Part 45

Population: 77,853 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.99% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 31.64 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 12.31 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 98.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 54.16 years male: 52.56 years female: 55.78 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.77 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati Ethnic divisions: Micronesian Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational) 40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985) Languages: English (official), Gilbertese Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)

@Kiribati, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati former: Gilbert Islands Digraph: KR Type: republic Capital: Tarawa Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands note: a new administrative structure of 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) may have been changed to 21 island councils (one for each of the inhabited islands) named Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Canton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979) Constitution: 12 July 1979 Legal system: NA Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teatao TEANNAKI (since 8 July 1991); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Taomati IUTA (since 8 July 1991); election last held on 8 July 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - Teatao TEANNAKI 52%, Roniti TEIWAKI 28% cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from an elected parliament Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu): elections last held on 8 May 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total; 39 elected) percent of seats by party NA Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaba Party, Roniti TEIWAKI note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures Member of: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, ITU, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation in US: Kiribati has no mission in the US US diplomatic representation: the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

@Kiribati, Economy

Overview: The country has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP declined about 8% in 1987, as the fish catch fell sharply to only one-fourth the level of 1986 and copra production was hampered by repeated rains. Output rebounded strongly in 1988, with real GDP growing by 17%. The upturn in economic growth came from an increase in copra production and a good fish catch. Following the strong surge in output in 1988, GNP increased 1% in both 1989 and 1990. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $36.8 million (1990 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.5% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $525 (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues: $29.9 million expenditures: $16.3 million, including capital expenditures of $14 million (1990 est.) Exports: $4.2 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15% partners: Denmark, Fiji, US Imports: $33.1 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel partners: Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991) External debt: $2 million (December 1989 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 0.7% (1992 est.); accounts for less than 4% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 5,000 kW production: 13 million kWh consumption per capita: 190 kWh (1990) Industries: fishing, handicrafts Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP (including fishing); copra and fish contribute about 65% to exports; subsistence farming predominates; food crops - taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; not self-sufficient in food Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $273 million Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989) Fiscal year: NA

@Kiribati, Communications

Highways: total: 640 km paved: NA unpaved: NA Inland waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands Ports: Banaba and Betio (Tarawa) Merchant marine: 1 passenger-cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT Airports: total: 21 usable: 20 with permanent-surface runways: 4 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: 1,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Kiribati, Defense Forces

Branches: Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; there are small police posts on all islands); no military force is maintained Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

@Korea, North, Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, between China and South Korea Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 120,540 sq km land area: 120,410 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi Land boundaries: total 1,673 km, China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km Coastline: 2,495 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm 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 International disputes: short section of boundary with China is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 74% other: 7% Irrigated land: 14,000 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; subject to occasional typhoons which occur during the early fall international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Environmental Modification, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated

@Korea, North, People

Population: 23,066,573 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.83% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 23.75 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.78 years male: 66.69 years female: 73.02 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom Languages: Korean Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% Labor force: 9.615 million by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64% note: shortage of skilled and unskilled labor (mid-1987 est.)

@Korea, North, Government

Names: conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: none Abbreviation: DPRK Digraph: KN Type: Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship Capital: P'yongyang Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do (Yanggang Province) Independence: 9 September 1948 note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day National holiday: DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948) Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President KIM Il-song (national leader since 1948, president since 28 December 1972); designated successor KIM Chong-il (son of president, born 16 February 1942); election last held 24 May 1990 (next to be held by NA 1995); results - President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition head of government: Premier KANG Song-san (since December 1992) cabinet: State Administration Council; appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui): elections last held on 7-9 April 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor

## parties hold a few seats

Judicial branch: Central Court Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party (KWP), KIM Il-song, general secretary, and his son, KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong, chairwoman Member of: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, IFAD, IMF (observer), IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: none US diplomatic representation: none Flag: 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

@Korea, North, Economy

Overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a Communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song and his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by 3%-5% annually during 1989-92 because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style economic relations with the former USSR and China. In 1992, output dropped sharply, by perhaps 7%-9%, as the economy felt the cumulative effect of the reduction in outside support. The leadership insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical 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 WWII. 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. Six consecutive years of poor harvests, coupled with distribution problems, have led to chronic food shortages. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $22 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: -7 to -9% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $1,000 (1992 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: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments) partners: China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Mexico Imports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 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: 7,300,000 kW production: 26 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,160 kWh (1992) Industries: machine building, military products, electric power, chemicals, mining, metallurgy, textiles, food processing Agriculture: accounts for about 25% of GNP 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 very little now Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1 - 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Korea, North, Communications

Railroads: 4,915 km total; 4,250 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 665 km 0.762-meter narrow gauge; 159 km double track; 3,084 km electrified; government owned (1989) Highways: total: 30,000 km paved: 1,440 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 28,560 km (1991) Inland waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only Pipelines: crude oil 37 km Ports: primary - Ch'ongjin, Hungnam (Hamhung), Najin, Namp'o, Wonsan; secondary - Haeju, Kimch'aek, Kosong, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang Merchant marine: 83 ships (1,000 GRT and over) totaling 706,497 GRT/1,114,827 DWT, bulk 9, cargo 67, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 2, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1 Airports: total: 55 usable: 55 (est.) with permanent-surface runways: about 30 with runways over 3,659 m: fewer than 5 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 20 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 30 Telecommunications: broadcast stations - 18 AM, no FM, 11 TV; 300,000 TV sets (1989); 3,500,000 radio receivers; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

@Korea, North, Defense Forces

Branches: Korean People's Army (including the Army, Navy, Air Force), Civil Security Forces Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,658,529; fit for military service 4,044,355; reach military age (18) annually 196,763 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - about $5 billion, 20%-25% of GNP (1991 est.); note - the officially announced but suspect figure is $2.2 billion (1994), about 12% of total spending

@Korea, South, Geography

Location: Eastern Asia, between North Korea and Japan Map references: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 98,480 sq km land area: 98,190 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Indiana Land boundaries: total 238 km, North Korea 238 km Coastline: 2,413 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait International disputes: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt Rocks claimed by Japan Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 67% other: 10% Irrigated land: 13,530 sq km (1989) Environment: current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; earthquakes in southwest international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea

@Korea, South, People

Population: 45,082,880 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.04% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 15.7 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.59 years male: 67.39 years female: 73.98 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean Ethnic divisions: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese) Religions: Christianity 48.6%, Buddhism 47.4%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) 0.2% Languages: Korean, English widely taught in high school Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 96% male: 99% female: 99% Labor force: 20 million by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)

@Korea, South, Government

Names: conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: none Abbreviation: ROK Digraph: KS Type: republic Capital: Seoul Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6 special cities* (jikhalsi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo, Inch'on-jikhalsi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-jikhalsi*, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-jikhalsi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-jikhalsi*, Taejon-jikhalsi* Independence: 15 August 1948 National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1948) Constitution: 25 February 1988 Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state: President KIM Yong-sam (since 25 February 1993); election last held on 18 December 1992 (next to be held NA December 1997); results - KIM Yong-sam (DLP) 41.9%, KIM Tae-chung (DP) 33.8%, CHONG Chu-yong (UPP) 16.3%, other 8% head of government: Prime Minister YI Yong-tok (since 29 April 1994); Deputy Prime Minister CHONG Chae-sok (since 21 December 1993) and Deputy Prime Minister YI Hong-ku (since 30 April 1994) cabinet: State Council; appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Kukhoe): elections last held on 24 March 1992; results - DLP 38.5%, DP 29.2%, Unification National Party (UNP) 17.3% (name later changed to UPP), other 15%; seats - (299 total) DLP 149, DP 97, UNP 31, other 22; the distribution of seats as of January 1994 was DLP 172, DP 96, UPP 11, other 20 note: the change in the distribution of seats reflects the fluidity of the current situation where party members are constantly switching from one party to another Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: majority party: Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), KIM Yong-sam, president opposition: Democratic Party (DP), YI Ki-taek, executive chairman; United People's Party (UPP), KIM Tong-kil, chairman; several smaller parties note: the DLP resulted from a merger of the Democratic Justice Party (DJP), Reunification Democratic Party (RDP), and New Democratic Republican Party (NDRP) on 9 February 1990 Other political or pressure groups: Korean National Council of Churches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; Korean Traders Association Member of: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, CCC, COCOM (cooperating), CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Sung-su chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 939-5600 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James T. LANEY embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, Seoul; APO AP 96205-0001 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4000 through 4008 and 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845 consulate(s): Pusan Flag: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

@Korea, South, Economy

Overview: The driving force behind the economy's dynamic growth has been the planned development of an export-oriented economy in a vigorously entrepreneurial society. Real GNP increased more than 10% annually between 1986 and 1991. This growth ultimately led to an overheated situation characterized by a tight labor market, strong inflationary pressures, and a rapidly rising current account deficit. As a result, in 1992, economic policy focused on slowing the growth rate of inflation and reducing the deficit. Annual growth slowed to 5%, still above the rate in most other countries of the world. Growth increased to 6.3% in 1993 as a result of fourth quarter manufacturing production growth of over 10% and is expected to be in the 8% range for 1994. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $424 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 6.3% (1993) National product per capita: $9,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.8% (1993) Unemployment rate: 2.6% (October 1993) Budget: revenues: $48.4 billion expenditures: $48.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.) Exports: $81 billion (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships, textiles, clothing, footwear, fish partners: US 26%, Japan 17%, EC 14% Imports: $78.9 billion (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains partners: Japan 26%, US 24%, EC 15% External debt: $42 billion (1992) Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1992 est.); accounts for about 45% of GNP Electricity: capacity: 27,016 kW (1993) production: 105 billion kWh (1992) consumption per capita: 2,380 kWh (1992) Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing Agriculture: accounts for 8% of GNP and employs 21% of work force (including fishing and forestry); principal crops - rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; livestock and livestock products - cattle, hogs, chickens, milk, eggs; self-sufficient in food, except for wheat; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh-largest in world Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.9 billion; non-US countries (1970-89), $3 billion Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical) Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1 - 810.48 (January 1994), 802.68 (1993), 780.65 (1992), 733.35 (1991), 707.76 (1990), 671.46 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year

@Korea, South, Communications

Railroads: 3,091 km total (1991); 3,044 km 1.435 meter standard gauge, 47 km 0.610-meter narrow gauge, 847 km double track; 525 km electrified, government owned Highways: total: 63,201 km paved: expressways 1,551 km unpaved: NA undifferentiated: national highway 12,190 km; provincial, local roads 49,460 km (1991) Inland waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km Ports: Pusan, Inch'on, Kunsan, Mokp'o, Ulsan Merchant marine: 417 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,425,920 GRT/10,535,850 DWT, bulk 123, cargo 132, chemical tanker 16, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 2, container 60, liquefied gas 13, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 11, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 9 Airports: total: 104 usable: 95 with permanent-surface runways: 61 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 23 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 18 Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international services; 13,276,449 telephone subscribers; broadcast stations - 79 AM, 46 FM, 256 TV (57 of 1 kW or greater); satellite earth stations - 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT

@Korea, South, Defense Forces

Branches: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 13,435,598; fit for military service 8,623,325; reach military age (18) annually 417,055 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $13.0 billion, 3.6% of GNP (1994 est.)

@Kuwait, Geography