Imports - commodities: petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; consumer goods, grain
Imports - partners: China 38%, Japan 17%, South Korea 8%, Hong Kong 6%,
Germany 4.5% (2000)
Debt - external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA; note - nearly $300 million in food aid alone from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 2001 plus much additional aid from the UN and non-governmental organizations
Currency: North Korean won (KPW)
Currency code: KPW
Exchange rates: official: North Korean won per US dollar - 2.15
(December 2001), 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September
1991), 2.1 (January 1990); market: North Korean won per US dollar - 200
(December 2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.1 million (1997)