Dpr of Korea Basic Facts About Country
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DPR OF KOREA Address/Contact details of Indian Mission Embassy of India 6, Munsudong, District Daedonggang, Pyongyang, DPR Korea Tel: 00-850-2-3817215; Fax: 00-850-2-3817619 E-Mail: [email protected] BASIC FACTS ABOUT COUNTRY Official Name: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk) Capital: Pyongyang Area: 120,410 sq. km. (47,000 sq. mi.), slightly smaller than the size of Tamil Nadu . Terrain: About 80% of North Korea's terrain consists of moderately high mountain ranges and partially forested mountains and hills separated by deep, narrow valleys and small, cultivated plains. The most rugged areas are the north and east coasts. Good harbors are found on the eastern coast. Pyongyang, the capital, near the country's west coast, is located on the Taedong River. Climate: Long, cold, dry winters; short, hot, humid, summers. Provinces (with capitals): 9 provinces: Chagang (Kanggye), North Hamgyong (Chongjin), South Hamgyong (Hamhung), North Hwanghae (Sariwon), South Hwanghae (Haeju), Kangwon (Wonsan), North P'yongan (Sinuiju), South P'yongan (Pyongsong), Yanggang (Hyesan) Province-level Pyongyang, Kaesong, Chongjin, Nampo municipalities: Free trade zones : Sinuiju and Kaesong Other cities: Hamhung, Chongjin, Wonsan, Nampo, and Kaesong Population (2004): 22.7 million Currency: Won Rate of Exchange: US Dollar 1 = Won 150 approx. Language: Korean Latitude/Longitude and time Latitude: 39° 00’ North zone : Longitude: 125° 47’ East Standard time Zone: GMT + 9 hours Government type: Communist System Constitution : 1948; 1972, revised in 1992 and 1998 Legislature : Supreme People's Assembly. Judiciary: Supreme Court; provincial, city, county, and military courts 2 Political party: Korean Workers' Party (communist) Head of State: Marshal Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defence Commission, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Head of Government: Mr. Pak Pong Ju, Premier of the Cabinet of DPRK Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Paek Nam Sun Minister of People’s Armed : Vice Marshal Kim Il Chol Forces Minister of Public Security : Gen. Ju Sang-song Minister of Finance : Mr. Mun Il Bong Minister of Commerce : Mr. Ri Yong Son Central Bank : Foreign Trade Bank of DPRK, Pyongyang Basic policies : Songun Policy stressing pre-eminence of the Army Membership of major ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, multilateral and regional IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, organization: UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO Agricultural Products: Rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, eggs Mining and manufacturing: Military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; textiles, food processing, mining (coal, iron ore, etc.), metallurgy; Trade: Exports: 777 million : minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments); textiles and fishery products Imports: 1614 million : petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain Major trading partners: China 42.8%, Japan 11.1%, Thailand 10.6%, India 6.7%, Russia 4.9% (2003 est.) Major Kim Il Sung University, Kim Il Sung Political Universities/Scientific College, University of National Economy, Kumsong Institutions: University of Politics, Pyongng University of Fine Arts, Kim Jong Suk University of Education; Academy of Sciences, General Federation of Science and Technology of Korea, General Federation of Industrial Technology of Korea, Korea Computer Center, Major Tourist Attractions: Mountaineering, taekwondo traditional martial arts; mud (spa) treatment; traditional Korean medical treatment (acupuncture etc.), scenic beauty of the country 3 Major Art forms/Cultural Traditional music similar to Japanese and Chinese traditions and with an emphasis on strings; stately Chongak and venues/museums, etc.: folksier minsogak two main forms; Folk dances: drum dances (mugo), mask dances (talchum), monk dances (seungmu) and spirit- cleansing dances (salpuri); Traditional society based on tenets of Confucianism Media: News Agency: Korean Central News Agency; Newspapers: Pyongyang Times, Rodong Sinmun (Labour Daily), Minju Joson (Democratic Korea), Pyongyang Sinmun; Korea Today Radio: Korean Central Broadcasting Station, TV Station: Korean Central TV, Mansudae TV, Voice of Korea 4 INDIA-DPR KOREA RELATIONS Events/facts of particular historical and cultural significance in relations between India and that country, including date of establishment of diplomatic relations According to legends, King Kim Suro of the ancient Kaya Kingdom in Korea married with Ayodiya’s Princess of India way back in A.D. 45; Buddhism was introduced to Korea in the early centuries of A.D. to become the state religion of the Paekje Kingdom; On April 2, 1929, India’s great poet, Rabindranath Tagore, wrote: “In the golden age of Asia, “Korea was one of its lamp bearers, and “that lamp is waiting to be lighted once again “for the illumination in the East.” India was appointed as Chairman of the 9-member UN Commission to hold elections in Korea in 1947; After the Korean war of 1950-53, India played an important role as the Chairman of the NNRC (Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission); Consular relations with DPRK were set up on March 1, 1962; and The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on December 10, 1973 Political Relations Relations between India and DPRK have been generally characterised by friendship, cooperation and understanding. As members of the Non-Aligned Movement, there is a commonality of views between the two on many international issues, e.g. Disarmament, South-South Cooperation, etc. Both sides continue to work closely at international fora and support each other on various issues of bilateral and international interests. India had welcomed the South-North Joint Declaration of June 15, 2000 and favours reduction of tension in the Korean peninsula and reunification of the two Koreas through peaceful means and through direct dialogue between them. India and DPRK have been cooperating in the UN and other international organizations. Regular and meaningful exchange of views on bilateral issues of mutual interest and concern, were conducted through mechanism of FOC. The last FOC were held in India in December, 2003 by Secretary (ANA) and Vice Foreign Minister of DPRK Kim Yong Il on December 2-3, 2003. The next FOC is expected to take place in Pyongyang in May/June, 2005. Important Bilateral Treaties and Agreements with brief notes i) Agreement between DPRK and India on co-operation in the field of Science and Technology signed on 8.5.1991 (initially valid for 5 years initially valid for 5 years unless decided for its termination by any of the parties). A Protocol was to be signed later for implementation of the agreement which has not been done so far. ii) Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between State Academy of DPRK and Indian National Science Academy signed on 14.6.1994 (initially valid for two years and then to be automatically to be extended to five years if not terminated by either of the parties). iii) Protocol on Cooperation between the Ministry of External Affairs of India and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of DPRK signed on 17.2.1998 (initially valid for five years and then to be automatically extended for a further period of five years unless decided for its termination by any of the parties). iv) A Cultural agreement between India and DPRK was signed in 1976. The new CEP for 2003-06 was signed in September 2003. 5 Bilateral visits – Brief details of important two-way visits (From India to DPRK) 1. Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma, Vice President (April, 1992) at the invitation of DPRK Vice President who visited India in May 1991; 2. Shri H.S. Surjeet, General Secretary of CPI (M) – (April 1993) at the invitation of Central Committee of Workers’ Party of Korea; 3. Shri Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of West Bengal (May, 1994) at the invitation of Central Committee of Workers’ Party of Korea; 4. Shri P. Shiv Shanker, Governor of Sikkim (August, 1995) to participate on the Liberation Day of Korea; 5. Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, MOS for I&B (September, 1998) to attend 6th Pyongyang Film Festival; (High Level visits from DPRK) 1. Mr. Li Gun Mo, Prime Minister (February, 1988) on a goodwill visit; 2. Mr. Li Jong Ok, Vice President of DPRK (May, 1991 and March 1993); 3. Mr. Yang Hyong Sop, Chairman, Supreme People’s Assembly (April, 1998); 4. Mr. Choe Thae Bok, Chairman of SPA as Secretary of Central Committee of the WPK (October, 1998); 5. Mr. Pak Gil Yon, Vice Foreign Minister (April, 2000); 6. Mr. Jang Chol, Vice-Chairman of SPA (January, 2003); Commercial and Economic Relations, with trade, aid and investment details Bilateral trade between India and DPRK has declined during the recent past mainly due to the latter’s inability to carry on foreign trade due to financial crunch. India’s export to DPRK has fallen from US$ 170 million in 2001-2002 to US$ 115.35 million in 2003-2004. India’s import from DPRK also fell from US$ 19 million in 2001- 2002 to US$ 1.07 million in 2003-2004. In 2002-2003, India’s exports to DPRK stood at US$157.86 million and goods worth US$4.66 million were imported from DPRK. The major items exported from India to DPRK during 2003-2004 are (in millions US$) – oil meals (19.69), cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups etc (19.42), other ores and minerals (12.64), drugs, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals (7.90), inorganic/organic/agro chemicals (6.04), petroleum products (5.58), manufactures of metals (5.04) electronic goods (4.55) non-ferrous metals (3.98), machinery and instruments (3.86), gems & jewellery (2.69), dyes/antidotes & coar tar chemicals (2.43), iron & steal bar/rod etc. (1.99), finished leather (1.36), residl chemical and allied products (1.32), primary & semi-finished iron & steal (1.20) and meat & preparations (1.02). The main items of import from DPRK are iron and steel (0.79).