total: 105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 663,527 GRT/930,587 DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 87, combination bulk 1, multifunction
large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 3, passenger 3, passenger-cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 2
note: North Korea owns an additional 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 15,143 DWT operating under the registry of Honduras (1997
est.)
Airports: 49 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
@Korea, North:Military
Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Civil Security Forces
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 5,704,690 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 3,449,880 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 175,181 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $5 billion to $7 billion (1995
est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 25% (1995 est.)
@Korea, North:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: 33-km section of boundary with China in the
Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South
Korea
______________________________________________________________________
KOREA, SOUTH
@Korea, South:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula
bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline: 2,413 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and
south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 65%
other: 13% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
low-level seismic activity common in southwest
Environment-current issues: air pollution in large cities; water
pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift
net fishing
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Desertification
@Korea, South:People
Population: 46,416,796 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 5,505,564; female 4,894,780)
15-64 years: 71% (male 16,772,319; female 16,272,145)
65 years and over: 7% (male 1,126,963; female 1,845,025) (July 1998
est.)
Population growth rate: 1.01% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.08 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.67 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.95 years
male: 70.37 years
female: 78 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions: Christianity 49%, Buddhism 47%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive
folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way),
and other 1%
Languages: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high
school
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99.3%
female: 96.7% (1995 est.)
@Korea, South:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: none
note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Hanguk" to refer to
their country
abbreviation: ROK
Data code: KS
Government type: republic
National capital: Seoul
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6
special cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,
Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo,
Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do,
Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*,
Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*
Independence: 15 August 1945; note-date of liberation from Japanese
colonial rule
National holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution: 25 February 1988
Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law
systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kim Dae-jung (since 25 February 1998)
head of government: Acting Prime Minister KIM Chong-p'il (since 3
March 1998)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year
term; election last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held 18 December
2002); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's
recommendation
election results: Kim Dae-jung elected president; percent of vote-Kim
Dae-jung (NCNP) 40.3%, YI Hoe-chang (GNP) 38.7%, YI In-che (NPP) 19.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NKP 139,
NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16; note-the distribution of
seats as of February 1998 was GNP 165, NCNP 78, ULD 43, NPP 8,
independents 4, vacant 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the
president subject to the consent of the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Grand National Party (GNP), CHO Sun,
president; National Congress for New Politics (NCNP), Kim Dae-jung,
president; United Liberal Democrats (ULD), PAK Tae-chun, president;
New People's Party (NPP), YI In-che, president
note: subsequent to the legislative election of April 1996 the
following parties disbanded-New Korea Party (NKP) and Democratic Party
(DP)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Korean National Council of
Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation
of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations;
National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions;
Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean
Traders Association; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS
(pending member), CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador YI Hong-ku
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,
Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San
Francisco, and Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen W. BOSWORTH
embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
consulate(s): Pusan
Flag description: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in
the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I
Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field
@Korea, South:Economy
Economy-overview: As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South Korea
has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago its GDP
per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of
Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is eight times India's, 15
times North Korea's, and already up with the lesser economies of the
European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a
system of close government business ties, including directed credit,
import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong
labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and
technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and
investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997/98
exposed certain longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development
model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing,
and an undisciplined financial sector. Also, a number of private
sector conglomerates are near bankruptcy. At yearend 1997, an
international effort, spearheaded by the IMF, was underway to shore up
reserves and stabilize the economy. Growth in 1998 will be sharply
cut. Long-term growth will depend on how successfully South Korea
implements planned economic reforms that would bolster the financial
sector, improve corporate management, and open the economy further to
foreign participation.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$631.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$13,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 45%
services: 47% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 20 million
by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%,
agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $101 billion
expenditures: $101 billion, including capital expenditures of $20
billion (1996 est.)
Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals,
shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 8.2% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 31.665 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 174.52 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,831 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit;
cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish catch of 2.9 million metric
tons, seventh largest in world
Exports:
total value: $129.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel,
automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
partners: US 17%, EU 13%, Japan 12% (1995)
Imports:
total value: $150.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
partners: US 22%, Japan 21%, EU 13% (1995)
Debt-external: $154 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)
Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1-1,706.80 (January 1998),
951.29 (1997), 804.45 (1996), 771.27 (1995), 803.45 (1994), 802.67
(1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16.6 million (1993)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth
stations-3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1
Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 79, FM 46, shortwave 0
Radios: 42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 256 (57 of which are 1 kW or greater)
(1987 est.)
Televisions: 9.3 million (1992 est.)
@Korea, South:Transportation
Railways:
total: 3,081 km
standard gauge: 3,081 km 1.435-m gauge (560 km electrified) (1996
est.)
Highways:
total: 83,400 km
paved: 63,467 km (including 1,920 km of expressways)
unpaved: 19,933 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km; note-additionally, there is a
parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being
completed
Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang,
Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine:
total: 474 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,749,052 GRT/10,447,597
DWT
ships by type: bulk 118, cargo 131, chemical tanker 28, combination
bulk 3, combination ore/oil 1, container 70, liquefied gas tanker 12,
multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 72, refrigerated cargo
22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier
13
note: South Korea owns an additional 273 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 11,985,267 DWT operating under the registries of Cambodia,
Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Panama, and Singapore (1997 est.)
Airports: 103 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways:
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 19 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways:
total: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 32 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 202 (1997 est.)
@Korea, South:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National
Maritime Police (Coast Guard)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability:
males age 15-49: 13,849,615 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service:
males: 8,837,541 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually:
males: 399,034 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $17.4 billion (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.3% (1996)
@Korea, South:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt
Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) claimed by Japan
______________________________________________________________________
KUWAIT
@Kuwait:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 464 km
border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April,
they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and
houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are
most common between March and August
Environment-current issues: limited natural fresh water resources;
some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities
provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment-international agreements:
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping
Geography-note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
@Kuwait:People
Population: 1,913,285 (July 1998 est.)
note: includes 1,168,185 non-nationals (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 338,933; female 279,087)
15-64 years: 66% (male 811,713; female 444,679)
65 years and over: 2% (male 23,642; female 15,231) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)
note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of
expatriates
Birth rate: 20.97 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 2.29 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 22.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.55 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.78 years
male: 74.76 years
female: 78.91 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.44 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian
4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi,
and other 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.6%
male: 82.2%
female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
@Kuwait:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt
Data code: KU
Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy
National capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat,
singular-muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra',
Hawalli
Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in
personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more
or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants
at age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but
have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first
time
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31
December 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah
al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime Minister
SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992); Second
Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 7
October 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the amir
elections: none; the amir is a hereditary monarch of the MUBARAK line
of the ruling Sabah family; prime minister and deputy prime ministers
appointed by the amir
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 October 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000)
election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 50; note-all
cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: several political groups act as
de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and
secular leftists and nationalists
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,
BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James LAROCCO
embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel),
Kuwait City
mailing address: P.O. Box 77, SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; Unit 69000,
APO AE 09880-9000
telephone: [965] 539-5307 or 539-5308
FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,
and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
@Kuwait:Economy
Economy-overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with
proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels-10% of world
reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its
crude oil production averaged 2 million barrels per day in 1996.
Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and
75% of government income. Kuwait lacks water and has practically no
arable land, thus preventing development of agriculture. With the
exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75%
of potable water must be distilled or imported. Because of its high
per capita income, Kuwait provides its citizens with extensive health,
educational, and retirement benefits. The bulk of the work force is
non-Kuwaiti, living at a considerably lower level. Per capita military
expenditures are among the highest in the world. The economy improved
moderately in 1994-97, with the growth in industry and finance. The
World Bank has urged Kuwait to push ahead with privatization,
including in the oil industry, but the government will move slowly on
opening the petroleum sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$46.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$22,300 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 53%
services: 47% (1996)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.2% (1996)
Labor force:
total: 1.1 million (1996 est.)
by occupation: government and social services 50%, services 40%,
industry and agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $10.3 billion
expenditures: $14.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
construction materials, salt, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 6.988 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 25 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 13,756 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: practically no crops; extensive fishing in
territorial waters
Exports:
total value: $14.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: oil and refined products, fertilizers
partners: Japan 29%, US 16%, Netherlands 13%, Singapore 12% (1996
est.)
Imports:
total value: $7.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities : food, construction materials, vehicles and parts,
clothing
partners: US 31%, UK 14%, Japan 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 7% (1996 est.)
Debt-external: $8 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1-0.3055 (January 1998),
0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984 (1995), 0.2976 (1994), 0.3017
(1993)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 548,000 (1991 est.)