Long-form name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea; abbreviated DPRK

Type: Communist state; one-man rule

Capital: P'yongyang

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do, Hamgyong-namdo, Hamgyong-bukto, Hwanghae-namdo, Hwanghae-bukto, Kaesong-si*, Kangwon-do, Namp'o-si*, P'yongan-bukto, P'yongan-namdo, P'yongyang-si*, Yanggang-do

Independence: 9 September 1948

Constitution: adopted 1948, revised 27 December 1972

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

National holiday: Independence Day, 9 September (1948)

Branches: Supreme People's Assembly theoretically supervises legislative and judicial functions; State Administration Council (cabinet) oversees ministerial operations

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--President KIM Il-song (since 28 December 1972); Designated Successor KIM Jon Il (son of President, born 16 February 1942); @m5Head of Government--Premier YON Hyong-muk (since NA December 1988)

Suffrage: universal at age 17

Elections: election to Supreme People's Assembly every four years, but this constitutional provision not necessarily followed--last election November 1986

Political party and leaders: Korean Workers' Party (KWP); Kim Il-song, General Secretary, and his son, Kim Chong-il, Secretary, Central Committee

Communists: KWP claims membership of about 2 million, or about one-tenth of population

Member of: FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, IPU, ITU, NAM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO; official observer status at UN

Diplomatic representation: none

Flag: 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

NOTE: The information regarding Korea, North on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Korea, North Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Korea, North Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.