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 Korea, North| Facts & Figures |
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| Head of State: Kim Jong-un (2011) Prime Minister: Kim
Yong-Il (2007) Land area: 46,490 sq mi (120,409 sq km);
total area: 46,540 sq mi (120,540 sq km) Population (2010 est.): 22,757,275 (growth
rate: 0.4%); birth rate: 14.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 50.1/1000;
life expectancy: 64.1; density per sq km: 195
Capital and largest city (2003):
Pyongyang, 3,222,000 (metro. area),
2,767,900 Monetary unit: won More Facts & Figures |
GeographyKorea is a 600-mile (966km) peninsula jutting
out from Manchuria and China (and a small portion of the USSR). North
Korea occupies an area—slightly smaller than
Pennsylvania—north of the 38th parallel.
The country is almost completely covered by a
series of north-south mountain ranges separated by narrow valleys. The
Yalu River forms part of the northern border with Manchuria.
GovernmentAuthoritarian socialist; one-man
dictatorship.
HistoryThe ancient history of the Korean peninsula can
be traced to the Neolithic Age, when Turkic-Manchurian-Mongol peoples
migrated into the region from China. The first agriculturally based
settlements appeared around 6000
B.C.
Some of
the larger communities of this era were established along the Han-gang
River near modern-day Seoul, others near Pyongyang and Pusan. According to
ancient lore, Korea's earliest civilization, known as Choson, was founded
in 2333
B.C.
by Tan-gun.
In the 17th century, Korea became a vassal state
of China and was cut off from outside contact until the Sino-Japanese War
of 1894–1895. Following Japan's victory, Korea was granted
independence. By 1910, Korea had been annexed by Japan, which developed
the country but never won over the Korean nationalists, who continued to
agitate for independence.
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