480 sq kmland: 98,190 sq kmwater: 290 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline:2,413 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Straitcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: not specified
Climate:temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain:mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 17.18% permanent crops: 1.95% other: 80.87% (2001)
Irrigated land:11,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismicactivity common in southwest
Environment - current issues:air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from thedischarge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location on Korea Strait
People Korea, South
Population:48,422,644 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.4% (male 4,952,177/female 4,450,821)15-64 years: 72% (male 17,715,267/female 17,147,808)65 years and over: 8.6% (male 1,670,971/female 2,485,600) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 34.51 yearsmale: 33.53 yearsfemale: 35.53 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.38% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.85 yearsmale: 73.42 yearsfemale: 80.57 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:8,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions:no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%,other 1%
Languages:Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.9%male: 99.2%female: 96.6% (2002)
Government Korea, South
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Koreaconventional short form: South Korealocal long form: Taehan-min'guklocal short form: nonenote: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer totheir countryabbreviation: ROK
Government type:republic
Capital:Seoul
Administrative divisions:9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities(gwangyoksi, singular and plural): provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo(South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong),Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do,Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang): metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi (Inch'on),Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan),Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi(Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)
Independence:15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution:17 July 1948
Legal system:combines elements of continental European civil law systems,Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003)head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hae-chan (since 25 May 2004);Deputy Prime Ministers HAN Duck-soo (14 March 2005), KIM Jin-pyo(since 28 January 2005), and OH Myung (since 18 October 2004)cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the primeminister's recommendationelections: president elected by popular vote for single five-yearterm; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held inFebruary 2008); prime minister appointed by president with consentof National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by presidenton prime minister's recommendationelection results: results of the 19 December 2002 election - ROHMoo-hyun elected president; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP)48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats - members electedfor four-year terms; 243 in single-seat constituencies, 56 byproportional representationelections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008;byelections held on 30 April 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP3%, DP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 146, GNP 125, DLP 10, DP9, ULD 3, independents 6note: percent of vote is for 2004 general election; seats by partyreflect results of 2005 byelections involving six seats; MDP becameDP in May 2005 (2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (justices appointed by president with consent ofNational Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed bypresident based partly on nominations by National Assembly and ChiefJustice of the court)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KIM Hye-kyung, chairwoman];Democratic Party or DP [HAHN Hwa-kap, chairman]; Grand NationalParty or GNP [PARK Geun-hye, chairwoman]; United Liberal Democratsor ULD [KIM Hak-won, chairman]; Uri Party [MOON Hee-sang, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean Trade Unions;Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National Council ofChurches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans' Association;National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic Alliance ofKorea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; NationalFederation of Student Associations
International organization participation:AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), AustraliaGroup, BIS, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (designated)chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston,Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattleconsulate(s): Agana (Guam) and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
Flag description:white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center;there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book ofChanges) in each corner of the white field
Economy Korea, South
Economy - overview:Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incrediblerecord of growth and integration into the high-tech modern worldeconomy. Four decades ago GDP per capita was comparable with levelsin the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, it joined thetrillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is14 times North Korea's and equal to the lesser economies of theEuropean Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved bya system of close government/business ties, including directedcredit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, anda strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of rawmaterials and technology at the expense of consumer goods andencouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asianfinancial crisis of 1997-99 exposed longstanding weaknesses in SouthKorea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios,massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector.Growth plunged to a negative 6.9% in 1998, then strongly recoveredto 9.5% in 1999 and 8.5% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and theperception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms hadstalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was animpressive 7.0%, despite anemic global growth. Economic growth fellto 3.1% in 2003 because of a downturn in consumer spending andrecovered to an estimated 4.6% in 2004 on the strength of rapidexport growth. The government plans to boost infrastructure spendingin 2005. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export surplus,and fairly equal distribution of income characterize this solideconomy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$925.1 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 40.4% services: 56.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:22.9 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services 73% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 22.5% (1999 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.8 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):28.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $150.5 billionexpenditures: $155.8 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:21.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs,chickens, milk, eggs; fish
Industries:electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals,shipbuilding, steel
Industrial production growth rate:10.1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:322.5 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 36.6% other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:293.6 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.07 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:630,100 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:2.263 million bbl/day (2003)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:20.92 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:21.11 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$26.78 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$250.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motorvehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Exports - partners:China 19.7%, US 17%, Japan 8.6%, Hong Kong 7.2% (2004)
Imports:$214.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:Japan 20.6%, China 13.2%, US 12.9%, Saudi Arabia 5.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$199.1 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$160 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA $334 million (2003)
Currency (code):South Korean won (KRW)
Currency code:KRW
Exchange rates:South Korean won per US dollar - 1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003),1,251.1 (2002), 1,291 (2001), 1,131 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:22.877 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:33,591,800 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 82; fiber-optic submarine cable toChina; the Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earthstations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 58, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2004)
Radios:47.5 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations: 64 (additionally 119 Cable Operators; 239 Relay Cable Operators) (2004)
Televisions:15.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:.kr
Internet hosts:694,206 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2000)
Internet users:29.22 million (2003)
Transportation Korea, South
Railways: total: 3,472 km standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,342 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 86,990 kmpaved: 66,721 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)unpaved: 20,269 km (2001)
Waterways: 1,608 km note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)
Pipelines:gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Inch'on, Masan, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan
Merchant marine:total: 601 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,992,656 GRT/11,081,142 DWTby type: bulk carrier 125, cargo 196, chemical tanker 88, container71, liquefied gas 20, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 22, petroleumtanker 51, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 5, vehiclecarrier 3foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, United Kingdom 1)registered in other countries: 366 (2005)
Airports:179 (2004 est.)