(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency
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East & Southeast Asia :: KOREA, NORTH
Page last updated on September 06, 2017
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KOREA, NORTH
  • Introduction :: KOREA, NORTH

  • An independent kingdom for much of its long history, Korea was occupied by Japan beginning in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War. Five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored communist control. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed Republic of Korea (ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against outside influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded propaganda, and molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in 2010.
    Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has now taken on most of his father's former titles and duties. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has faced chronic food shortages. In recent years, the North’s domestic agricultural production has increased, but still falls far short of producing sufficient food to provide for its entire population. The DPRK began to ease restrictions to allow semi-private markets, starting in 2002, but has made few other efforts to meet its goal of improving the overall standard of living. North Korea's history of regional military provocations; proliferation of military-related items; long-range missile development; WMD programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2016; and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community and have limited the DPRK’s international engagement, particularly economically. The regime abides by a policy calling for the simultaneous development of its nuclear weapons program and its economy.
  • Geography :: KOREA, NORTH

  • 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
    Asia
    total: 120,538 sq km
    land: 120,408 sq km
    water: 130 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 100
    slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi
    Area comparison map:
    total: 1,607 km
    border countries (3): China 1,352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 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
    temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters
    mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east
    mean elevation: 600 m
    elevation extremes: 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
    agricultural land: 21.8%
    arable land 19.5%; permanent crops 1.9%; permanent pasture 0.4%
    forest: 46%
    other: 32.2% (2011 est.)
    14,600 sq km (2012)
    population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east
    late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
    volcanism: Changbaishan (elev. 2,744 m) (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
  • People and Society :: KOREA, NORTH

  • 25,248,140 (July 2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 51
    noun: Korean(s)
    adjective: Korean
    racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
    Korean
    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
    0-14 years: 20.78% (male 2,670,884/female 2,576,846)
    15-24 years: 15.59% (male 1,982,045/female 1,955,220)
    25-54 years: 44.28% (male 5,608,520/female 5,572,000)
    55-64 years: 9.77% (male 1,166,680/female 1,301,201)
    65 years and over: 9.56% (male 826,735/female 1,588,009) (2017 est.)
    population pyramid:
    total dependency ratio: 44.5
    youth dependency ratio: 30.5
    elderly dependency ratio: 14
    potential support ratio: 7.1 (2015 est.)
    total: 33.8 years
    male: 32.3 years
    female: 35.4 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 86
    0.5% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 154
    14.6 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 132
    9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 61
    0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 87
    population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east
    urban population: 61.2% of total population (2017)
    rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    PYONGYANG (capital) 2.863 million (2015)
    at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
    82 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    total: 22.9 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 25.4 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 73
    total population: 70.4 years
    male: 66.6 years
    female: 74.5 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    1.95 children born/woman (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 125
    70.6%
    note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2010)
    2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
    13.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)
    improved:
    urban: 99.9% of population
    rural: 99.4% of population
    total: 99.7% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 0.1% of population
    rural: 0.6% of population
    total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 87.9% of population
    rural: 72.5% of population
    total: 81.9% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 12.1% of population
    rural: 27.5% of population
    total: 18.1% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    2.5% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 173
    15.2% (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 46
    NA
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 100%
    male: 100%
    female: 100% (2015 est.)
    total: 11 years
    male: 11 years
    female: 11 years (2015)
  • Government :: KOREA, NORTH

  • conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
    conventional short form: North Korea
    local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
    local short form: Choson
    abbreviation: DPRK
    etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the North Korean name "Choson" means "[Land of the] Morning Calm"
    communist state
    name: Pyongyang
    geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
    time difference: UTC+8.5 (13.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    note: on 15 August 2015, North Korea reverted to UTC+8.5, a time zone that had been observed during pre-colonial times
    9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 2 cities (si, singular and plural)
    provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ranggang
    cities: P'yongyang, Rason
    note: Rason is sometimes designated as a special city and P'yongyang as a capital city
    15 August 1945 (from Japan)
    Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
    previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998; revised 2009, 2012, 2013 (2016)
    civil law system based on the Prussian model; system influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory
    has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
    citizenship by birth: no
    citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea
    dual citizenship recognized: no
    residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
    17 years of age; universal and compulsory
    chief of state: KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011)
    head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 2 April 2013); Vice Premiers JON Kwant Ho (since 17 January 2017), RI Ju O (since 29 June 2016), RI Ryong Nam (since 29 June 2016), KO In Ho (since 29 June 2016), IM Chol Ung (since 29 May 2014), KIM Tok Hun (since 19 June 2013), RI Mu Yong (since 31 May 2011), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
    cabinet: Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly except the Minister of People's Armed Forces
    elections/appointments: chief of state and premier indirectly elected by the Supreme People's Assembly; election last held on 9 March 2014 (next election NA)
    election results: KIM Jong Un reelected unopposed
    note: the Korean Workers' Party continues to list deceased leaders KIM Il Sung and KIM Jong Il as Eternal President and Eternal General Secretary respectively
    description: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members directly elected by absolute majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the Korean Workers' Party selects all candidates
    elections: last held on 9 March 2014 (next to be held in March 2019)
    election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KWP 607, KSDF 50, Chondoist Chongu Party 22, Chongryon 5, religious associations 3; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; KWP, KSDP, Chondoist Chongu Party, and Chongryon are part of the DFRF; a token number of seats are reserved for minor parties
    highest court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 "People's Assessors" and for some cases, 3 judges)
    judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme People's Assembly for 5-year terms
    subordinate courts: provincial, municipal, military, special courts; people' courts (lowest level)
    major parties: Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland or DFRF
    Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Un]
    General Association of Korean Residents in Japan or Chongryon
    minor parties: Chondoist Chongu Party (under KWP control)
    Social Democratic Party or KSDP [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)
    none
    ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
    none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
    none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power
    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 stand for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism
    red star, chollima (winged horse); national colors: red, white, blue
    name: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song)
    lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun
    note: adopted 1947; both North Korea's and South Korea's anthems share the same name and have a vaguely similar melody but have different lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as "Ach'imun pinnara" (Let Morning Shine)
  • Economy :: KOREA, NORTH

  • North Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment, shortages of spare parts, and poor maintenance. Large-scale military spending and development of its ballistic missile and nuclear program severely draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power outputs have stagnated for years at a fraction of pre-1990 levels. Frequent weather-related crop failures aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, poor soil quality, insufficient fertilization, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel.
    The mid 1990s were marked by severe famine and widespread starvation. Significant food aid was provided by the international community through 2009. Since that time, food assistance has declined significantly. In the last few years, domestic corn and rice production has improved, although domestic production does not fully satisfy demand. A large portion of the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed semi-private markets to begin selling a wider range of goods, allowing North Koreans to partially make up for diminished public distribution system rations. It also implemented changes in the management process of communal farms in an effort to boost agricultural output.
    In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. A concurrent crackdown on markets and foreign currency use yielded severe shortages and inflation, forcing Pyongyang to ease the restrictions by February 2010. In response to the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, South Korea’s government cut off most aid, trade, and bilateral cooperation activities. In February 2016, South Korea ceased its remaining bilateral economic activity by closing the Kaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test a month earlier. This nuclear test and another in September 2016 resulted in two United Nations Security Council Resolutions that targeted North Korea’s foreign currency earnings, particularly coal and other mineral exports. Over the last decade, China has been North Korea’s primary trading partner.
    The North Korean Government continues to stress its goal of improving the overall standard of living, but has taken few steps to make that goal a reality for its populace. In 2016, the regime used two mass mobilizations — one totaling 70 days and another 200 days — to spur the population to increase production and complete construction projects quickly. The regime released a five-year economic development strategy in May 2016 that outlined plans for promoting growth across sectors. Firm political control remains the government’s overriding concern, which likely will inhibit formal changes to North Korea’s current economic system.
    $40 billion (2015 est.)
    $40 billion (2014 est.)
    $40 billion (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars;
    North Korea does not publish reliable National Income Accounts data; the data shown are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus MADDISON in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was extrapolated to 2015 using estimated real growth rates for North Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator; the results were rounded to the nearest $10 billion.
    $28 billion (2013 est.)
    -1.1% (2015 est.)
    1% (2014 est.)
    1.1% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 203
    $1,700 (2015 est.)
    $1,800 (2014 est.)
    $1,800 (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2014 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 213
    NA%
    household consumption: NA%
    government consumption: NA%
    investment in fixed capital: NA%
    investment in inventories: NA%
    exports of goods and services: 5.9%
    imports of goods and services: -11.1% (2014 est.)
    agriculture: 21.6%
    industry: 46.2%
    services: 32.2% (2015 est.)
    rice, corn, potatoes, wheat, soybeans, pulses, beef, pork, eggs
    military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
    -3.1% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 163
    14 million
    note: estimates vary widely (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 42
    agriculture: 37%
    industry and services: 63% (2008 est.)
    25.6% (2013 est.)
    25.5% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 183
    NA%
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    revenues: $3.2 billion
    expenditures: $3.3 billion (2007 est.)
    11.4% of GDP
    note: excludes earnings from state-operated enterprises (2007 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 211
    -0.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 42
    calendar year
    NA%
    $4.152 billion (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 113
    minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments), textiles, agricultural and fishery products
    China 76.5% (2015)
    $4.819 billion (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 124
    petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain
    China 76.3%, Republic of the Congo 5.5% (2015)
    $5 billion (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (average market rate)
    8,200 (2015 est.)
    7,900 (2014 est.)
    98.5 (2013 est.)
    155.5 (2012 est.)
  • Energy :: KOREA, NORTH

  • population without electricity: 18,400,000
    electrification - total population: 30%
    electrification - urban areas: 41%
    electrification - rural areas: 13% (2013)
    17 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 84
    15 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 80
    0 kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    0 kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 166
    10 million kW (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    45% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 153
    0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    55% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    0% of total installed capacity (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 187
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 151
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    70,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 51
    0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
    country comparison to the world: 152
    11,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 101
    17,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 140
    0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    5,678 bbl/day (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    0 cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 203
    0 cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 160
    0 cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 128
    0 cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 214
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
    country comparison to the world: 156
    50 million Mt (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
  • Communications :: KOREA, NORTH

  • total subscriptions: 1.18 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 70
    total: 3.24 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 142
    general assessment: adequate system; nationwide fiber-optic network; mobile-cellular service expanded beyond Pyongyang
    domestic: fiber-optic links installed down to the county level; telephone directories unavailable; mobile service launched in late 2008 for the Pyongyang area and considerable progress in expanding to other parts of the country since
    international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 2 (1 Intelsat - Indian Ocean, 1 Russian - Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing (2015)
    no independent media; radios and TVs are pre-tuned to government stations; 4 government-owned TV stations; the Korean Workers' Party owns and operates the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, and the state-run Voice of Korea operates an external broadcast service; the government prohibits listening to and jams foreign broadcasts (2015)
    .kp
  • Transportation :: KOREA, NORTH

  • number of registered air carriers: 1
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 17
    annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 223,418
    annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,574,719 mt-km (2015)
    P (2016)
    82 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 67
    total: 39
    over 3,047 m: 3
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
    914 to 1,523 m: 2
    under 914 m: 4 (2013)
    total: 43
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
    914 to 1,523 m: 15
    under 914 m: 8 (2013)
    23 (2013)
    oil 6 km (2013)
    total: 7,435 km
    standard gauge: 7,435 km 1.435-m gauge (5,400 km electrified)
    note: figures are approximate; some narrow-gauge railway also exists (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 29
    total: 25,554 km
    paved: 724 km
    unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)
    country comparison to the world: 100
    2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 38
    total: 158
    by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 131, carrier 1, chemical tanker 1, container 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 2
    foreign-owned: 13 (Belgium 1, China 3, Nigeria 1, Singapore 1, South Korea 1, Syria 4, UAE 2)
    registered in other countries: 6 (Mongolia 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 3) (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    major seaport(s): Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Namp'o, Senbong, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan
  • Military and Security :: KOREA, NORTH

  • North Korean People's Army: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force; civil security forces (2005)
    17 years of age for compulsory male and female military service; service obligation 10 years for men, to age 23 for women (2017)
  • Transnational Issues :: KOREA, NORTH

  • risking arrest, imprisonment, and deportation, tens of thousands of North Koreans cross into China to escape famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen Rivers; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km-wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic incidents in the Yellow Sea with South Korea which claims the Northern Limiting Line as a maritime boundary; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)
    IDPs: undetermined (periodic flooding and famine during mid-1990s) (2007)
    current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; many North Korean workers recruited to work abroad under bilateral contracts with foreign governments, most often Russia and China, are subjected to forced labor and do not have a choice in the work the government assigns them, are not free to change jobs, and face government reprisals if they try to escape or complain to outsiders; tens of thousands of North Koreans, including children, held in prison camps are subjected to forced labor, including logging, mining, and farming; many North Korean women and girls, lured by promises of food, jobs, and freedom, have migrated to China illegally to escape poor social and economic conditions only to be forced into prostitution, domestic service, or agricultural work through forced marriages
    tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government continued to participate in human trafficking through its use of domestic forced labor camps and the provision of forced labor to foreign governments through bilateral contracts; officials did not demonstrate any efforts to address human trafficking through prosecution, protection, or prevention measures; no known investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of trafficking offenders or officials complicit in trafficking-related offenses were conducted; the government also made no efforts to identify or protect trafficking victims and did not permit NGOs to assist victims (2015)
    for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003