North KoreaNorth Korea

Democratic People’s Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea

General InformationGeneral Information

After WWII, Korea split in half.After WWII, Korea split in half. The Northern half was under The Northern half was under

Communist rule, and the Southern Communist rule, and the Southern half became Western oriented.half became Western oriented.

Kim Il Song, the country’s founder Kim Il Song, the country’s founder and President died in 1994.and President died in 1994.

Kim Chong-Il, the son of Kim Il Song, Kim Chong-Il, the son of Kim Il Song, took over for his father following his took over for his father following his death.death.

North Korea has suffered from poor North Korea has suffered from poor management. Their people deal with management. Their people deal with shortages of food, while their country shortages of food, while their country constantly struggles to support an Army of constantly struggles to support an Army of about 1 million people.about 1 million people.

We have a HUGE problem with North We have a HUGE problem with North Korea developing long range missiles, as Korea developing long range missiles, as well as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological well as Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological weapons.weapons.

LocationLocation

Absolute:Absolute:

40* North Latitude, and 40* North Latitude, and 127* 127* East Longitude.East Longitude.

Relative:Relative:

Eastern Asia. The Eastern Asia. The Northern Northern half of the Korean half of the Korean

Peninsula. Borders the Peninsula. Borders the Korea Bay at the Sea of Korea Bay at the Sea of Japan. Sandwiched Japan. Sandwiched between between China and China and South Korea.South Korea.

PlacePlace

Slightly smaller than Mississippi.Slightly smaller than Mississippi. Climate:Climate:

Temperate. Summer has most Temperate. Summer has most of of the yearly rainfall.the yearly rainfall.

Terrain:Terrain:Deep valleys separating hills and Deep valleys separating hills and mountains. Wide beaches and mountains. Wide beaches and coastal plains in the West.coastal plains in the West.

Low Point:Low Point:

Sea of JapanSea of Japan

High Point:High Point:

Paektu-SanPaektu-San

Natural HazardsNatural Hazards

DroughtsDroughts

Severe FloodingSevere Flooding

Occasional Occasional TyphoonsTyphoons

Ethnicities:Ethnicities:

Racially homogenous. Very Racially homogenous. Very small numbers of Japanese and small numbers of Japanese and Chinese.Chinese.

Religion:Religion:

Buddhist and Confuscianist. Buddhist and Confuscianist. Some Christians. Also some Some Christians. Also some followers of “Religion of the followers of “Religion of the Heavenly Way”. This is also Heavenly Way”. This is also known as Syncretic known as Syncretic

Chondogyo.Chondogyo.

People here are known as Korean.People here are known as Korean.

People speak the Korean language.People speak the Korean language.

Capital is P’yongyangCapital is P’yongyang

Human and Environmental Human and Environmental InteractionInteraction

Water pollutionWater pollution Inadequate supplies of potable water.Inadequate supplies of potable water. Water borne diseaseWater borne disease Deforestation Deforestation Soil erosion and degradationSoil erosion and degradation

MovementMovement

RailwaysRailways WaterwaysWaterways HighwaysHighways PipelinesPipelines Ports and HarborsPorts and Harbors Airports:Airports:

87 total. 39 are 87 total. 39 are paved. 48 are paved. 48 are unpaved.unpaved.

RegionRegion There is a 33 mile There is a 33 mile

long region of long region of boundary with China. boundary with China. This is in the This is in the Paektu-san region. Paektu-san region. This boundary is This boundary is indefinite, so indefinite, so disputes arise.disputes arise.

There is a known There is a known boundary with South boundary with South Korea.Korea.