North Korea occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, bordered by China and Russia to the north and South Korea to the south. The country is known for its highly centralized government and its strict isolation from much of the rest of the world. Mountainous terrain covers much of the land, with the Paektu Mountain range dominating the northern interior.
- Capital
- Pyongyang
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Eastern Asia
- Area
- 120,538 km²
- Coordinates
- 40° N, 127° E
Country facts
- Korea was divided into northern and southern zones along the 38th parallel after World War II ended in 1945.
- Mount Paektu, an active volcano on the Chinese border, holds deep cultural and symbolic importance in Korean tradition.
- The Korean language written in the Hangul alphabet is the official language of North Korea.
- North Korea operates a calendar system called the Juche calendar, which counts years from the birth of founder Kim Il-sung in 1912.
- The Arirang mass games, featuring thousands of synchronized performers, are one of the largest choreographed spectacles in the world.
Capital facts
- Pyongyang is one of the oldest cities on the Korean Peninsula, with a history stretching back over two thousand years.
- The Juche Tower, built in 1982, stands on the east bank of the Taedong River and is one of the city's most recognizable monuments.
- Pyongyang served as the capital of the ancient Korean kingdom of Gojoseon according to traditional accounts.
- The city was largely rebuilt from scratch after being heavily bombed during the Korean War of 1950 to 1953.
- The Pyongyang Metro is notable for its ornate, deep underground stations decorated with mosaics and chandeliers.