km electrified; 159 km double-tracked) narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge
dual gauge: 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails provide two
gauges) (1996)
Highways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1996)
Waterways: 2,253 km note: 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: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 738,886
GRT/1,037,506 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of convenience: Denmark 1, Greece 2, Pakistan 1, Singapore
1 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 102, combination bulk 1,
multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 3, short-sea passenger 2
Airports: 87 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 39 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047
m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: 24 914 to 1,523 m: Military Korea,
North
Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
Civil Security Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,032,376 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,619,535
(2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 179,136
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $5,124,100,000 (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 31.3% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Korea, North
Disputes - international: 33-km section of boundary with China in
the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with
South Korea
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Kingman Reef
Introduction
Kingman Reef
Background: The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon
served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa
flights during the late 1930s. There is no flora on the reef, which
is frequently awash, but it does support an abundant and diverse marine
fauna. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef were designated a National
Wildlife Refuge.
Geography Kingman Reef
Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way
between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 1 sq km
Area - comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain: low and nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: none
Geography - note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed
to the public
People Kingman Reef
Population: uninhabited (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA
Government Kingman Reef
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:
Kingman Reef
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of
the Interior note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior
accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman
Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18
January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be
administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge
is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman
Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit
Legal system: the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy Kingman Reef
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Kingman Reef
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
Military Kingman Reef
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Kingman Reef
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Kiribati
Introduction
Kiribati
Background: The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971
and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The
US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line
Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.
Geography Kiribati
Location: Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean,
straddling the equator; the capital Tarawa is about one-half of the way
from Hawaii to Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed
that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert
Islands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line
Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International
Date Line
Geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 811 sq km note: includes three island groups - Gilbert
Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands water: 0 sq km land: 811 sq km
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use: arable land: 51% permanent crops: 0% other: 49% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to
March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
very sensitive to changes in sea level
Environment - current issues: heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa
atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as
lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none
of the selected agreements
Geography - note: 21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean
Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in
the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru
People Kiribati
Population: 96,335 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40.2% (male 19,588; female 19,092) 15-64
years: 56.6% (male 26,905; female 27,625) 65 years and over: 3.2%
(male 1,339; female 1,786) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.28% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 31.58 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 8.76 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 63.62 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 4.32 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups: predominantly Micronesian with some Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, some
Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church of
God (1999)
Languages: I-Kiribati, English (official)
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Kiribati
Country name: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Government
type: republic
Capital: Tarawa
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands; note - in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba,
Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts,
Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands
(Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton,
Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa,
Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution: 12 July 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Teburoro TITO (since 1
October 1994); Vice President Beniamina TIINGA (since NA December 2000);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: their members and then those candidates compete in a general
election; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 27 November 1998 (next to be held by November 2002);
vice president appointed by the president election results: Teburoro TITO
reelected president; percent of vote - Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry
TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA 1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0% cabinet: 12-member
Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of
Parliament head of government: President Teburoro TITO (since 1 October
1994); Vice President Beniamina TIINGA (since NA December 2000); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni
Maungatabu (42 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member -
the attorney general, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other;
members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 23 September 1998
(next to be held by October 2002) election results: percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National
Progressive Party 11, independents 14
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts;
judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Maneaban Te Mauri Party [Teburoro
TITO]; National Progressive Party [Teatao TEANNAKI] note: there is no
tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more
closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party
headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca,
SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Kiribati does not have an embassy
in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in
Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird
flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three
horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
Economy Kiribati
Economy - overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls,
Kiribati has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate
deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in
1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The
economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development
is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure,
and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more than
one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is at an early stage of development
as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial
aid, from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China, is a critical
supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances
from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $79 million (2001 est.), supplemented
by a nearly equal amount from external sources
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $840 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 7% services: 63%
(1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers
(1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $28.4 million expenditures: $37.2 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA million (2000 est.)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1991 est.)
Electricity - production: 7 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 6.51 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes,
vegetables; fish
Exports: $6 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish
Exports - partners: Japan, Bangladesh, US, Australia, Brazil, Poland
(2000)
Imports: $44 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous
manufactured goods, fuel
Imports - partners: Australia, Japan, Fiji, Poland, US (2000)
Debt - external: $10 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $15.5 million (1995), largely from UK and Japan
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code: AUD
Exchange rates: Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002),
1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Fiscal year: NA
Communications Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use: 3,800 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: NA international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) note: Kiribati is
being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network,
which should improve telephone service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 note: the FM and
shortwave stations may be inactive (2002)
Radios: 17,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .ki
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 1,000 (2000)
Transportation Kiribati
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 670 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: 27 km are
paved in South Tarawa (2001)
Waterways: 5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands)
Ports and harbors: Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291
GRT/1,295 DWT ships by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 21 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under
914 m: 4 (2001)
Military Kiribati
Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries
out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police
posts are on all islands)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: Kiribati does not have military forces; defense
assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues Kiribati
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Korea, South
Introduction
Korea, South
Background: After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern
half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was
installed in the north. The Korean War (1950-53) had US and other UN
forces intervene to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported
by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula
along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter,
South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income far
outstripping the level of North Korea. In 1997, the nation suffered
a severe financial crisis from which it continues to make a solid
recovery. South Korea has also maintained its commitment to democratize
its political processes. In June 2000, a historic first south-north
summit took place between the south's President KIM Dae-jung and the
north's leader KIM Chong-il. In December 2000, President KIM Dae-jung
won the Noble Peace Prize for his lifelong commitment to democracy and
human rights in Asia. He is the first Korean to win a Nobel Prize.
Geography Korea, South
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 territorial sea: 12 NM; between
3 NM and 12 NM in the Korea Strait continental shelf: not specified
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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 potential
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 2% other: 81% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 11,590 sq km (1998 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; acid rain;
water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents;
drift net fishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but
not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: strategic location on Korea Strait
People Korea, South
Population: 48.324 million (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.4% (male 5,488,808; female 4,875,379)
15-64 years: 71% (male 17,404,645; female 16,894,361) 65 years and over:
7.6% (male 1,434,873; female 2,225,934) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.85% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 14.55 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.13
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.65 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 78.95 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,800 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 180 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions: Christian 49%, Buddhist 47%, Confucianist 3%, Shamanist,
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.)
Government Korea, South
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional
short form: South Korea local short form: none note: the South Koreans
generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer to their country local long
form: Taehan-min'guk abbreviation: ROK
Government type: republic
Capital: Seoul
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and
7 metropolitan 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*, Ulsan-gwangyoksi*
Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
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: Prime Minister YI Han-tong (since 23
May 2000) 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 19 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 (MDP) 40.3% (with ULD partnership), YI Hoe-chang
(GNP) 38.7%, YI In-che (NPP) 19.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (273 seats
total - 227 elected by direct, popular vote; members serve four-year
terms); note - beginning in 2004, all members will be directly elected;
possible redistricting before 2004 may affect the number of seats in the
National Assembly elections: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - GNP 133, MDP 115, ULD 17, other 8; note - the distribution of
seats as of January 2002 is: Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices
are appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic People's Party or DPP [CHO
Sun, chairman]; Grand National Party or GNP [YI Hoe-chang, president];
Millennium Democratic Party or MDP [leader NA]; United Liberal Democrats
or ULD [KIM Chong-p'il, honorary chairman, KIM Chong-ho, acting president]
note: on 20 January 2000, the National Congress for New Politics or NCNP
was renamed the Millennium Democratic Party or MDP