Discover Fascinating North Korea Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about North Korea.

North Korea

Background

Did you know? ๐ŸŒ Korea has an interesting history as an independent kingdom! After World War II, it was divided, with the northern part becoming a communist region under the influence of the Soviet Union. ๐Ÿ“œ

The country was led by the autocratic KIM Il Sung, who introduced a policy called "self-reliance" to keep outside influences at bay. ๐Ÿค” This focus on self-sufficiency became a key part of North Korea's identity.

KIM Il Sung's legacy continued when his son, KIM Jong Il, was named as his successor in 1980. Following him, the reign of KIM Jong Un began in 2011. What a journey through history! ๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธ

Year of KIM Il Sung's rise to leadership

1948

Year of KIM Jong Il's succession

1980

Year of KIM Jong Un's succession

2011

Exports - commodities

Korea, North, is rich in various natural resources! ๐ŸŒ In 2022, the country focused on several key commodities for its exports. Let's take a look at these valuable resources:

  • Tungsten Ore ๐Ÿชจ: A vital ingredient used in making strong metals and tools.
  • Refined Petroleum โ›ฝ: This is the fuel that powers our cars and industries!
  • Iron Alloys โš™๏ธ: These are crucial for building strong structures and vehicles.
  • Electricity โšก: Energy is super important! It keeps our lights on and the factories running.
  • Molybdenum Ore ๐Ÿ”ฉ: Used to make steel tougher and more durable.

These commodities show just how much Korea, North exports to the world! ๐ŸŒŸ

Main Export Commodities

Tungsten ore, refined petroleum, iron alloys, electricity, molybdenum ore

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ Let's take a look at the countries that North Korea exports to! According to recent data from 2022, the breakdown of export partners is super interesting!

  • China is the biggest partner, taking a whopping 53% of North Korea's exports! ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Senegal follows with 11%! ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Nigeria receives 6% of the exports! ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ
  • Poland comes in with 4%! ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ
  • Lastly, the Netherlands takes home 3%! ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ

This pie chart will help visualize how much each country gets of North Korea's exports! ๐Ÿฐ

Total Export Percentage

100%

Export Partners of North Korea (2022)

Capital

๐ŸŒ† The capital city of North Korea is Pyongyang! This vibrant city is known for its rich history and unique architecture. Pyongyang is the heart of North Korea, showcasing the country's culture and government.

Imports - commodities

๐ŸŒ North Korea imports various essential commodities to support its economy and meet the needs of its people. Some of these key imports for 2022 include:

  • Plastic products: Used in many everyday items ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
  • Tobacco: A popular product among the population ๐Ÿšฌ
  • Soybean oil: An important cooking ingredient ๐Ÿฅ˜
  • Rubber tires: Necessary for transportation ๐Ÿš—
  • Packaged medicine: Essential for healthcare and well-being ๐Ÿ’Š

This diverse range of imports showcases the different needs and preferences of North Koreans!

Key imported commodities in 2022

Plastic products, Tobacco, Soybean oil, Rubber tires, Packaged medicine

Climate

๐ŸŒฆ๏ธ The climate in North Korea is classified as temperate! This means that the country experiences four distinct seasons. ๐ŸŒˆ The summer months are especially rainy, providing lots of water for the plants and crops. However, be prepared for long and very cold winters that can feel quite bitter! โ„๏ธ So, while you might enjoy warm sunny days in summer, don't forget to bundle up when winter rolls around!

Executive branch

In North Korea, the executive branch is led by the chief of state, who is currently President KIM Jong Un, reigning since ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 17 December 2011. This notable leader is complemented by the head of government, who is the Supreme People's Assembly President CHOE Ryong Hae, in office since ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 11 April 2019. This powerful duo plays a vital role in shaping the nation's policies and direction! ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ต

Days since KIM Jong Un took office

4322

Days since CHOE Ryong Hae took office

1660

Legislative branch

In North Korea, the legislative branch is known as the Supreme People's Assembly. ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ต This unicameral assembly has a total of 687 seats! It's interesting to see how many representatives are involved in making laws for the country. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ

Total seats in the Supreme People's Assembly

687

Natural resources

North Korea is rich in several natural resources! ๐ŸŒ Here are some of the key resources found in the country:

  • Coal: A major energy source, used for heating and generating electricity. ๐Ÿญ
  • Iron Ore: Essential for making steel, a vital material for construction and manufacturing. โš’๏ธ
  • Limestone: Used in building materials and in various industrial processes. ๐Ÿงฑ
  • Magnesite: Important for making refractory materials and fertilizers. ๐ŸŒฑ
  • Graphite: Used in batteries, lubricants, and steelmaking. ๐Ÿ”‹
  • Copper: A key metal for electrical wiring and plumbing. ๐Ÿ”Œ
  • Zinc: Used for galvanizing other metals to prevent rusting. โš™๏ธ
  • Lead: Used in batteries and construction. ๐Ÿ”‹๐Ÿšง
  • Precious Metals: Includes gold and silver, important for jewelry and electronics. ๐Ÿ’
  • Hydropower: A renewable energy source harnessed from water. ๐Ÿ’ง

With such a diverse set of resources, North Korea plays a significant role in the global natural resource market! ๐ŸŒŸ

Key Natural Resources

coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Let's take a look at North Korea's economy! It's one of the last centrally planned economies in the world. However, it has faced some tough challenges recently. ๐Ÿ˜Ÿ The economy has been hit hard by COVID-19, crop failures, international sanctions, and isolationist policies. This has led to declining growth and trade, making the country heavily reliant on China for economic stability. ๐Ÿฆ Additionally, there are issues with poor exchange rate stability and the integrity of economic data, meaning it's hard to figure out whatโ€™s really going on! ๐Ÿ“‰

Nature of economy

Centrally planned

Challenges faced

COVID-19, crop failures, international sanctions, isolationist policies

Dependency

Heavily reliant on China

Exchange rate stability

Poor

Government type

In North Korea, the government is a dictatorship and operates as a single-party communist state. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ This means that there is a single political party in control, and dissenting views are not typically allowed. The country's leadership is centralized, heavily controlled, and it plays a significant role in the daily lives of its citizens. People often have limited freedom in terms of political expression and participation in government. ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ

Government Characteristics

Dictatorship, Single-party communist state

Ethnic groups

In North Korea, the population is predominantly racially homogeneous, which means most people share similar ethnic backgrounds. ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ต However, there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese individuals living there. This diversity, though minor, adds a touch of variety to the overall ethnic picture of the country! ๐ŸŒ

Racial Homogeneity

Predominantly homogeneous with small minorities

Minority Communities

Small Chinese community and few ethnic Japanese

Religions

Korea, North has a rich tapestry of beliefs! ๐ŸŒŸ The main religions practiced are:

  • Buddhism ๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™‚๏ธ
  • Confucianism ๐Ÿ“œ
  • Christianity โœ๏ธ
  • Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) ๐ŸŒŒ

While Buddhism and Confucianism are traditional, there are also some followers of Christianity and the unique Chondogyo faith. This blending of old teachings and newer beliefs makes the spiritual landscape of North Korea quite fascinating! ๐Ÿ˜‡

Main Religions Practiced

Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Chondogyo

Languages

In North Korea, the primary language spoken is Korean! ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ต This beautiful language connects the people and helps to share culture and traditions. Learning Korean opens the door to understanding the rich history and values of Korea. Isn't that amazing? ๐ŸŒโœจ

Imports - partners

๐ŸŒ North Korea's trade is heavily influenced by its import partners! In 2022, China was the dominant player, accounting for a whopping 98% of all imports. The rest of the world barely makes a dent, with Zimbabwe, Netherlands, India, and Colombia each standing at 0%. This shows just how reliant North Korea is on China for importing goods! ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ’ก

Percentage of Imports from China

98%

Percentage of Imports from Other Countries

0%

North Korea's Import Partners (2022)

Population

๐ŸŒ Let's dive into the population of North Korea! As of the latest data, the total population is a whopping 26,298,666 people! That's a lot of individuals living in this fascinating country, don't you think? ๐Ÿ‘ฅ

Total Population

26,298,666

Area

๐ŸŒ Did you know that North Korea has a total area of 120,538 sq km? ๐ŸŒŸ Let's break it down:

  • Land Area: A whopping 120,408 sq km of land can be found in North Korea! That's where all the cities, mountains, and forests are located. ๐ŸŒณ๐Ÿ”๏ธ
  • Water Area: There's also a small water area of 130 sq km. That's not a lot of water compared to the land! ๐Ÿ’ง

This unique combination gives North Korea its distinct geography, influencing everything from climate to culture!

Total Area

120538 sq km

Land Area

120408 sq km

Water Area

130 sq km

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐ŸŒ Did you know that North Korea's Real GDP based on purchasing power parity is estimated to be $40 billion in 2015? This statistic helps us understand the overall size and health of North Korea's economy compared to others. ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Estimated Real GDP (PPP) in 2015

$40 billion

Real GDP per capita

In North Korea, the Real GDP per capita has shown a slight increase over the years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Hereโ€™s how it looks:

  • In 2014, the GDP per capita was $1,800.
  • By 2015, it grew to $1,700! This means that the economy is slowly trying to find its feet! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ช

Isn't it interesting to see how a country's wealth per person can change over time? Let's visualize this growth with a bar chart! ๐ŸŽ‰

2014 Real GDP per Capita

1800

2015 Real GDP per Capita

1700

Real GDP per Capita in North Korea

Imports

๐Ÿ“Š Let's dive into the world of imports for North Korea! ๐ŸŒ In 2018, North Korea imported a whopping $2.32 billion worth of goods! That's a significant amount, showcasing their trade activities. Back in 2016, the imports were even higher at $3.86 billion. It's interesting to see how these numbers change over the years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

Imports in 2016

$3.86 billion

Imports in 2018

$2.32 billion

North Korea Imports Over Time

Exports

๐Ÿ“Š Let's dive into the world of North Korea's exports! In 2018, North Korea's exports were worth $222 million. That's a big drop from $4.582 billion in 2017! ๐Ÿ˜ฎ How did it compare to previous years? Back in 2015, the exports were $2.908 billion! It's interesting to see how these numbers change over time.

Exports in 2018

$222 million

Exports in 2017

$4.582 billion

Exports in 2015

$2.908 billion

North Korea Exports Over Time

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ The population growth rate for North Korea is estimated to be 0.4% in 2024! This means that more people are joining the community each year, showing a slight increase in the number of residents. Let's see how this number might change in the future! ๐ŸŽ‰

Estimated Population Growth Rate for 2024

0.4%