ultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet
citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern
pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some
other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled
non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence has caused many of
these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing a
cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the
country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets;
and continuing to strengthen relations with neighboring states and
other foreign powers.

Kenya:
Revered president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA
led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when current
President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional
succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969
until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made
itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and
external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The
ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power
in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and
fraud, but are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the
Kenyan people. The country faces a period of political uncertainty
because MOI is constitutionally required to step down at the next
elections that have to be held by early 2003.

Kingman Reef:
The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon
served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa
flights during the late 1930s. There is no flora on the reef, which
is frequently awash, but it does support an abundant and diverse
marine fauna. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef were
designated a National Wildlife Refuge.

Kiribati:
The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in
1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of
Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited
Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with
Kiribati.

Korea, North:
Following World War II, Korea was split into a
northern, communist half and a southern, Western-oriented half. KIM
Chong-il has ruled North Korea since his father and the country's
founder, president KIM Il-song, died in 1994. After decades of
mismanagement, the North relies heavily o