party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the
Sea
Geography - note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and
Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
@Korea:People
Population: 21,687,550 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 2,843,250; female 2,705,206)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,223,364; female 7,502,094)
65 years and over: 6% (male 448,242; female 965,394) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.35% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 20.43 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.74 years
male: 67.76 years
female: 73.86 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese
community and a few ethnic Japanese
Religions: traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and
syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
religious freedom
Languages: Korean
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
@Korea:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: none
note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to
their country
abbreviation: DPRK
Data code: KN
Government type: authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship
Capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3
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), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City),
Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South
P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do
(Yanggang Province)
Independence: 9 September 1948, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK) Foundation Day
note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and
celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972,
revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Chong-il (since NA July 1994); note - in September
1998, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the National Defense
Commission, a position accorded the nation's "highest administrative
authority"; KIM Young-nam was named President of the Supreme People's
Assembly Presidium and given the responsibility of representing the
state and receiving diplomatic credentials
head of government: Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of
People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly
elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election
last held NA 1998 (next to be held NA)
election results: HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of Supreme
People's Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego
Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - the
KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without
opposition; minor parties hold a few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Chondoist Chongu Party [YU Mi-yong,
chairwoman]; Korean Social Democratic Party ;
major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Chong-il, General
Secretary]
International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICRM,
IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - North Korea has a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (Swedish Embassy in
P'yongyang represents the US as consular protecting power)
Flag description: 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
@Korea:Economy
Economy - overview: North Korea ranks among the world's most centrally
planned and isolated economies. The resulting economic distortions and
the government's reluctance to publicize economic data limit the
amount of reliable information available. State-owned industry
produces nearly all manufactured goods, and the regime continues to
devote its focus on heavy and military industries at the expense of
light and consumer industries. Economic conditions remain stagnant at
best and the country's deepening economic slide has been fueled by
acute energy shortages, poorly maintained and aging industrial
facilities, and a lack of new investment. The agricultural outlook,
though slightly improved over previous years, remains weak. The
combined effects of serious fertilizer shortages, successive natural
disasters, and structural constraints - such as marginal arable land
and a short growing season - have reduced staple grain output to more
than 1 million tons less than what the country needs to meet even
minimum international requirements. The steady flow of international
food aid has been critical in meeting the population's basic food
needs. The impact of other forms of humanitarian assistance such as
medical supplies and agricultural assistance largely has been limited
to local areas. Even with aid, malnutrition rates are among the
world's highest and estimates of mortality range in the hundreds of
thousands as a direct result of starvation or famine-related diseases.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $22.6 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 30%
industry: 42%
services: 28% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: military products; machine building, electric power,
chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc,
lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 31.975 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 34.4%
hydro: 65.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 29.737 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses;
cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports: $680 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures
(including armaments); agricultural and fishery products
Exports - partners: Japan 28%, South Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany 4%,
Russia 1% (1995)
Imports: $954 million (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: petroleum, coking coal, machinery and
equipment; consumer goods, grain
Imports - partners: China 33%, Japan 17%, Russia 5%, South Korea 4%,
Germany 3% (1995)
Debt - external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - an estimated $200 million to
$300 million in humanitarian aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU
in 1997 plus much additional aid from the UN and non-governmental
organizations
Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates: official: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May
1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3
(December 1989); market: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 200
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Korea:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.1 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1999)
Telephone system:
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections
through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations: AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)
Radios: 3.36 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 38 (1999)
Televisions: 1.2 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Korea:Transportation
Railways:
total: 5,000 km
standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km
double track)
narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge
dual gauge: 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (four rails interlaced)
(1996 est.)
Highways:
total: 31,200 km
paved: 1,997 km
unpaved: 29,203 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines: crude oil 37 km; petroleum product 180 km
Ports and harbors: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek,
Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi),
Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine:
total: 107 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 675,609 GRT/937,477 DWT
ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multi-functional
large load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker
4, short-sea passenger 2 (1999 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: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: 5,853,635 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,527,760 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 178,931 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.7 billion to $4.9 billion
(FY98 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 25% to 33% (FY98 est.)
@Korea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: 33-km section of boundary with China in the
Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South
______________________________________________________________________
KOREA
______________________________________________________________________
KUWAIT
@Kuwait:Introduction
Background: Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990.
Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition
began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated
Kuwait in four days. Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion dollars to
repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.
@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, Marine Dumping, 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: 1,973,572
note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.36% (male 295,102; female 284,327)
15-64 years: 68.32% (male 860,318; female 488,004)
65 years and over: 2.32% (male 29,544; female 16,277) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.44% (2000 est.)
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates
Birth rate: 22.04 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 14.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.76 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.5 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.08 years
male: 75.27 years
female: 76.92 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.26 children born/woman (2000 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
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 monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy
prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 1999 (next to be held NA 2003)
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, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, 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: (202) 966-0702
FAX: (202) 966-0517
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James A. LAROCCO
embassy: Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait; Unit 69000,
APO AE 09880-9000
telephone: 539-5307 or 539-5308
FAX: 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, relatively open economy with
proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels - 10% of world
reserves. 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. Higher oil prices reduced the budget deficit from $5.5
billion to $3 billion in 1999, and prices are expected to remain
relatively strong throughout 2000. The government is proceeding slowly
with reforms. It inaugurated Kuwait's first free-trade zone in 1999
and will continue discussions with foreign oil companies to develop
fields in the northern part of the country.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $44.8 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0%
industry: 55%
services: 45% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1998 est.)
note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: government and social services 50%,
services 40%, industry and agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $10 billion
expenditures: $13 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999
est.)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
construction materials, salt, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 26.995 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 25.105 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: practically no crops; fish
Exports: $13.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners: Japan 24%, India 16%, US 13%, South Korea 11%,
Singapore 8% (1997)
Imports: $8.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and
parts, clothing
Imports - partners: US 22%, Japan 15%, UK 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 6%
(1997)
Debt - external: $9.27 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $27.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1 - 0.3042 (January 2000),
0.3044 (1999), 0.3047 (1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984
(1995)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Kuwait:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 411,600 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 150,000 (1996)
Telephone system: the civil network suffered some damage as a result
of the Gulf war, but most of the telephone exchanges were left intact
and, by the end of 1994, domestic and international telecommunications
had been restored to normal operation; the quality of service is
excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new
subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,
coaxial cable, open wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone
system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied
with pay telephones; approximately 15,000 Internet subscribers in 1996
international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi
Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG)
cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2
Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.175 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (plus several satellite channels)
(1997)
Televisions: 875,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Kuwait:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 4,450 km
paved: 3,590 km
unpaved: 860 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165
km
Ports and harbors: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd
Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine:
total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,506,448 GRT/4,040,921
DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, container 6, liquified gas 7,
livestock carrier 4, petroleum tanker 21 (1999 est.)
Airports: 7 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Kuwait:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,
National Guard, Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 749,252 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 446,518 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 17,919 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.518 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 8% (FY99/00)
@Kuwait:Transnational Issues