ical shortages in the energy sector have led to
increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral
resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial
development since World War II. Output of the extractive industries
includes coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and
precious metals. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry,
including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind.
Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation,
and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea has not yet become
self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable
lands, several years of poor harvests, and a cumbersome distribution
system have resulted in chronic food shortages. The collapse of
Communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in 1989-91 has
disrupted important technological links. North Korea remains far
behind South Korea in economic development and living standards. GDP
is stagnant.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $21.3 billion (1994
est.)

National product real growth rate: 0% (1994 est.)

National product per capita: $920 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget:
revenues: $19.3 billion
expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1992 est.)

Exports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and
fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
partners: China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong

Imports: $1.64 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment,
consumer goods
partners: China, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Singapore

External debt: $8 billion (1992 est.)

Industrial production: growth rate -7% to -9% (1992 est.)

Electricity:
capacity: 9,500,000 kW
production: 50 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 2,053 kWh (1993)

Industries: machine building, military products, electric power,
chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing

Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GDP and 36% of work force;
principal crops - rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; livestock
and livestock products - cattle, hogs, pork, eggs; not self-sufficient
in grain

Economic aid:
recipient: Communist countries, $1.4 billion a year in the 1980s, but
ver