Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Exports:
$1.684 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 136
Exports - commodities:
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products
Exports - partners:
South Korea 45%, China 35%, India 5% (2007)
Imports:
$3.055 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 140 $2.879 billion (2006)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
Imports - partners:
China 46%, South Korea 34%, Thailand 6%, Russia 4% (2007)
Debt - external:
$12.5 billion (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Exchange rates:
North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar - 140 (2007), 141 (2006), 170(December 2004), market rate: North Korean won per US dollar - 3,400(October 2008)
Communications ::Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.18 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 71
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system; currently mobile cellular telephone services are available in Pyongyang only
domestic: fiber-optic links installed between cities; telephone directories unavailable; mobile cellular service, initiated in 2002, suspended in 2004; Orascom Telecom, an Egyptian company, launched mobile service on December 15, 2008 for the Pyongyang area only
international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 17 (including 11 stations of Korean Central Broadcasting Station; North Korea has a "national intercom" cable radio station wired throughout the country that is a significant source of information for the average North Korean citizen; it is wired into most residences and workplaces and carries news and commentary), FM 14, shortwave 14 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (includes Korean Central Television, Mansudae Television, Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong Television targeting South Korea) (2003)
Internet country code:
.kp
Internet hosts:
3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 227
Transportation ::Korea, North
Airports:
79 (2009) country comparison to the world: 70
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 37
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: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 42
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2009)
Heliports:
22 (2009)
Pipelines:
oil 154 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 5,235 km country comparison to the world: 34 standard gauge: 5,235 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 25,554 km country comparison to the world: 104 paved: 724 km
unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)
Waterways:
2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2008) country comparison to the world: 39
Merchant marine:
total: 167 country comparison to the world: 39 by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 121, carrier 1, chemical tanker 4, container 3, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 19 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 1, Romania 4, Syria 1, UAE 8, Yemen 2)
registered in other countries: 2 (Mongolia 1, Panama 1) (2008)
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 Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,225,747
females age 16-49: 6,188,270 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 4,104,964
females age 16-49: 4,492,374 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 191,759
female: 184,641 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
Transnational Issues ::Korea, North
Disputes - international:
risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: undetermined (flooding in mid-2007 and famine during mid-1990s) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the most common form of trafficking involves North Korean women and girls who cross the border into China voluntarily; additionally, North Korean women and girls are lured out of North Korea to escape poor social and economic conditions by the promise of food, jobs, and freedom, only to be forced into prostitution, marriage, or exploitative labor arrangements once in China
tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government does not acknowledge the existence of human rights abuses in the country or recognize trafficking, either within the country or transnationally; North Korea has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003
page last updated on November 12, 2009
======================================================================
@Korea, South (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Korea, South
Background:
An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed almost continuously for several millennia. Between its initial unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Korean states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War, Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following Japan'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 the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1993, KIM Young-sam became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il. In October 2007, a second North-South summit took place between the South's President ROH Moo-hyun and the North Korean leader. Harsh rhetoric and unwillingness by North Korea to engage with President LEE Myung-bak following his February 2008 inauguration has strained inter-Korean relations.
Geography ::Korea, South
Location:
Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering theSea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 99,720 sq km country comparison to the world: 108 land: 96,920 sq km
water: 2,800 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 Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental 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)
Total renewable water resources:
69.7 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 18.59 cu km/yr (36%/16%/48%)
per capita: 389 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest
Environment - current issues:
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge 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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location on Korea Strait
People ::Korea, South
Population:
48,508,972 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 4,278,581/female 3,887,516)
15-64 years: 72.3% (male 17,897,053/female 17,196,840)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 2,104,589/female 3,144,393) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.3 years
male: 36 years
female: 38.5 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.266% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
Birth rate:
8.93 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 212
Death rate:
5.94 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Net migration rate:
-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Urbanization:
urban population: 81% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 204 male: 4.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.72 years country comparison to the world: 40 male: 75.45 years
female: 82.22 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.21 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 218
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:
homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions:
Christian 26.3% (Protestant 19.7%, Roman Catholic 6.6%), Buddhist 23.2%, other or unknown 1.3%, none 49.3% (1995 census)
Languages:
Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 18 years
female: 15 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
4.6% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 85
Government ::Korea, South
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: Han'guk
abbreviation: ROK
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Seoul
geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard 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, Kwangju-gwangyoksi, Pusan-gwangyoksi, Soul-t'ukpyolsi, Taegu-gwangyoksi, Taejon-gwangyoksi, Ulsan-gwangyoksi
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution:
17 July 1948; note - amended or rewritten nine times; current constitution approved on 29 October 1987
Legal system:
combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
19 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President LEE Myung-bak (since 25 February 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister CHUNG Un-chan (since 30 September 2009)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly
election results: LEE Myung-bak elected president on 19 December 2007; percent of vote - LEE Myung-bak (GNP) 48.7%; CHUNG Dong-young (UNDP) 26.1%); LEE Hoi-chang (independent) 15.1; others 10.1%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; 243 members elected in single-seat constituencies, 56 elected by proportional representation; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GNP 172, UDP 83, LFP 20, Pro-Park Alliance 8, DLP 5, CKP 1, independents 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president with consent ofNational Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by thepresident based partly on nominations by National Assembly and ChiefJustice of the court)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party or DP [CHUNG Sye-kyun] (formerly the UnitedDemocratic Party or UDP); Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KANGKi-kabi]; Grand National Party or GNP [CHUNG Mong-joon]; LibertyForward Party or LFP [LEE Hoi-chang]; Pro-Park Alliance or PPA [SUHChoung-won]; Renewal Korea Party or RKP [MOON Kook-hyun]
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:
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN (dialoguepartner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, G-20, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC,LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner),PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Duck-soo
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
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 Kathleen STEPHENS
embassy: 32 Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
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 of Changes) in each corner of the white field
Economy ::Korea, South
Economy - overview:
Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. In 2008, its GDP per capita was roughly the same as that of the Czech Republic and New Zealand. Initially, this success was achieved by a system of close government/business ties including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea'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 by 9% in 1999-2000. Korea adopted numerous economic reforms following the crisis, including greater openness to foreign investment and imports. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 7% despite anemic global growth. Between 2003 and 2007, growth moderated to about 4-5% annually. A downturn in consumer spending was offset by rapid export growth. In 2008, inflation increased in the face of rising oil and food prices before easing in the fourth quarter. Korea was hit hard by the global financial turmoil that began in September 2008. Stock prices fell by more than 40% for the year and the value of the won fell by approximately 26%. Korean GDP shrank in the fourth quarter and GDP growth for the year was just 2.2%. The Korean government adopted several measures to combat the credit crunch and stimulate the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.338 trillion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 $1.309 trillion (2007 est.)
$1.245 trillion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$929.1 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 5.1% (2007 est.)
5.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$27,700 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 $27,100 (2007 est.)
$25,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 39.5%
services: 57.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
24.35 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 25.1%
services: 67.7% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 3.3% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
15% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 24.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.3 (2007) country comparison to the world: 105 35.8 (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
27.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Budget:
revenues: $227.5 billion
expenditures: $216.7 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
24.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 21.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 2.5% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 131 3.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.17% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$80.66 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 15 $92.59 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$478 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 8 $541.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$937 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 12 $1.061 trillion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$494.6 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 16 $1.124 trillion (31 December 2007)
$835.2 billion (31 December 2006)
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:
2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - production:
440 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - consumption:
385.1 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
30,440 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Oil - consumption:
2.175 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - exports:
800,000 bbl/day country comparison to the world: 22 note: exports consist of oil derivatives (gasoline, light oil, and diesel), not crude oil (2008 est.)
Oil - imports:
2.982 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl country comparison to the world: 190
Natural gas - production:
443 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - consumption:
34.76 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - imports:
36.21 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11
Natural gas - proved reserves:
50 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Current account balance:
-$6.349 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $5.954 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$433.5 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $379 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals
Exports - partners:
China 21.4%, US 10.9%, Japan 6.6%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$427.4 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $349.6 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics
Imports - partners:
China 17.7%, Japan 14%, US 8.9%, Saudi Arabia 7.8%, UAE 4.4%,Australia 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$201.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $262.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$381.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $383.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$124.2 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $122 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$74.6 billion (30 June 2008) country comparison to the world: 26 $82.1 billion (2006)
Exchange rates:
South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar - 1,101.7 (2008 est.), 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3 (2004)
Communications ::Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:
21.325 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 13
Telephones - mobile cellular:
45.607 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 23
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services featuring rapid incorporation of new technologies
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services wide available with a combined telephone subscribership of roughly 140 per 100 persons; rapid assimilation of a full range of telecommunications technologies leading to a boom in e-commerce
international: country code - 82; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 66
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 96, FM 322, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
57 (plus 103 cable operators and 119 relay cable operators) (2008)
Internet country code:
.kr
Internet hosts:
301,270 (2009) country comparison to the world: 54
Internet users:
37.476 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 10
Transportation ::Korea, South
Airports:
116 (2009) country comparison to the world: 53
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 22 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 44
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 42 (2009)
Heliports:
516 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,423 km; refined products 827 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,381 km country comparison to the world: 51 standard gauge: 3,381 km 1.435-m gauge (1,843 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 103,029 km country comparison to the world: 40 paved: 80,642 km (includes 3,367 km of expressways)
unpaved: 22,387 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2008) country comparison to the world: 50
Merchant marine:
total: 812 country comparison to the world: 14 by type: bulk carrier 212, cargo 226, carrier 2, chemical tanker 133, container 80, liquefied gas 33, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 26, petroleum tanker 61, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 9, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 31 (China 1, Japan 20, Norway 2, UK 1, US 7)
registered in other countries: 363 (Belize 1, Cambodia 22, China 1, Cyprus 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 3, Kiribati 2, Liberia 3, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 10, Mongolia 1, Netherlands 1, Panama 303, Russia 1, Singapore 3, Tuvalu 1, unknown 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Inch'on, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan
Military ::Korea, South
Military branches:
Republic of Korea Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
20-30 years of age for compulsory military service, with middle school education required; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved (to be reduced to 18 months beginning 2016); 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service; women, in service since 1950, admitted to 7 service branches, including infantry, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,691,809
females age 16-49: 13,029,859 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 10,991,263
females age 16-49: 10,356,604 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 371,728
female: 322,605 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 58
Transnational Issues ::Korea, South
Disputes - international:
Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents with North Korea in the Yellow Sea over the Northern Limiting Line, which South Korea claims as a maritime boundary; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Kosovo (Europe)
Introduction ::Kosovo
Background:
Ethnic Serbs migrated to the territories of modern Kosovo in the 7th century but did not fully incorporate them into the Serbian realm until the early 13th century. The defeat of the Serbian empire at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 led to five centuries of Ottoman rule during which large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to Kosovo. By the end of the 19th century, Albanians replaced the Serbs as the dominant ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control over Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire during the First Balkan War of 1912. Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia with status almost equivalent to that of a republic under the 1974 Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Despite legislative concessions, Albanian nationalism increased in the 1980s, which led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence. At the same time, Serb nationalist leaders, such as Slobodan MILOSEVIC, exploited Kosovo Serb claims of maltreatment to secure votes from supporters, many of whom viewed Kosovo as their cultural heartland. Under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia instituted a new constitution in 1989 that revoked Kosovo's status as an autonomous province of Serbia. Kosovo Albanian leaders responded in 1991 by organizing a referendum that declared Kosovo independent. Under MILOSEVIC, Serbia carried out repressive measures against the Albanians in the early 1990s as the unofficial Kosovo government, led by Ibrahim RUGOVA, used passive resistance in an attempt to try to gain international assistance and recognition of an independent Kosovo. Albanians dissatisfied with RUGOVA's passive strategy in the 1990s created the Kosovo Liberation Army and launched an insurgency. Starting in 1998, Serbian military, police, and paramilitary forces conducted a counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians. International attempts to mediate the conflict failed, and MILOSEVIC's rejection of a proposed settlement led to a three-month NATO bombing campaign against Serbia beginning in March 1999 that forced Serbia to agree to withdraw its military and police forces from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under a transitional administration, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), pending a determination of Kosovo's future status. A UN-led process began in late 2005 to determine Kosovo's final status. The negotiations ran in stages between 2006 and 2007, but ended without agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Since then, over fifty countries have recognized Kosovo. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence and subsequently has sought an advisory opinion with the backing of the General Assembly from the International Court of Justice on the legality under international law of Kosovo's independence declaration.
Geography ::Kosovo
Location:
Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 10,887 sq km country comparison to the world: 168 land: 10,887 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 702 km
border countries: Albania 112 km, Macedonia 159 km, Montenegro 79 km, Serbia 352 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December
Terrain:
flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim 297 m (located on the border with Albania)
highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:
nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
People ::Kosovo
Population:
1,804,838 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.7% (male 260,678/female 239,779)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 617,890/female 567,939)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 50,463/female 68,089) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.4 years (2009 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovac (Serbian)
adjective: Kosovar (Albanian), Kosovski (Serbian)
note: Kosovan, a neutral term, is sometimes also used as a noun or adjective
Ethnic groups:
Albanians 88%, Serbs 7%, other 5% (Bosniak, Gorani, Roma, Turk,Ashkali, Egyptian)
Religions:
Muslim, Serbian Orthodox, Roman Catholic
Languages:
Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.6%
female: 87.5% (2007 Census)
Government ::Kosovo
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
conventional short form: Kosovo
local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosovo)
local short form: Kosova (Kosovo)
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)
geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
30 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna in Albanian; opstine,singular - opstina in Serbian); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas),Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica),Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc/Drenas (Glogovac), Istog (Istok),Kacanik, Kamenice/Dardana (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Leposaviq(Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mitrovice(Mitrovica), Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Peje (Pec),Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec(Orahovac), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica),Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), ZubinPotok, Zvecan
Independence:
17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Constitution:
adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on 9 April 2008; effective 15 June 2008
Legal system:
evolving legal system based on terms of UN Special Envoy Martti AHTISAARI's Plan for Kosovo's supervised independence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fatmir SEJDIU (since 10 February 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Hashim THACI (since 9 January 2008)
cabinet: ministers; elected by the Kosovo Assembly
elections: the president is elected for a five-year term by the Kosovo Assembly; election last held 9 January 2008 (next to be held by in 2013); the prime minister is elected by the Kosovo Assembly
election results: Fatmir SEJDIU reelected president after three rounds; Hashim THACI elected prime minister by the Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral national Assembly (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected, 10 seats guaranteed for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats guaranteed for other ethnic minorities; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDK 34.3%, LDK 22.6%, AKR 12.3%, LDD 10.0%, AAK 9.6%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PDK 37, LDK 25, AKR 13, LDD 11, AAK 10, other 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; district courts; municipal courts
note: the Kosovo Constitution dictates that the Supreme Court of Kosovo is the highest judicial authority, and provides for a Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) that proposes to the president candidates for appointment or reappointment as judges and prosecutors; the KJC is also responsible for decisions on the promotion and transfer of judges and disciplinary proceedings against judges; at least 15 percent of Supreme Court and district court judges shall be from non-majority communities
Political parties and leaders:
Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Tome MARKU];Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ];Alliance for a New Kosovo or AKR [Behgjet PACOLLI]; Alliance ofIndependent Social Democrats of Kosovo and Metohija or SDSKIM[Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Autonomous Liberal Party of SLS [SlobodanPETROVIC]; Bosniak Vakat Coalition [Dzezair MURATI]; Citizens'Initiative of Gora or GIG [Murselj HALJILJI]; Council of IndependentSocial Democrats of Kosovo or SNSDKIM [Ljubisa ZIVIC]; DemocraticAction Party or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Democratic Ashkali Party ofKosovo or PDAK; Democratic League of Dardania or LDD [Nexhat DACI];Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU]; Democratic Partyof Ashkali of Kosovo or PDAK [Sabit RAHMANI]; Democratic Party ofKosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Democratic Party Vatan [Sadik IDRIZI];Democratic Union of Ashkalis or BDA [Sabit RRAHMANI]; Justice Partyor PD [Sylejman QERKEZI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP[Mahir YAGCILAR]; Liberal Party of Kosovo or PLK [Gjergi DEDAJ]; NewDemocratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet NEZIRAJ]; NewDemocratic Party or ND [Branislav GRBIC]; New Kosovo Alliance or AKR[Behxhet PACOLLI]; Popular Movement of Kosovo or LPK [EmrushXHEMAJLI]; Reform Party Ora [Teuta SAHATCIA]; Serb National Party orSNS [Mihailo SCEPANOVIC]; Serbian Kosovo and Metohija Party or SKMS[Dragisa MIRIC]; Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija [OliverIVANOVIC]; Social Democratic Party of Kosovo or PSDK [Agim CEKU];United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi MERXHA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedom (human rights);Humanitarian Law Centre (human rights); Movement forSelf-Determination; Serb National Council (SNV)