🌍 GlobeIQ ← Back to game

North Korea

Asia Β· 26 million

About North Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a sovereign country located in Asia, specifically within the Eastern Asia subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Pyongyang, and the country is home to approximately 25.9 million people. In its native language, the country is known as β€œμ‘°μ„ β€. Korean serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout North Korea. The official currency in circulation is the North Korean won (β‚©), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. North Korea is widely recognised for its Kim dynasty, mass games and total isolation from the outside world. People from North Korea are referred to as North Korean.

Geography & climate

North Korea covers approximately 120,538 kmΒ² of territory, making it a mid-sized country by land area. It shares land borders with 3 neighbouring countries β€” a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, North Korea sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 40.0Β° N, 127.0Β° E. Standard civil time follows UTC+09:00 year-round, simplifying scheduling for residents and visitors alike. The prevailing climate of North Korea can be summarised as: mountainous peninsula with cold continental. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 25.9 million inhabitants, North Korea is a country of significant population size. The principal spoken language is Korean, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Locals refer to their homeland as β€œμ‘°μ„ β€, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as North Korean, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the North Korean won (β‚©) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to North Korea should familiarise themselves with the capital, Pyongyang, the local time zone (UTC+09:00), the local currency (North Korean won). The international dialling prefix is +850, which is required when phoning a North Korea number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .kp, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

North Korea is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, North Korea is generally classified within the Asia region and more specifically the Eastern Asia subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties. GlobeIQ groups it under "East Asia" for the purposes of the game's regional hint.

Bordering countries

North Korea shares land borders with 3 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

North Korea uses its own calendar β€” Juche β€” that begins in 1912, the birth year of founder Kim Il-sung, so 2026 is officially Juche year 115.

North Korea in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, North Korea appears as a moderately challenging puzzle, suited to players who already know the major continents. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints β€” silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city β€” before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, North Korea carries the personality tags β€œπŸš« Hermit Kingdom” and β€œπŸŽ­ Mass Games”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding North Korea to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

Play today's GlobeIQ puzzle β†’