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North Korea: Quick Facts

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News •

FBI says US has seized $1.2 billion worth of cryptocurrency stolen from Binance • Nov. 12, 2026, 6:26 PM ET (AP)
FBI blames North Korea for stolen billions from Binance in biggest hack in history • Oct. 31, 2026, 9:28 PM ET (AP)
Long accused of abetting crypto crimes, Binance has now become a victim • Oct. 30, 2026, 5:08 PM ET (AP)
Blockchain intelligence firms link North Korea to $6.3B hack on Binance • Oct. 30, 2026, 12:48 PM ET (AP)
North Korea fires missile barrage toward the sea as tensions with South rise • Oct. 29, 2026, 5:52 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Chosŏn Minjujuŭi In’min Konghwaguk • Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Head Of State And Government Supreme Leader1/Chairman of the State Affairs Commission: Kim Jong-Un
Capital Pyongyang
Population (2026 est.) 26,634,000
Form Of Government unitary single-party republic with one legislative house (Supreme People’s Assembly [687])
Official Language Korean
Official Religion none
Official Name Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
Total Area (Sq Km) 123,214
Total Area (Sq Mi) 47,573
Monetary Unit ([new] North Korean) won (W)
Population Rank (2026) 56
Population Projection 2030 26,701,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 559.9
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 216.2
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 63.5% • Rural: (2024) 36.5%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2021) 75.6 years • Female: (2021) 69.8 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2023) 32,720
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2023) 1,271
1Per constitutional revision of April 2009.

Photos

North Korea
Political map of North Korea showing provincial boundaries, major cities, and neighboring countries China and South Korea. The map highlights the Demilitarized Zone along the southern border and includes a locator inset indicating North Korea's position in East Asia. Major cities such as Pyongyang, Nampo, and Hamhung are labeled, along with surrounding seas: the Yellow Sea to the west and the East Sea (Sea of Japan) to the east.
Pyongyang, North Korea: skyline
Map showing the location of North Korea in East Asia, highlighted in orange, with its capital Pyongyang marked. Surrounding countries include China, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and Mongolia, with nearby bodies of water such as the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and Sea of Japan.
Map of North Korea highlighting major physical features such as mountain ranges, peaks, highlands, and rivers. Labeled features include the Nangnim Mountains, Kaema Highlands, and notable peaks like Mount Paektu and Mount Kumgang. The map also shows surrounding bodies of water including the Yellow Sea and the East Sea (Sea of Japan), borders with China and South Korea, and marks the Demilitarized Zone along the southern border. An inset locator map shows North Korea's position in East Asia.
Mount Paektu
Tall, narrow waterfall cascades down a steep rocky cliff surrounded by green trees at Kuryong Waterfall, Mount Kumgang, North Korea.
View from a hill overlooking the city of Kaesong, North Korea, showing a wide avenue, traditional-style building, North Korean flags, tall buildings, and distant hills.
Kanggye
Hundreds of performers in yellow costumes dance in formation at the Arirang Festival in Pyongyang, North Korea, with a colorful sunrise mural and mountains in the background.
See All Images and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
Kim Jong Un speaks at a podium with microphones, standing in front of North Korean and Russian flags during a press conference in Pyongyang.
Kim Jong-Un
North Korean political official
Portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il wearing glasses and a gray collared shirt, looking forward with a neutral expression.
Kim Jong Il
North Korean political leader
Kim Yo-Jong
Kim Yo-Jong
North Korean political official
Kim Il-Sung
Kim Il-Sung
president of North Korea
Kim Dae-jung, President of South Korea, stands at a podium with the United Nations emblem, delivering a speech at the UN Millennium Summit in New York City.
Kim Dae-Jung
president of South Korea
Roh Moo-Hyun
Roh Moo-Hyun
president of South Korea
default image
Kim Soon-Kwon
South Korean agricultural scientist
Jesse L. Brown
Jesse L. Brown
United States Navy officer

Related Places

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Kimch’aek
North Korea
A map of the continent of Asia, including its countries, boundaries, and capital cities, as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and surrounding oceans.
Asia
continent
Political map of Eastern Asia showing national boundaries and labeling major countries including China, Mongolia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. Neighboring countries such as Russia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos are also partially shown. Major surrounding bodies of water include the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea, and Pacific Ocean. Disputed and administered regions along the India-China border are marked with lettered labels.
East Asia
region, Asia
Pyongyang, North Korea: skyline
Pyongyang
national capital, North Korea
Kaesong
Kaesŏng
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Kangwŏn province: Kuryong Falls on Mount Kŭmgang
Kangwŏn
province, North Korea
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Wŏnsan
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Ch’ŏngjin
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