korea_north

A Brief Description

Archaeological evidence on the Korean Peninsula indicates that humans inhabited this land some 500,000 years ago.

In the last century much has happened on this volatile land projection. In a land-grab, Japan annexed the entire peninsula in 1905, but at the end of World War II (in 1945) Korea was split into North and South, with the 38th parallel the general demarcation line.

Five years later, in 1950, North Korea tried in vain to conquer the southern region, but was defeated by a US-backed republic in the south.

North Korea, under its founder President KIM Il Sung, established a socialist economy and a self-reliance policy in foreign policy and national defense.

KIM's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as KIM's successor in 1980, and on his father's death in 1994, he assumed full power.

Since then, demoralization has swept ruthlessly across the land, and after decades of economic mismanagement and misplaced resource allocations, North Korea now relies heavily on international aid to feed its growing population, while sadly continuing to expend resources to maintain a huge army.

Recently its nuclear weapons program has prompted the expressed concerns of China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.

North and South Korea are as different as black and white when economies, living conditions and personal freedoms are compared, but on the Korean Peninsula today there are millions of people still hoping for the eventual reunification of their common culture and extended families.

For additional info on North Korea, go here

Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea! Travel the World through Poster Art!

Facts and Figures

Name North Korea

(long form) Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Population 23,912,200

Population & Density (all countries) here

Capital City Pyongyang (2.6 mil) metro (3.4 mil)

Languages Korean

Flag here

National Day September 9

Official Currency North Korean Won (KPW)

Currency Converter here

Religions Buddhist, Confucianist, some Christian

Geographic Coordinates

Latitude/Longitude (Capital City)
39º 00' N, 125º 47' E

Relative Location North Korea is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. It occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, which extends southward from the Asian continent. North Korea is bordered by China, Russia and South Korea, and by the Korean Bay, Yellow Sea and East Sea (Sea of Japan).

Land Statistics

Coastline 1,550 miles (2,495 km)

Land Areas

(land) 46,491sq miles (120,410 sq km)

(water) 50 sq miles (130 sq km)

(TOTAL) 46,541 sq miles (120,540 sq km)

Land Area (all countries) here

Landforms Most of North Korea is a series of medium-sized mountain ranges and large hills, most separated by deep, narrow valleys. The highest peak is located on its northern border with China.

Along the west coast there are wide coastal plains, while along the Sea of Japan coastline, narrow plains rise into mountains. Similarly to South Korea, dozens of small islands dot the western coastline.

North Korea’s longest river is the Yulu (Yalu). Other large rivers include the Tumen, Taedang and Imjin.

Highest Point Paektu-san - 9,002 ft. (2,744 m)

Lowest Point Sea of Japan - 0 ft. (0 m)

Land Divisions 9 provinces, including: Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province). 4 municipalities, including: Kaesong-si (Kaesong City), Najin Sonbong-si, Namp'o-si (Namp'o City), P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang City)

Maps

North Korea (large color) map here

North Korea Outline Map here

North Korea Map CIA version here

North Korea Maps at UT here

Korean Peninsula Map here

Korean Peninsula Outline Map here

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Asia Continent (printable) here

Asia Outline Map here

Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here

Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here

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Indian Subcontinent Map here

Middle East Landforms here

Middle East Map here

Middle East Outline Map here

Middle East Rivers here

Tsunami Map (December 2004) here

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World Outline Maps (printable) here

World Time Zone Map here

Kim Il Sung statue, North Korea Travel the World through Poster Art!

Recommended Links

North Korea (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here!

North Korea (Offical Website) here

North Korea Photos at TrekEarth.com here

North Korea Tours here

Korea.net (excellent info site) here

Time and Weather

Time Zone (UTC +9) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info: here

Climate North Korea experiences long, cold, and somewhat dry winters. Summer are all to brief; often hot (central and south) and quite humid.

Winter temperatures (November - February) seldom rise above 32º F, and temps below -10º F are not uncommon. Summers (June - August) enjoy high temperatures in the 80s.

Approximately 65% of North Korea's annual rainfall occurs between June and September.

Traveler Information

Venturing into North Korea is a daunting experience, and western tourists (must) join an organized tour, one approved by the North Korean authorities. Most of those tours originate in China and require lots of paperwork.

Once inside this secretive country, travelers are ushered into the rebuilt capital city of Pyongyang, for endless views of monuments and statues of the now-deceased "Eternal President" Kim Il-sung that grace the extra-wide avenues and sparkling-clean parks.

This attractive, yet strange city, almost void of cars and most electric power at night, does have some interesting (if not controlled) points-of-interest and orchestrated tours for visitors, including the International Friendship Museum, Juche Tower, the State Circus, Revolutionary Opera, Koguryo Tombs and a few school visits where happy school children sing songs on cue.

Outside of the capital, the ancient city of Kaesong, Kumgangsan National Park and the Buddhist pagodas and waterfalls at Mt. Myohyangsan are worthwhile side trips.

Country Dialing Code 850

Electricity North Korea uses 110 volts AC

Electrical adapters, products and tips here

Travel Warnings here

Visa Information here

Go to the Collector Series section

Go to the Miscellaneous Issues section

The following notes are available for your viewing pleasure!

Return to the Asia and Middle East directory

Return to the main homepage

Map images provided by Graphic Maps

Banknote reference numbers obtained from the Standard Catalogs of World Paper Money published by Krause Publications

Patrick Kennedy's World Currency Homepage
This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 10 April, 2007
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/korea_north.html

FRONT	BACK
P-5b, 15 Chon, 1947	P-5b, 15 Chon, 1947
P-6b, 20 Chon, 1947	P-6b, 20 Chon, 1947
P-7b, 50 Chon, 1947	P-7b, 50 Chon, 1947
P-8a, 1 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-8a, 1 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-8b, 1 Won, 1947	P-8b, 1 Won, 1947
P-9, 5 Won, 1947	P-9, 5 Won, 1947
P-9, 5 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-9, 5 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-10b, 5 Won, 1947	P-10b, 5 Won, 1947
P-10b, 5 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-10b, 5 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-10Ab, 10 Won, 1947	P-10Ab, 10 Won, 1947
P-11b, 100 Won, 1947	P-11b, 100 Won, 1947
P-11b, 100 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-11b, 100 Won, 1947 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-12, 50 Chon, 1959	P-12, 50 Chon, 1959
P-12, 50 Chon, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-12, 50 Chon, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-13, 1 Won, 1959	P-13, 1 Won, 1959
P-13, 1 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-13, 1 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-14, 5 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-14, 5 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-14, 5 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero	P-14, 5 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero
P-15, 10 Won, 1959	P-15, 10 Won, 1959
P-15, 10 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-15, 10 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-16, 50 Won, 1959	P-16, 50 Won, 1959
P-16, 50 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-16, 50 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-17, 100 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-17, 100 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-17, 100 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero	P-17, 100 Won, 1959 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero
P-18a, 1 Won, 1978	P-18a, 1 Won, 1978
P-18b, 1 Won, 1978	P-18b, 1 Won, 1978
P-18c, 1 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-18c, 1 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-18d, 1 Won, 1978	P-18d, 1 Won, 1978
P-18e, 1 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-18e, 1 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-19a, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-19a, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-19b, 5 Won, 1978	P-19b, 5 Won, 1978
P-19c, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-19c, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-19d, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-19d, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-19e, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-19e, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-20a, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-20a, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-20a, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-20a, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-20b, 10 Won, 1978	P-20b, 10 Won, 1978
P-20c, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-20c, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-20d, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-20d, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-20e, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-20e, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-21, 50 Won, 1978	P-21, 50 Won, 1978
P-21a, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-21a, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-21a, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-21a, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-21b, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-21b, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-21c, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-21c, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-21d, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-21d, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-21e, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-21e, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-22, 100 Won, 1978	P-22, 100 Won, 1978
P-22a, 100 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-22a, 100 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-23, 1 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-23, 1 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-24, 5 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-24, 5 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-25, 10 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-25, 10 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-26, 50 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-26, 50 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-27, 1 Won, 1988	P-27, 1 Won, 1988
P-27, 1 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-27, 1 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-28, 5 Won, 1988	P-28, 5 Won, 1988
P-28, 5 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-28, 5 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-29, 10 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-29, 10 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-30, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-30, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-30, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-30, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-31, 1 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-31, 1 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-31, 1 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-31, 1 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-32, 5 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-32, 5 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-32, 5 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-32, 5 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-33, 10 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-33, 10 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-34, 50 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-34, 50 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-34, 50 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-34, 50 Chon, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-35, 1 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-35, 1 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-35, 1 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-35, 1 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-36, 5 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-36, 5 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-36, 5 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-36, 5 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-37, 10 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-37, 10 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-37, 10 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-37, 10 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-38, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel	P-38, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Frank van Tiel
P-38, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-38, 50 Won, 1988 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-39, 1 Won, 1992	P-39, 1 Won, 1992
P-39, 1 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-39, 1 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-40, 5 Won, 1992	P-40, 5 Won, 1992
P-40, 5 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Tod Hunt	P-40, 5 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Tod Hunt
P-40, 5 Won, 1998	P-45, 5 Won, 1998
P-40, 5 Won, 1998 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-40, 5 Won, 1998 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-41, 10 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Thomas Krag	P-41, 10 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Thomas Krag
P-41, 10 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-41, 10 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-41, 10 Won, 1998	P-41, 10 Won, 1998
P-41, 10 Won, 1998 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-41, 10 Won, 1998 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-42, 50 Won, 1992	P-42, 50 Won, 1992
P-42, 50 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-42, 50 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-43, 100 Won, 1992 Note Donated by: Freeman Chee	P-43, 100 Won, 1992 Note Donated by: Freeman Chee
P-43, 100 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Tod Hunt	P-43, 100 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Tod Hunt
P-43, 100 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-43, 100 Won, 1992 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-44a, 500 Won, 1998 Type A, Brown-Green Non Color-Shift Ink Watermark: Building face image at slight angle left Note donated by Abdullah Beydoun	P-44a, 500 Won, 1998 Type A, Brown-Green Non Color-Shift Ink Watermark: Building face image at slight angle left Note donated by Abdullah Beydoun
P-44b, 500 Won, 1998(2005) Type B, Green Color-Shifing Ink Watermark: Straight ahead building face image, slightly larger image than type A.	P-44b, 500 Won, 1998(2005) Type B, Green Color-Shifing Ink Watermark: Straight ahead building face image, slightly larger image than type A.
High resolution comparison between P-44 500 Won, Type A & Type B inks
P-44b, 500 Won, 1998(2005) Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-44b, 500 Won, 1998(2005) Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
P-45, 1,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Steve Burke	P-45, 1,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Steve Burke
P-45, 1,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Claudio Marana	P-45, 1,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Claudio Marana
P-45s, 1,000 Won, 2002 Note donated by Morris Lawing	P-45s, 1,000 Won, 2002 Note donated by Morris Lawing
P-46, 5,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Morris Lawing	P-46, 5,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Morris Lawing
P-46, 5,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Steve Burke	P-46, 5,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Steve Burke
P-46, 5,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Claudio Marana	P-46, 5,000 Won, 2002 Scan donated by Claudio Marana
P-New, 200 Won, 2005 Note donated by Morris Lawing	P-New, 200 Won, 2005 Note donated by Morris Lawing
P-New, 200 Won, 2005 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya	P-New, 200 Won, 2005 Scan donated by Omer Yalcinkaya
The following two new issues have an overprint which loosely translates to "60th Anniversary of the establishment of North Korea (or possibly Korea as a whole)". This would make the most sense if we take into account that this also coincides with the end of Japanese occupation of the country. I would like to thank Mr. David C. Fenrich and Ms. So Yon Chu for their help in translating and clarifying the overprint.
P-New, 500 Won, 2005 Commemorative Issue, 60th Anniversary of Independence of Korea Note donated by Morris Lawing	P-New, 500 Won, 2005 Commemorative Issue, 60th Anniversary of Independence of Korea Note donated by Morris Lawing
P-New, 1,000 Won, 2005, Commemorative Issue Scan donated by Art Levenite	P-New, 1,000 Won, 2005, Commemorative Issue Scan donated by Art Levenite
P-New, 5,000 Won, 2005 Commemorative Issue, 60th Anniversary of Independence of Korea Note donated by Morris Lawing	P-New, 5,000 Won, 2005 Commemorative Issue, 60th Anniversary of Independence of Korea Note donated by Morris Lawing
Collector Series - Return to top
P-CS1, 1 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero	P-CS1, 1 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero
P-CS1, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero	P-CS1, 5 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero
P-CS1, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero	P-CS1, 10 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero
P-CS1, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero	P-CS1, 50 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero
P-CS1, 100 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero	P-CS1, 100 Won, 1978 Scan donated by Antonio Diaz Escudero
P-CS3, 1 Won, 2000 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-CS3, 1 Won, 2000 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-CS4, 5 Won, 2000 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-CS4, 5 Won, 2000 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
P-CS7, 50 Won, 2000 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger	P-CS7, 50 Won, 2000 Scan donated by Peter Mosselberger
Miscellaneous Local Issues, Stocks, Bonds, Etc. - Return to top
P-NL, Safe Conduct Certificate, Signed by Gen. M.W. Clark	P-NL, Safe Conduct Certificate, Signed by Gen. M.W. Clark
P-NL, 50 Won, "Economy Bond", 1950 Scan donated by David C. Fenrich	P-NL, 50 Won, "Economy Bond", 1950 Scan donated by David C. Fenrich
Translation of the 50 Won Economy Bond - PDF File File courtesy of Mr. David C. Fenrich. Translations were provided by Ms. So Yon Chu.

Patrick Kennedy's World Currency Homepage This page created by: Patrick Kennedy Creation date: March 2007 Last update: 10 April, 2007 URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/korea_north.html

Patrick Kennedy's World Currency Homepage
This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 10 April, 2007
URL: http://www.patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/korea_north.html