Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Korea, North

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Korea, North.

Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Weather Patterns: http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/KNXX0006?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
Highest Point: 2744 — Paektu-san 2,744 m
Lowest Point: Sea of Japan 0 m

Natural Resources: Coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, rare earth elements, and hydropower. North Korea possesses some of the most significant mineral reserves in Asia, with estimated total mineral deposits valued in the trillions of dollars. The country's abundant coal reserves serve as the backbone of its domestic energy supply, while deposits of magnesite rank among the largest in the world. Rare earth elements, increasingly critical to global technology and defense industries, represent a notable addition to the country's natural resource profile. Despite this vast mineral wealth, chronic underinvestment, aging infrastructure, and international sanctions have severely limited the country's ability to fully extract and export these resources.
Natural Hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

Current Environmental Issues: water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-borne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
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

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