Area comparison map:

slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi

Land boundaries:
total: 1,607 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (3): China 1352 km, South Korea 237 km, Russia 18 km

Coastline:
2,495 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: 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

Climate:
temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east

Elevation:
mean elevation: 600 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 21.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 19.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.9% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 46% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 32.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
14,600 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east

Natural hazards:
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

volcanism: Changbaishan (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu or P'aektu-san), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active

Environment - current issues:
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated