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 Prussian 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: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People'sArmed Forces, are appointed by SPAelections: last held in September 2003 (next to be held in September2008)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]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control), Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO,ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US asconsular protecting 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 shortages of spare parts. Industrial and poweroutput have declined in parallel. Due in part to severe summerflooding followed by dry weather conditions in the fall of 2006, thenation has suffered its 12th year of food shortages because ofon-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land,collective farming practices, and chronic shortages of tractors andfuel. Massive international food aid deliveries have allowed thepeople of North Korea to escape mass starvation since faminethreatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer fromprolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Large-scalemilitary spending eats up resources needed for investment andcivilian consumption. In 2004, the regime formalized an arrangementwhereby private "farmers markets" were allowed to begin selling awider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming on anexperimental basis in an effort to boost agricultural output. InOctober 2005, the regime reversed some of these policies byforbidding private sales of grains and reinstituting a centralizedfood rationing system. By December 2005, the regime terminated mostinternational humanitarian assistance operations in the DPRK(calling instead for developmental assistance only) and restrictedthe activities of remaining international and non-governmental aidorganizations such as the World Food Program. Firm political controlremains the Communist government's overriding concern, which willlikely inhibit the loosening of economic regulations.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$40 billionnote: North Korea does not publish any reliable National IncomeAccounts data; the datum shown here is derived from purchasing powerparity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by AngusMaddison in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 wasextrapolated to 2005 using estimated real growth rates for NorthKorea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator;the result was rounded to the nearest $10 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 34% services: 36% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 36% industry and services: 64%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $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:21.71 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29% hydro: 71% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:20.19 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:138.5 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:25,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:22,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$1.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (includingarmaments), textiles, fishery products
Exports - partners:China 35%, South Korea 24%, Thailand 9%, Japan 9% (2005)
Imports:$2.6 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
Imports - partners:China 42%, South Korea 28%, Russia 9%, Thailand 8% (2005)
Debt - external:$12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - approximately 350,000 metric tons in food aid, worthapproximately $118 million, through the World Food Program appeal in2004, plus additional aid from bilateral donors and non-governmentalorganizations
Currency (code):North Korean won (KPW)
Currency code:KPW
Exchange rates:official: North Korean won per US dollar - 141 (2006), 170(December 2004), 150 (December 2002), 2.15 (December 2001); market:North Korean won per US dollar - 2,500-3,000 (December 2006)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use:980,000 (2003)
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; North Korea has a "national intercom" cable radio stationwired throughout the country that is a significant source ofinformation for the average North Korean citizen; it is wired intomost residences and workplaces and carries news and commentary), FM14, shortwave 14 (2006)
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
Airports: 77 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Heliports:22 (2006)
Pipelines:oil 154 km (2006)
Railways: total: 5,214 km standard gauge: 5,214 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 232 ships (1000 GRT or over) 983,182 GRT/1,370,104 DWTby type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 176, chemical tanker 1, container 4,livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 17,refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8, vehicle carrier 1foreign-owned: 60 (British Virgin Islands 1, China 1, Denmark 1,Egypt 2, Greece 1, India 1, Lebanon 6, Lithuania 1, Marshall Islands1, Pakistan 3, Romania 11, Russia 1, Singapore 1, Syria 14, Turkey4, UAE 6, US 3, Yemen 2)registered in other countries: 5 (Belize 2, Mongolia 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
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: 5,851,801females age 17-49: 5,850,733 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 4,810,831females age 17-49: 4,853,270 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 194,605females age 17-49: 187,846 (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) (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women,and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexualexploitation; North Korea's own system of political repressionincludes forced labor in a network of prison camps where anestimated 150,000 to 200,000 persons are incarcerated; the illegalstatus of North Koreans in China and other countries increases theirvulnerability to trafficking schemes and sexual and physical abuse;North Koreans forcibly returned from China may be subject to hardlabor in prison camps operated by the governmenttier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimumstandards for the elimination of trafficking and is not makingsignificant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, 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; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years havelinked 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
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Korea, South
Introduction Korea, South
Background:An independent Korean state or collection of states has existedalmost continuously for several millennia. Between its initialunification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Koreanstates - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a singleindependent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War,Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it wasannexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence followingJapan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II,a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the southern half of theKorean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed inthe north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops andUN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend SouthKorea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. 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 1993, KIM Yo'ng-sambecame South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years ofmilitary rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning moderndemocracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit tookplace between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and the North'sleader 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: 16.58% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.41% (2005)
Irrigated land:8,780 sq km (2003)
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:48,846,823 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.9% (male 4,844,083/female 4,368,139)15-64 years: 71.9% (male 17,886,148/female 17,250,862)65 years and over: 9.2% (male 1,818,677/female 2,678,914) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 35.2 yearsmale: 34.2 yearsfemale: 36.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.42% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.85 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.04 yearsmale: 73.61 yearsfemale: 80.75 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.27 children born/woman (2006 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: Han'gukabbreviation: ROK
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Seoulgeographic coordinates: 37 34 N, 127 00 Etime difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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:29 October 1987
Legal system:combines elements of continental European civil law systems,Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage:19 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003)head of government: Prime Minister HAN Myeong-sook (since 20 April2006); Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Woo-sik (since 10 February 2006);KWON O-kyu (since 18 July 2006); KIM Shin-il (since 20 September2006)cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the primeminister's recommendationelections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-yearterm; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held on 19December 2007); prime minister appointed by president with consentof National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by presidenton prime minister's recommendationelection results: ROH Moo-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 representation)elections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008;byelections held to fill vacant seats)election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP3%, DP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 141, GNP 127, DP 12, DLP9, PFP 5, independents 5note: percent of vote is for 2004 general election; seats by partyreflect results of 2005 and 2006 byelections; MDP became DP in May2005; United Liberal Democrats (ULD) merged with GNP in February 2006
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 [MOON Seong-hyun]; Democratic Partyor DP [HAHN Hwa-kap]; Grand National Party or GNP [KANG Jae-sup];People-First Party or PFP [SHIN Kook-hwan and SIM Dae-pyung]; UriParty [KIM Geun-tae]
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, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP,UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Tae-sik chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW embassy: 32 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, 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 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record ofgrowth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Fourdecades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorercountries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined thetrillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita isequal to the lesser economies of the EU. This success was achievedby a 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.GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, then recovered 9.5% in 1999 and 8.5% in2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing globaleconomy, falling exports, and the perception that much-neededcorporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumerspending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 7%, despiteanemic global growth. Between 2003 and 2006, growth moderated toabout 4-5%. A downturn in consumer spending was offset by rapidexport growth. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, an exportsurplus, and fairly equal distribution of income characterize thissolid economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.18 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$768.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$24,200 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 40.7% services: 56% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 23.88 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6.4% industry: 26.4% services: 67.2% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.6% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:15% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25% (2005 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.8 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):29.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $218 billionexpenditures: $209.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:21.4% of GDP (2006 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% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:345.2 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 36.6% other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:321 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:7,378 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:2.149 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:645,200 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:2.263 million bbl/day (2004)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:27.84 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:28.93 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$6.741 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$327.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motorvehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Exports - partners:China 21.8%, US 14.6%, Japan 8.5%, Hong Kong 5.5% (2005)
Imports:$300.4 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:Japan 18.5%, China 14.8%, US 11.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$235 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$229.3 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $423.3 million (2004)
Currency (code):South Korean won (KRW)
Currency code:KRW
Exchange rates:South Korean won per US dollar - 952 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005),1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003), 1,251.1 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:23.745 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:38.342 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 82; 10 fiber-optic submarine cables -1 Korea-Russia-Japan, 1 Korea-Japan-Hong Kong, 3 Korea-Japan-China,1 Korea-Japan-China-Europe, 1 Korea-Japan-China-US-Taiwan, 1Korea-Japan-China, 1 Korea-Japan-Hong Kong-Taiwan, 1 Korea-Japan;satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 IndianOcean) and 3 Inmarsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 61, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2005)
Radios:47.5 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations: terrestrial stations 43; cable operators 59; relay cable operators 190 (2005)
Televisions:15.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:.kr
Internet hosts:5,433,591 (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2000)
Internet users:33.9 million (2005)
Transportation Korea, South
Airports: 107 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 35 (2006)
Heliports:540 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 1,482 km; refined products 827 km (2006)
Railways:total: 3,472 kmstandard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,361 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 100,279 kmpaved: 87,032 km (including 3,060 km of expressways)unpaved: 13,247 km (2004)
Waterways:1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 669 ships (1000 GRT or over) 8,634,188 GRT/13,733,624 DWTby type: bulk carrier 157, cargo 193, chemical tanker 98, container81, liquefied gas 22, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleumtanker 57, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 6, specializedtanker 3, vehicle carrier 6foreign-owned: 22 (France 12, Japan 1, UK 2, US 7)registered in other countries: 365 (Belize 4, Cambodia 23, China 2,Cyprus 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 1, Liberia3, Malaysia 1, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 291, Singapore17, unknown 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Inch'on, Masan, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan
Military Korea, South
Military branches:Army, Navy, Republic of Korea Air Force (Han-guk Kong Goon), MarineCorps, National Maritime Police (coast guard) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 20-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; women, in service since 1950, are admitted to seven service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 12,483,677females age 20-49: 12,014,462 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 10,115,817females age 20-49: 9,721,914 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 344,943females age 20-49: 312,720 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$21.06 billion FY05 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% FY05 (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Korea, South
Disputes - international:Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zonehas separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritimedisputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; South Koreaand Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied bySouth Korea since 1954
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Kuwait
Introduction Kuwait
Background:Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the rulingKuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961.Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Followingseveral weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began aground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in fourdays. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructuredamaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled sincereturning to power in 1991, and reestablished an elected legislaturethat in recent years has become increasingly assertive.
Geography Kuwait
Location:Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and SaudiArabia
Geographic coordinates:29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 17,820 sq kmland: 17,820 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:499 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.84% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 98.99% (2005)
Irrigated land:130 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavyrain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust stormsoccur throughout the year, but are most common between March andAugust
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People Kuwait
Population: 2,418,393 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.9% (male 331,768/female 319,895)15-64 years: 70.3% (male 1,085,721/female 613,746)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 42,460/female 24,803) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 25.9 yearsmale: 28 yearsfemale: 22.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:3.52%note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration ofexpatriates (2006 est.)
Birth rate:21.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:2.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:15.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.72 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.2 yearsmale: 76.13 yearsfemale: 78.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Kuwaiti(s)adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups:Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, andother 15%
Languages:Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.5%male: 85.1%female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Government Kuwait
Country name:conventional long form: State of Kuwaitconventional short form: Kuwaitlocal long form: Dawlat al Kuwaytlocal short form: Al Kuwayt
Government type:constitutional hereditary emirate
Capital:name: Kuwaitgeographic coordinates: 29 20 N, 47 59 Etime difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak Al Kabir
Independence:19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:adult males who are not in the military forces, and adult females(as of 16 May 2005); all voters must have been citizens for 20 years
Executive branch:chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabahhead of government: Prime Minister NASIR al-Muhammad al-Ahmadal-Sabah (since 7 February 2006) First Deputy Prime Minister JABIRMubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy PrimeMinisters MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February2006) and Ismail al-SHATTI (since 10 July 2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister andapproved by the amirelections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the primeminister and deputy prime ministers
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all cabinetministers are also ex officio voting members of the NationalAssembly)elections: last held 29 June 2006 (next election to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
Judicial branch:High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders:a number of political groups act as de facto parties; severallegislative blocs operate in the National Assembly: tribal groups,merchants, Shi'a activists, Islamists, and secular liberals; inmid-2006, a coalition of Islamists, liberals, and Shia campaignedsuccessfully for electoral reform to reduce corruption
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM,OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabahchancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARONembassy: Bayan 36302, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near theBayan palace), Kuwait Citymailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE09880-9000telephone: [965] 259-1001FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with ablack trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I
Economy Kuwait
Economy - overview:Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with self-reportedcrude oil reserves of about 96 billion barrels - 10% of worldreserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of exportrevenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limitsagricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish,it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable watermust be distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions withforeign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of thecountry. High oil prices in recent years have helped build Kuwait'sbudget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. As a result of thispositive fiscal situation, the need for economic reforms is lessurgent and the government has not earnestly pushed through newinitiatives.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$52.17 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$58.3 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$21,600 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.4% industry: 48.3% services: 51.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 1.136 million note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:2.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):26.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $59.58 billionexpenditures: $33.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:8.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:practically no crops; fish
Industries:petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair,desalination, food processing, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:13.1% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:40.37 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:37.54 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:2.418 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:335,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:1.97 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:96.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.572 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$40.75 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$56.06 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:Japan 19.7%, South Korea 15.4%, US 11.9%, Taiwan 11.1%, Singapore9.5%, Netherlands 4.7% (2005)
Imports:$19.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:US 14.1%, Germany 10.8%, Japan 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, UK 5.7%,France 4.8%, China 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$11.08 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$19.7 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA (2001)
Currency (code):Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Currency code:KWD
Exchange rates:Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947(2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:510,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.536 million (2006)
Telephone system:general assessment: the quality of service is excellentdomestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for newsubscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellulartelephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is wellsupplied with pay telephonesinternational: country code - 965; coaxial cable and microwave radiorelay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via theFiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat(1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.175 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions:875,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kw
Internet hosts:2,310 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:700,000 (2005)
Transportation Kuwait
Airports: 7 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Heliports:5 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2006)
Roadways:total: 5,749 kmpaved: 4,887 kmunpaved: 862 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 38 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,424,983 GRT/3,996,755 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5,livestock carrier 3, petroleum tanker 21registered in other countries: 28 (Bahrain 3, Comoros 1, Liberia 1,Libya 1, Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saudi Arabia 5, UAE 8) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'AbdAllah, Mina' al Ahmadi
Military Kuwait
Military branches:Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiyaal-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 1 month annual training to age 40; women have served in police forces since 1999 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 864,745females age 18-49: 467,120 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 737,292females age 18-49: 405,207 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 18,743females age 18-49: 20,065 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.01 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Kuwait
Disputes - international:Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritimeboundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in thePersian Gulf
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men andwomen who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for domesticor low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of involuntaryservitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of physicaland sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the home, andwithholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement;Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East Asianworkers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of theseworkers are deceived as to the true location and nature of thiswork, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntaryservitude in Iraq; in past years, Kuwait was also a destinationcountry for children exploited as camel jockeys, but this form oftrafficking appears to have ceasedtier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Kuwait is placed on the Tier 2Watch List because its efforts are based largely on pledges offuture actions
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Kyrgyzstan
Introduction Kyrgyzstan
Background:A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proudnomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; itachieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Nationwidedemonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster ofPresident Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990.Subsequent presidential elections in July 2005 were wonoverwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. Thepolitical opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in inApril, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of newconstitution that transfered some of the president's powers toparliament and the government. Current concerns include:privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy andpolitical freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnicrelations, and combating terrorism.
Geography Kyrgyzstan
Location:Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 198,500 sq kmland: 191,300 sq kmwater: 7,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 3,878 kmborder countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical insouthwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain:peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompassentire nation
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 mhighest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources:abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earthmetals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; otherdeposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc