North Korea is a country in East Asia, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. It claims sovereignty over South Korea. Over time North Korea has gradually distanced itself away from the world communist movement. Juche, an ideology of national self-reliance, was introduced into the constitution as a "creative application of Marxism–Leninism" in 1972. The means of production are owned by the state through state-run enterprises and collectivized farms. Most services such as healthcare, housing, and food production are subsidized or state-funded. From 1994 to 1998, North Korea suffered from a famine that resulted in the deaths of between 0.24 and 3.5 million people, and the country continues to struggle with food production. North Korea follows Songun, or "military-first" policy. It is the country with the highest number of military and paramilitary personnel, with a total of 9,495,000 active, reserve, and paramilitary personnel. Its active duty army of 1.21 million is the fourth largest in the world, after China, the United States, and India.
Due to the command economy of North Korea, there are relatively few companies in North Korea and they are all managed by the government.
Notable firms
This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Air Koryo | Consumer services | Airlines | Pyongyang | 1950 | Flag airline | S | A |
Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Financials | Banks | Pyongyang | 1959 | Central bank | S | A |
Foreign Languages Publishing House | Consumer services | Publishing | Pyongyang | 1949 | Publishing | S | A |
Foreign Trade Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Financials | Banks | Pyongyang | 2005 | Bank | S | A |
Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works | Industrials | Railroads | Pyongyang | 1945 | Railways | S | A |
Korea Computer Center | Technology | Internet | Pyongyang | 1990 | IT research, internet | S | A |
Korea General Chemicals Trading | Basic materials | Commodity chemicals | Pyongyang | ? | Chemical group, plastics | S | A |
Korea General Machinery Trading Corporation | Industrials | Diversified industrials | Pyongyang | ? | Machine tools, hydroelectrics | S | A |
Korea General Magnesia Clinker Industry Group | Basic materials | Nonferrous metals | Pyongyang | ? | Heavy industrial group, non-ferrous metals, mining | S | A |
Korea General Zinc Industry Group | Basic materials | Nonferrous metals | Pyongyang | ? | Non-ferrous metals, mining | S | A |
Korea Mining and Development Trading Corporation | Industrials | Defense | Pyongyang | ? | State-owned arms dealer | S | A |
Korea Ponghwa General Corporation | Consumer goods | Clothing & accessories | Pyongyang | ? | Light industrial group, clothing, rucksacks, bags | S | A |
Korea Sinhung Trading Corporation | Consumer goods | Durable household products | Pyongyang | ? | Household appliances and furniture | S | A |
Korea Sogyong Trading Corporation | Consumer goods | Tobacco | Pyongyang | ? | Carpets, tobacco | S | A |
Korea Unha General Trading Corporation | Consumer goods | Clothing & accessories | Pyongyang | ? | Import/export, textiles | S | A |
Korean Ocean Shipping Agency | Industrials | Marine transportation | Pyongyang | 1956 | Shipping, pilotage, logistics | S | A |
Koryolink | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Pyongyang | 2008 | 3G provider, part of Veon (Netherlands) | P | A |
Mansudae Art Studio | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Pyongyang | 1959 | Art studio | S | A |
Mansudae Overseas Project Group of Companies | Industrials | Heavy construction | Pyongyang | 1967 | Monuments and memorials, part of Mansudae Art Studio | S | A |
Naegohyang | Various | Various | Multi-industry congloerate | S | A | ||
Noko Jeans | Consumer goods | Clothing & accessories | Pyongyang | 2007 | First denim jeans production company in North Korea, defunct 2011 | P | D |
Nosotek | Technology | Computer services | Pyongyang | 2008 | IT joint venture | P | A |
Okryu-gwan | Consumer services | Restaurants & bars | Pyongyang | 1960 | Restaurant in Pyongyang | S | A |
Pyongyang | Consumer services | Restaurants & bars | Pyongyang | ? | Restaurant chain | S | A |
Pyongyang Chewing Gum Factory | Consumer goods | Food products | Pyongyang | 2003 | Gum | S | A |
Ryonbong | Industrials | Industrial machinery | Pyongyang | ? | Machine/materials export | S | A |
SEK Studio | Consumer services | Broadcasting & entertainment | Pyongyang | 1957 | Animation services | S | A |
Sungri Motor Plant | Industrials | Industrial Machinery | Tokchon | 1950 | Motors | S | A |
SunNet | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Pyongyang | 2002 | Mobile network, defunct 2010 | P | D |
Taedonggang Brewing Company | Consumer goods | Brewers | Pyongyang | 2000 | Brewery | S | A |
Taep'oong International Investment Group of Korea | Financials | Investment services | Pyongyang | ? | Investments | S | A |
- An industrial plant in Hamhung.
- Tool-machine factory in Huichon.
- A North Korean manufactured trolleybus, a Chollima 90.
See also
References
- French 2007, p. 32.
- Wikisource:Constitution of North Korea (1972)
- Martin 2004, p. 111: "Although it was in that 1955 speech that Kim Il-sung gave full voice to his arguments for juche, he had been talking along similar lines as early as 1948."
- Country Profile 2007, pp. 7–8.
- "UN: North Korea's policies cause the nation's food shortages". Pajamas Media. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- H. Hodge (2003). "North Korea’s Military Strategy", Parameters, U.S. Army War College Quarterly.
- Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (April 2007). "Background Note: North Korea". United States Department of State. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
Works cited
- "Country Profile: North Korea" (PDF). Library of Congress – Federal Research Division. July 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
- French, Paul (2007). North Korea: The Paranoid Peninsula: A Modern History (Second ed.). Zed Books.
- Martin, Bradley K. (2004). Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty. New York City, New York: Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN 0-312-32322-0.
External links
- Economy and foreign trade at Naenara
- Corporations and agencies on Naenara at the Wayback Machine (archived May 30, 2009)
- List of 200 North Korean companies (XLS) at North Korean Economy Watch
- List of North Korean companies (PDF) at Public Intelligence
Economy of North Korea | |
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