Country name
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: none
note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to theircountry
abbreviation : DPRK

Data code KN

Government type Communist state; one-man dictatorship

National capital P'yongyang

Administrative divisions 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (si, singularand plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North HamgyongProvince), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (NorthHwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si*(Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto(North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si*(P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province)

Independence 9 September 1948
note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebratedin North Korea as National Liberation Day

National holiday DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)

Constitution adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again inApril 1992

Legal system based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communistlegal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage 17 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: KIM Chong-il [de facto]; note - President KIM Il-song was reelectedwithout opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994 leaving his son KIM Chong-ilas designated successor; however the son has not assumed the titles that his father held and no new elections have been held or scheduled
head of government : Acting Premier HONG Song-nam (since NA February 1997)
cabinet: State Administration Council appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
election results: HONG Song-nam elected acting premier; percent of Supreme People's Assemblyvote - NA

Legislative branch unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections : last held 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); note - the term of theAssembly expired in April 1995 without a new election and it has not beenconvened since the death of KIM Il-song in July 1994
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - the KWP approves a singlelist of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties holda few seats

Judicial branch Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly

Political parties and leaders major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Chong-il, secretary,Central Committee; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman;Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman

International organization participation ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatoryuser), IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US none; note - North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York,headed by KIM Hyong-u

Diplomatic representation from the US none

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 is a whitedisk with a red five-pointed star

NOTE: The information regarding Korea, North on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Korea, North Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Korea, North Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.