My World Factbook
(Learn more about the new, improved World Factbook)
Note: Most information adapted from the popular World Factbook is distributed between the websites GeoWorld (geography, people, communications & transportation), Politix (government) and Great Depression II (economy).
Geography
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
40 00 N, 127 00 E
Area: 
total: 120,538 sq km
country comparison to the world: 
98
land: 120,408 sq km
water: 130 sq km
slightly smaller than Mississippi
total: 1,673 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
2,495 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Current Weather
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
arable land: 22.4%
permanent crops: 1.66%
other: 75.94% (2005)
14,600 sq km (2003)
77.1 cu km (1999)
total: 9.02 cu km/yr (20%/25%/55%)
per capita: 401 cu m/yr (2000)
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
volcanism: Changbaishan (elev. 2,744 m, 9,003 ft) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P’aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - 
