Capital Pyeongyang (Special District)
Area 122,762
Climate Average temperature: 9.3 , Average rainfall: 826
Population about 22,600,000 (2002)
Per Capita GDP $706 (2002)
Provinces 4 cities (under special district control),
9 provinces, 24 cities and 145 districts
Government A Republic : the Supreme People's Assembly is the governing legislative branch
Economy Agriculture/Fishing 30.4%,
Mining and Manufacturing 26%,
Service 31.8%,
Construction 7%,
Utilities 4.8% (2001)
International Airport Pyeongyang International Airport
East coast (Cheongjin, Heungnam, Wonsan)
West coast (Nampo, Songrim, Haeju)
Major Cities Pyeongyang, Nampo, Gaeseong, Weonsan, Hamheung, Sinuiju
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History
Tools made of animal bones
from the Paleolithic era were
unearthed in North Korea's
Sangwon, Deokcheon, and Unggi
areas and earthenware from the
Neolithic era were discovered
in Pyeongyang, Uiju, and
Musan. The land which is
currently occupied by North
Korea was once Gojoseon (2333
B.C.~108 A.D.), the first
nation of the Korean
peninsula. Near Pyeongyang and
Mt. Guweolsan, the
Bipahyeongdonggum Sword, an
artifact from that era, was
discovered. During the age of
the three kingdoms (57
B.C.~668 A.D.) in year 427,
Goguryeo (one of the three
kingdoms) moved its capital
from Guknaeseong in the
Aprokgang River area to
Pyeongyang. Afterwards, the
Shilla nation (another one of
the three kingdoms) conquered
and united the three kingdoms
and formed Tongil-Shilla
(676-935). During the Goryeo
Dynasty (918-1392), which
covered all of South Korea and
much of current North Korea,
Gaeseong was its capital city-
it was also during this era
that the arts (the Goryeo
Celadon is an excellent
example) and trade flourished.
During the Joseon (1392-1910)
era, active militia movements
took place in Mt. Myohyangsan,
Gaeseong, Pyeongyang, and the
Geumgangsan Diamond Mountains
in response to the Japanese
Invasion. After being
liberated from the Japanese
Occupation (1910-1945) August
15th of 1945, the nation was
divided into North and South
Korea by the 6.25 War of 1950.
North Korea adopted a
socialist form of government
due to influences from the
Soviet Union, and in September
9th of 1948, founded the
Democratic People's Republic
of Korea.
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