Geography
North Korea
Area
land
120,408 sq km
water
130 sq km
total
120,538 sq km
Climate
The climate is temperate, featuring a concentration of rainfall during the summer months, and experiences long, harsh winters.
Terrain
The geography consists predominantly of hills and mountains interspersed with deep, narrow valleys, alongside extensive coastal plains in the west which become less continuous in the east.
Land use
other
14.5% (2023 est.)
forest
64% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
21.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 19.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in Eastern Asia, it encompasses the northern portion of the Korean Peninsula, adjacent to the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, lying between China and South Korea.
Coastline
2,495 km
Elevation
lowest point
Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point
Paektu-san 2,744 m
mean elevation
600 m
Irrigated land
14,600 sq km (2012)
Map references
Asia
Land boundaries
total
1,607 km
border countries
China 1,352 km; South Korea 237 km; Russia 18 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
Late spring often brings droughts, which can be succeeded by significant flooding; typhoons may also occur occasionally in early autumn.
volcanism: The historically active P'aektu-san (2,744 m), also referred to as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or Changbaishan, is situated along the Chinese border.
Geography - note
The region holds a strategically significant position, bordering China, South Korea, and Russia, with a mountainous interior that remains isolated and sparsely populated.
Natural resources
Natural resources include coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, and hydropower.
Area - comparative
Its area is slightly larger than that of Virginia, yet somewhat smaller than Mississippi.
Geographic coordinates
40 00 N, 127 00 E
Population distribution
The population is mainly found in the plains and lowland areas, while the mountainous provinces near the Chinese border have the lowest population density; the greatest population densities are observed in the western provinces, especially within the municipal district of Pyongyang, as well as in the eastern regions around Hungnam and Wonsan.