1. North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)

2. North Korea’s flag has 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. The broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions The narrow white bands stands for purity, strength, and dignity. The blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship. The red star represents socialism

3. Capital is Pyongyang.

4. Early History Earliest inhabitants came from north and central Asia thousands of years ago. Around 1500 B.C., rice farming was begun in Korea. The Chinese invaded in 108 B.C. and they controlled and/or influenced Korea more than any other culture. In 600-900 A.D., the Silla kingdom united the many tribes of the Korean Peninsula. This was Korea’s golden age.

5. Early History In the 900’s another kingdom took over. This kingdom was called Koryo. The modern name of Korea comes from this kingdom. They created the Hangul alphabet, to make it easier to learn to read the Korean language. The Chinese took over again in the 1600’s. Japan took over control in 1910. Japan’s cruel rule continued until the end of World War II.

6. Government North Korea is a Communist state one-man dictatorship. Executive branch Kim Jong Il was the leader of North Korea. He took over after the death of his father. He was elected, but he was the only person on the ballot. When he died in Dec 2011, his son Kim Jong-Un took over Legislative branch North Korea’s unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui is elected by popular vote.

7. Judicial branch Judges are elected by the legislature. Official Language Korean

8. Religion and Ethic Groups Religious Groups traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom Ethnic Groups homogeneous (there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese )

9. Economy North Korea has one of the world’s most centrally directed and least open economies. It is a command economy.

10. Major Industry  Military products  Machine building  Electric power  Chemicals  Mining Natural Resources  Coal  Lead  Tungsten  Other various minerals  Hydropower

11. Geography & Climate Geography Mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys Coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east Climate Temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

12. Environmental Issues Water pollution Inadequate supplies of potable water Waterborne disease Deforestation Soil erosion and degradation

13. Literacy Rate –Total 99% –Male 99% –Female 99% Life Expectancy –Total 64 –Male 61.5 –Female 67 GDP –$1,800 per capita Population 22,757,275 Below Poverty Level –??% (N/A)