North Korea

Click here to enlarge the map from Eric Olason in a new window.

NORTH KOREA is a Communist country on the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. China and a tiny border with Russia are north, while South Korea is aptly south. The Korea Bay (part of the largest Yellow Sea) is west of North Korea, and the Sea of Japan is on the east coast. Beyond the Sea of Japan to the east is Japan. Separating North and South Korea is the infamous Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a heavily guarded border indicative of the two countries' polarized relationship. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, North Korea’s population in the year 2020 is about 25,779,000 and is ranked 54th among populations of the whole world’s countries, dependencies, and territories. The capital is Pyongyang, also spelled P'yŏngyang. North Korea's currency is the North Korean Won, and its ISO 4217 currency code is KPW.