Location and Borders
North Korea is located in eastern Asia, on the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is bordered by China to the north (over 1,300 km of border) and has a small border with Russia (about 18 km) in the northeast. To the south, North Korea is divided from South Korea by the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the 38th parallel. It also faces the Yellow Sea (Korea Bay) to the west and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east.
Area and Terrain
North Korea covers an area of 120,538 square kilometers, slightly larger than the US state of Virginia. The terrain is mostly mountainous and rocky, with about 80% of land composed of hills and mountains separated by narrow valleys. The highest point is Mt. Paektu (2,744 m), a volcanic mountain revered in Korean folklore. Coastal lowlands and plains are found in the west, where most of the agriculture and population are concentrated.
Climate
North Korea experiences a temperate climate with four distinct seasons: hot, humid summers with heavy rains (June–August monsoon) and long, bitterly cold winters with dry continental winds. Seasonal natural hazards include summer flooding (often following spring droughts) and occasional typhoons in early fall.
Population
As of 2023, North Korea's population is estimated at 26.07 million people. The population is ethnically homogeneous, primarily ethnic Koreans; only tiny minorities of Chinese and a few Japanese remain in the country.
Urban vs Rural Distribution
About 63% of the population lives in urban areas, with Pyongyang, the capital, being the largest city (over 3 million people). Other major cities include:
- Hamhŭng - the second-largest, an industrial city in the east
- Chongjin - a northeastern port city
- Namp'o - a port near Pyongyang
- Wŏnsan - on the east coast
Demographics
Population growth has slowed to around 0.4% per year, and the population is gradually aging, with a median age of about 36 years. Life expectancy is roughly 73 years (male 69.5, female 76.5), lower than in South Korea or most developed countries, reflecting the DPRK's decades of economic hardship and limited healthcare.
Social Classification System
North Korea's society is highly regulated by the state. Citizens are classified by a hereditary songbun caste system based on family background and loyalty to the regime. This classification affects:
- Where people can live (for example, only those with highest loyalty can reside in Pyongyang)
- Education and job opportunities
- Access to food and other resources
Language
The vast majority of North Koreans are Korean-speaking and share the same cultural heritage, with no significant ethnic or linguistic minorities. The official language is Korean, and the North Korean standard dialect (known as Munhwaŏ) is based on the Pyongyang dialect. After over 70 years of separation from the South, some dialectal and vocabulary differences have emerged – for example, North Korea has replaced many foreign loanwords with pure Korean terms in line with its ideology.
The Korean Hangul alphabet (Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea) is used exclusively for writing, as North Korea abolished the use of Chinese characters (Hanja) decades ago. Literacy is essentially universal, with virtually 100% of the population able to read and write, owing to the state's long emphasis on mass education and a historical nationwide literacy campaign.