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 white disk with a red five-pointed star.
9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 special cities* (si, singular and plural): Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Najin Sonbong-si*, P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (Pyongyang City), and Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province).
Population:
23,301,725 (July 2007 est.)
Languages:
Korean
Geographic coordinates:
40° 00' N, 127° 00' E
Area total:
120,540 sq. km
Land area:
120,410 sq. km
Water area:
130 sq. km
Total land boundaries:
1,673 km
Borders with neighbor countries:
China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline:
2,495 km
Elevation extremes:
Sea of Japan 0 m - Paektu-san 2,744 m
Internet country code:
.kp
Currency:
North Korean won (KPW)
Name - conventional long form:
Democratic People's Republic o
Name - conventional short form:
North Korea
Name - local long form:
Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
Name - local short form:
none
Name - notes:
the North Koreans generally use the term Choson to refer to their country
Independence:
15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Constitution:
adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
Government type:
authoritarian socialist, one-man dictatorship
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)