North Korea

[nawrth kuh-ree-uh, kaw-, koh-]

noun

1. Official Name Democratic People's Republic of Korea. a country in East Asia: formed 1948 after the division of the former country of Korea at the 38th parallel. 50,000 sq. mi. (129,500 sq. km). Pyongyang.

North Korea

noun

1. Official name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Korean name: Chosŏn. a republic in NE Asia, on the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and the Yellow Sea: established in 1948 as a people's republic; mostly rugged and mountainous, with fertile lowlands in the west Language: Korean. Currency: won. Capital: Pyongyang. Pop: 24 720 407 (2013 est). Area: 122 313 sq km (47 225 sq miles)

North Korea

1. Republic on northern Korean Peninsula on east coast of Asia, bounded on the north by China, on the northeast by Russian Siberia, on the east by the Sea of Japan, on the south by South Korea, and on the west by the Yellow Sea and Korea Bay. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang.

The Korean War began in 1950, when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. Supplied by the Soviets, and eventually joined by the Chinese, North Korea fought forces of South Korea and the United Nations.

It was established in 1948 after two occupation zones were set up in northern and southern Korea during World War II.

Run by one most closed and repressive regimes on Earth, North Korea has suffered from food shortages and a deteriorating economy.

A communist country that used to have close ties with the Soviet Union, North Korea, continues to maintain a close relationship with China.

Other Word Forms

• North Korean adjective

Example Sentences

The 41-year-old dictator has sharply reduced the number of missile tests but signaled a more confident era for North Korea.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

North Korea fired at least one ballistic missile on Wednesday, Seoul's military said, its first such launch in months.

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In the more than 1,300 days since Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin has become increasingly reliant on support from North Korea, Iran and China.

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China, Russia and North Korea have denounced the plan, claiming that it is driving a dangerous new arms race.

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North Korea has provided troops, artillery shells and missiles for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

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