North Korea (Oct 2007)

Officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea occupies an area of 120,540 km square or approximately 55% of the north Korean peninsula. The country shares land borders with China and Russia in the extreme north-east and borders the Republic of Korea (South Korea) along the Korean Demillitarized Zone, with which it formed one nation until division following World War II.

North Korea’s capital and largest city is Pyongyang. Other major cities include Kaesong in the south, Sinuiju in the north-west, Wonsan and Hamhung in the east and Chongjin in the north-east.

A communist state, North Korea is ruled by a one-man dictatorship; Kim Jong-Il, the late president Kim Il-Sung's son. He follows the Juche ideology, developed by Kim Il-Sung, the country’s first president.