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Following World War II, Korea was split, with the northern half coming under Communist domination and the southern portion becoming Western-oriented. 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 on international food aid to feed its population while continuing to expend resources to maintain an army of about 1 million. North Korea's long-range missile development and research into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, North Korea repudiated a 1994 agreement that shut down its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors, further raising fears it would produce nuclear weapons.
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Country
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Surface Area: 120,540 square km
Population: 22,697,553 (July 2004 est.)
Located in: Eastern Asia
Capital City: P'yongyang
Head of State: KIM Chong-il
Prime Minister: PAK Pong-chu
Independent since: 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Currency: North Korean won (KPW)
Flag (image): 
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