North Korea is located inEast Asia in the Northern half of Korea, partially on theKorean Peninsula. It borders three countries:China along theYalu (Amnok) River,Russia along theTumen River, andSouth Korea to the south.
The terrain consists mostly ofhills andmountains separated by deep, narrowvalleys. The coastalplains are wide in the west and discontinuous in the east.
EarlyEuropean visitors to Korea remarked that the country resembled "a sea in a heavy gale" because of the many successivemountain ranges that crisscross the peninsula. Some 80 percent of North Korea's land area is composed of mountains and uplands, with all of the peninsula's mountains with elevations of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) or more located in North Korea. The great majority of the population lives in the plains and lowlands.
Paektu Mountain, the highest point in North Korea at 2,743 metres (8,999 ft), is avolcanic mountain nearManchuria withbasaltlavaplateau with elevations between 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) and 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level. TheHamgyong Range, located in the extreme northeastern part of the peninsula, has many high peaks, including Kwanmobong at approximately 2,541 metres (8,337 ft).
Other major ranges include theRangrim Mountains, which are located in the north-central part of North Korea and run in a north-south direction, making communication between the eastern and western parts of the country rather difficult; and theKangnam Range, which runs along theNorth Korea–China border.Kumgangsan, or Diamond Mountain, (approximately 1,638 metres (5,374 ft)) in theThaebaek Range, which extends into South Korea, is famous for its scenic beauty.
For the most part, the plains are small. The most extensive are thePyongyang andChaeryong plains, each covering about 500 km2. Because the mountains on the east coast drop abruptly to the sea, the plains are even smaller there than on the west coast.
The mountain ranges in the northern and eastern parts of North Korea form the watershed for most of its rivers, which run in a westerly direction and empty into the Yellow Sea and Korea Bay. The longest is the Amnok River, which is navigable for 678 km of its 790 kilometres (490 mi). The Tuman River, one of the few major rivers to flow into the Sea of Japan, is the second longest at 521 kilometres (324 mi) but is navigable for only 85 kilometres (53 mi) because of the mountainous topography.
The third longest river, theTaedong River, flows through Pyongyang and is navigable for 245 of its 397 km. Lakes tend to be small because of the lack of glacial activity and the stability of the Earth's crust in the region. Unlike neighboring Japan or northern China, North Korea experiences few severeearthquakes. The country has a number of natural spas and hot springs, which number 124 according to one North Korean source.[1]
Most of North Korea is classified as being of ahumid continental climate within theKöppen climate classification scheme, with warm summers and cold, dry winters. In summer, there is a short rainy season calledchangma.[2]
Long winters bring bitter cold and clear weather interspersed with snowstorms as a result of northern and northwestern winds that blow fromSiberia. The daily average high and low temperatures for Pyongyang in January are −3 and −13 °C (27 and 9 °F). On average, it snows thirty-seven days during the winter. Winter can be particularly harsh in the northern, mountainous regions.[3]
Summer tends to be short, hot, humid, and rainy because of the southern and southeasternmonsoon winds that bring moist air from thePacific Ocean. Spring and autumn are transitional seasons marked by mild temperatures and variable winds and bring the most pleasant weather. The daily average high and low temperatures forPyongyang in August are 29 and 20 °C (84 and 68 °F).[3]
On average, approximately 60% of all precipitation occurs from June to September. Natural hazards include late spring droughts which areoften followed by severe flooding. Typhoons affect the peninsula on an average of at least once every summer or early autumn.[3] The drought that started in June 2015, according to theKorean Central News Agency, has been the worst seen in 100 years.[4]
| Climate data for Pyongyang (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.0 (50.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 21.4 (70.5) | 28.4 (83.1) | 33.9 (93.0) | 35.8 (96.4) | 35.9 (96.6) | 37.8 (100.0) | 32.2 (90.0) | 28.9 (84.0) | 23.2 (73.8) | 15.0 (59.0) | 37.8 (100.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) | 3.1 (37.6) | 9.7 (49.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 27.5 (81.5) | 29.1 (84.4) | 29.6 (85.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 18.8 (65.8) | 9.7 (49.5) | 1.4 (34.5) | 16.3 (61.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −5.4 (22.3) | −2.0 (28.4) | 4.0 (39.2) | 11.4 (52.5) | 17.4 (63.3) | 21.9 (71.4) | 24.7 (76.5) | 25.0 (77.0) | 20.2 (68.4) | 12.9 (55.2) | 4.8 (40.6) | −2.9 (26.8) | 11.0 (51.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −9.8 (14.4) | −6.6 (20.1) | −0.9 (30.4) | 5.9 (42.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 17.4 (63.3) | 21.4 (70.5) | 21.5 (70.7) | 15.6 (60.1) | 7.8 (46.0) | 0.5 (32.9) | −6.8 (19.8) | 6.5 (43.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −26.5 (−15.7) | −23.4 (−10.1) | −16.1 (3.0) | −6.1 (21.0) | 2.2 (36.0) | 7.0 (44.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 12.8 (55.0) | 3.6 (38.5) | −6.0 (21.2) | −14.0 (6.8) | −22.8 (−9.0) | −26.5 (−15.7) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 9.6 (0.38) | 14.5 (0.57) | 23.9 (0.94) | 44.8 (1.76) | 74.7 (2.94) | 90.2 (3.55) | 274.7 (10.81) | 209.6 (8.25) | 90.8 (3.57) | 47.2 (1.86) | 38.4 (1.51) | 18.0 (0.71) | 936.4 (36.87) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.9 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 5.8 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 12.5 | 10.1 | 6.3 | 5.8 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 80.1 |
| Average snowy days | 5.4 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.9 | 5.5 | 19.0 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 69.1 | 65.0 | 62.5 | 60.4 | 65.3 | 72.2 | 81.1 | 80.6 | 75.3 | 72.0 | 72.2 | 70.6 | 70.5 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 184 | 197 | 231 | 237 | 263 | 229 | 181 | 204 | 222 | 214 | 165 | 165 | 2,492 |
| Averageultraviolet index | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Source 1:Korea Meteorological Administration[5] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Pogodaiklimat.ru (extremes),[6] Deutscher Wetterdienst (sun, 1961–1990)[7] and Weather Atlas[8] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Hamhung (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) | 5.2 (41.4) | 10.4 (50.7) | 17.4 (63.3) | 22.3 (72.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 27.7 (81.9) | 28.1 (82.6) | 24.8 (76.6) | 19.5 (67.1) | 11.5 (52.7) | 4.8 (40.6) | 16.7 (62.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.4 (25.9) | −1.0 (30.2) | 4.2 (39.6) | 10.8 (51.4) | 16.0 (60.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.5 (74.3) | 19.0 (66.2) | 12.8 (55.0) | 5.4 (41.7) | −1.2 (29.8) | 10.8 (51.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −9.0 (15.8) | −6.7 (19.9) | −1.3 (29.7) | 4.6 (40.3) | 10.3 (50.5) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.6 (67.3) | 19.9 (67.8) | 14.3 (57.7) | 7.3 (45.1) | 0.2 (32.4) | −6.3 (20.7) | 5.7 (42.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 12.3 (0.48) | 11.2 (0.44) | 20.3 (0.80) | 44.9 (1.77) | 72.2 (2.84) | 85.3 (3.36) | 205.0 (8.07) | 172.8 (6.80) | 95.8 (3.77) | 41.8 (1.65) | 49.4 (1.94) | 19.0 (0.75) | 830.0 (32.68) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.6 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 7.4 | 8.5 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 6.9 | 4.6 | 5.5 | 3.3 | 75.9 |
| Average snowy days | 4.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 16.4 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 63.6 | 61.2 | 61.4 | 61.2 | 69.4 | 78.7 | 84.0 | 84.7 | 79.9 | 71.3 | 67.0 | 63.7 | 70.5 |
| Source:Korea Meteorological Administration[9] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Wonsan, North Korea (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) | 4.7 (40.5) | 9.8 (49.6) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.3 (75.7) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.3 (81.1) | 23.6 (74.5) | 18.7 (65.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 4.7 (40.5) | 16.0 (60.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) | 0.4 (32.7) | 5.3 (41.5) | 11.5 (52.7) | 16.5 (61.7) | 20.1 (68.2) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.8 (74.8) | 19.6 (67.3) | 14.0 (57.2) | 7.2 (45.0) | 0.6 (33.1) | 11.7 (53.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) | −3.8 (25.2) | 1.0 (33.8) | 6.7 (44.1) | 11.9 (53.4) | 16.6 (61.9) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.0 (69.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 9.6 (49.3) | 3.0 (37.4) | −3.2 (26.2) | 7.8 (46.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 21.9 (0.86) | 26.9 (1.06) | 34.6 (1.36) | 58.1 (2.29) | 96.1 (3.78) | 128.9 (5.07) | 319.1 (12.56) | 279.3 (11.00) | 201.8 (7.94) | 76.9 (3.03) | 71.6 (2.82) | 34.8 (1.37) | 1,350 (53.15) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 7.7 | 10.1 | 13.9 | 13.2 | 8.1 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 88.2 |
| Average snowy days | 5.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 17.9 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 52.7 | 54.5 | 56.5 | 57.2 | 67.0 | 78.2 | 82.9 | 83.7 | 77.9 | 66.0 | 58.3 | 54.2 | 65.8 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 204.6 | 206.2 | 232.5 | 234.0 | 235.6 | 207.0 | 173.6 | 176.7 | 198.0 | 223.2 | 192.0 | 192.2 | 2,475.6 |
| Source 1:Korea Meteorological Administration[10] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Wetter Spiegel Online (sunshine only)[11] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Nampo (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.5 (31.1) | 2.6 (36.7) | 8.9 (48.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 22.5 (72.5) | 26.4 (79.5) | 28.5 (83.3) | 29.1 (84.4) | 25.5 (77.9) | 18.9 (66.0) | 9.9 (49.8) | 1.8 (35.2) | 15.8 (60.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.4 (24.1) | −1.7 (28.9) | 3.9 (39.0) | 10.8 (51.4) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.2 (70.2) | 24.3 (75.7) | 24.8 (76.6) | 20.4 (68.7) | 13.7 (56.7) | 5.7 (42.3) | −1.8 (28.8) | 11.1 (52.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) | −5.4 (22.3) | 0.0 (32.0) | 6.4 (43.5) | 12.4 (54.3) | 17.7 (63.9) | 21.4 (70.5) | 21.7 (71.1) | 16.6 (61.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 2.0 (35.6) | −5.0 (23.0) | 7.5 (45.5) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 9.2 (0.36) | 12.9 (0.51) | 17.3 (0.68) | 36.8 (1.45) | 67.0 (2.64) | 82.0 (3.23) | 202.2 (7.96) | 166.2 (6.54) | 72.4 (2.85) | 38.5 (1.52) | 38.8 (1.53) | 19.6 (0.77) | 762.9 (30.04) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 10.8 | 8.2 | 5.5 | 5.3 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 72.5 |
| Average snowy days | 5.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 5.6 | 17.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 72.1 | 70.0 | 69.2 | 66.6 | 71.1 | 78.4 | 85.8 | 84.6 | 77.2 | 72.4 | 73.6 | 72.5 | 74.5 |
| Source:Korea Meteorological Administration[12] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Kaesong (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.6 (34.9) | 4.6 (40.3) | 10.5 (50.9) | 17.3 (63.1) | 22.8 (73.0) | 26.8 (80.2) | 28.1 (82.6) | 29.3 (84.7) | 25.8 (78.4) | 20.1 (68.2) | 11.3 (52.3) | 3.6 (38.5) | 16.8 (62.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.6 (25.5) | −0.8 (30.6) | 4.6 (40.3) | 11.0 (51.8) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.3 (70.3) | 24.1 (75.4) | 24.9 (76.8) | 20.4 (68.7) | 13.7 (56.7) | 5.9 (42.6) | −1.3 (29.7) | 11.4 (52.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8.1 (17.4) | −5.6 (21.9) | −0.3 (31.5) | 5.6 (42.1) | 11.6 (52.9) | 17.1 (62.8) | 21.1 (70.0) | 21.5 (70.7) | 15.9 (60.6) | 8.3 (46.9) | 1.1 (34.0) | −5.6 (21.9) | 6.9 (44.4) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 10.9 (0.43) | 19.4 (0.76) | 24.7 (0.97) | 49.9 (1.96) | 95.2 (3.75) | 105.7 (4.16) | 359.9 (14.17) | 285.2 (11.23) | 109.9 (4.33) | 40.9 (1.61) | 40.8 (1.61) | 18.3 (0.72) | 1,160.8 (45.70) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 3.3 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 12.8 | 11.3 | 5.9 | 4.7 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 79.3 |
| Average snowy days | 4.6 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 4.9 | 15.7 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 67.2 | 64.7 | 64.4 | 66.7 | 72.9 | 77.8 | 85.3 | 81.8 | 73.4 | 70.1 | 70.3 | 67.9 | 71.9 |
| Source:Korea Meteorological Administration[13] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Hyesan (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −8 (18) | −2.8 (27.0) | 4.5 (40.1) | 13.6 (56.5) | 20.8 (69.4) | 25.1 (77.2) | 27.7 (81.9) | 27.0 (80.6) | 21.9 (71.4) | 14.2 (57.6) | 2.9 (37.2) | −6.3 (20.7) | 11.7 (53.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −15.9 (3.4) | −11.2 (11.8) | −2.7 (27.1) | 6.0 (42.8) | 12.8 (55.0) | 17.5 (63.5) | 21.1 (70.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 13.8 (56.8) | 5.8 (42.4) | −4 (25) | −13.2 (8.2) | 4.2 (39.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −22.2 (−8.0) | −18.5 (−1.3) | −9.5 (14.9) | −1.1 (30.0) | 5.7 (42.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.0 (60.8) | 15.4 (59.7) | 7.6 (45.7) | −0.7 (30.7) | −9.6 (14.7) | −19.1 (−2.4) | −2.1 (28.2) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 5.0 (0.20) | 9.1 (0.36) | 11.6 (0.46) | 30.0 (1.18) | 62.4 (2.46) | 86.8 (3.42) | 135.2 (5.32) | 112.9 (4.44) | 48.9 (1.93) | 27.7 (1.09) | 19.6 (0.77) | 9.8 (0.39) | 559.0 (22.01) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) | 5.2 | 4.4 | 6.1 | 8.4 | 12.2 | 13.8 | 13.8 | 12.2 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 102.7 |
| Average snowy days | 10.9 | 9.4 | 10.5 | 5.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.5 | 9.9 | 13.2 | 63.0 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 73.3 | 68.6 | 63.2 | 59.6 | 61.1 | 69.8 | 75.3 | 77.0 | 72.8 | 65.9 | 72.2 | 74.2 | 69.4 |
| Source:Korea Meteorological Administration[14] | |||||||||||||
North Korea is highlyvulnerable to theeffects of climate change due to its weakfood security, which in the past has led towidespread famine.[15] The North Korean Ministry of Land and Environmental Protection estimates that North Korea's average temperature rose by 1.9 °C between 1918 and 2000.[16] In the 2013 edition ofGermanwatch'sClimate Risk Index, North Korea was judged to be the seventh hardest hit by climate-related extreme weather events of 179 nations during the period 1992–2011.[17]
North Koreancarbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be roughly 56.38 million metric tons of CO2 in 2021. The vast majority of this is due to North Korea's reliance on coal for energy production.[18][19] As a result of its mountainous geography as well as the onset ofsea level rise and increasing frequency ofextreme weather events, the biggest climate change-related concern for North Korea is food security. Low food production in 2017 and 2018 resulted in undernourishment in an estimated 10.3 million people.[20] This has created a high dependency on foreign nations to fulfil food demands. This challenge - along with disruption to economic growth as a result of climate change - might undermine the totalitarian rule of the North Korean government and may be a cause for regime change in the future.[21]
The environment of North Korea is diverse, encompassingalpine, forest, farmland,freshwater, andmarine ecosystems.[22]
Cultivation, logging, and natural disasters have all put pressure on North Korea's forests. During theeconomic crisis of the 1990s, deforestation accelerated, as people turned to the woodlands to provide firewood and food. This in turn has led to soil erosion, soil depletion, and increased risk of flooding. In response, the government has promoted a tree planting program.[23][24][25][26] Based on satellite imagery, it was estimated in 2013 that 40% of forest cover had been lost since 1985.[27] Aforest restoration policy was adopted in 2012.[28]
North Korea has an area of 120,538 km2, of which 120,408 km2 is land and 130 km2 is water. It has 1,671.5 kilometres (1,038.6 mi) of land boundaries; of these, 1,416 kilometres (880 mi) are with China, 238 kilometres (148 mi) are with South Korea, and 17.5 kilometres (10.9 mi) are with Russia.
The Korean Peninsula extends about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) southward from the northeast Asian continental landmass. The 8,460 kilometres (5,260 mi) coastline ofKorea is highly irregular, and North Korea accounts for 2,495 kilometres (1,550 mi) of this, roughly one-third. Some 3579islands lie adjacent to the Korean Peninsula, mostly along the south and west coasts.[29]
The southern stretch of its east coast forms the northern side of theEast Korea Bay. At the headlandMusu Dan, this ends and the coast turns sharply northward.
A recent globalremote sensing analysis suggested that there were 1,483 km2 of tidal flats in North Korea, making it the 21st ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.[30]
TheNorth Korean government claimsterritorial waters extending 12nautical miles (22.2 km; 13.8 mi) from shore. It alsoclaims an exclusive economic zone 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) from shore.[31] In addition, a maritime military boundary that lies 50 nautical miles (92.6 km; 57.5 mi) offshore in the Sea of Japan and 200 nautical miles (370.4 km; 230.2 mi) offshore in the Yellow Sea demarcates the waters and airspace into which foreign ships and planes are prohibited from entering without permission.
Waters of the Yellow Sea are demarcated between North Korea and South Korea by the disputedNorthern Limit Line drawn by theUnited Nations Command in early 1950s and not officially recognized by North Korea. Disputes between North and South Korean naval vessels have occurred in this area. A total of five disputes were noteworthy enough to have been reported in the news (three in 2009 and two in 2010).
Natural resources includecoal,petroleum,lead,tungsten,zinc,graphite,magnesite,iron ore,copper,gold,pyrites,salt,fluorspar andhydropower.
| arable land: | 19.5% |
| permanent crops: | 1.9% |
| permanent pasture | 0.4% |
| forest | 46.0% |
| other: | 32.2% |
| [32] | |
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