List of companies of North Korea
North Korea is a country in East Asia, in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang is both the nation's capital as well as its largest city. To the north and northwest the country is bordered by China and by Russia along the Amnok (known as the Yalu in China) and Tumen rivers.[1] The country is bordered to the south by South Korea, with the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two.
Over time North Korea has gradually distanced itself away from the world communist movement. Juche, an ideology of national self-reliance, was introduced into the constitution as a "creative application of Marxism–Leninism"[2] in 1972.[3][4] The means of production are owned by the state through state-run enterprises and collectivized farms. Most services such as healthcare, education, housing and food production are subsidized or state-funded.[5] From 1994 to 1998, North Korea suffered from a famine that resulted in the deaths of between 0.24 and 3.5 million people, and the country continues to struggle with food production.[6] North Korea follows Songun, or "military-first" policy.[7] It is the country with the highest number of military and paramilitary personnel, with a total of 9,495,000 active, reserve, and paramilitary personnel. Its active duty army of 1.21 million is the fourth largest in the world, after China, the U.S., and India.[8]
Due to the centrally-planned economy of North Korea, there are few companies and they are managed by the government.
Notable firms[edit]
This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Active firms
State-owned firms
Defunct firms
| Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Koryo | Consumer services | Travel & leisure | Pyongyang | 1950 | Flag airline |
| Central Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Financials | Banks | Pyongyang | 1959 | Central bank |
| Foreign Languages Publishing House | Consumer services | Media | Pyongyang | 1949 | Publishing |
| Foreign Trade Bank of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | Financials | Banks | Pyongyang | 2005 | Bank |
| Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works | Industrials | Industrial transportation | Pyongyang | 1945 | Railways |
| Korea Computer Center | Technology | Internet | Pyongyang | 1990 | IT research, internet |
| Korea Ferrous Metals Export & Import | Basic materials | Basic resources | Pyongyang | ? | Steel, mining |
| Korea General Chemicals Trading | Basic materials | Chemicals | Pyongyang | ? | Chemical group, plastics |
| Korea General Machinery Trading Corporation | Industrials | General industries | Pyongyang | ? | Machine tools, hydroelectrics |
| Korea General Magnesia Clinker Industry Group | Basic materials | Basic resources | Pyongyang | ? | Heavy industrial group, non-ferrous metals, mining |
| Korea General Zinc Industry Group | Basic materials | Basic resources | Pyongyang | ? | Non-ferrous metals, mining |
| Korea Mining and Development Trading Corporation | Industrials | Defense | Pyongyang | ? | State-owned arms dealer |
| Korea Ponghwa General Corporation | Consumer goods | Personal goods | Pyongyang | ? | Light industrial group, clothing, rucksacks, bags |
| Korea Sinhung Trading Corporation | Consumer goods | Household goods | Pyongyang | ? | Household appliances and furniture |
| Korea Sogyong Trading Corporation | Consumer goods | Tobacco | Pyongyang | ? | Carpets, tobacco |
| Korea Unha General Trading Corporation | Consumer goods | Personal goods | Pyongyang | ? | Import/export, textiles |
| Korean Ocean Shipping Agency | Industrials | Industrial transportation | Pyongyang | 1956 | Shipping, pilotage, logistics |
| Koryolink | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Pyongyang | 2008 | 3G provider, part of Veon (Netherlands) |
| Mansudae Art Studio | Consumer services | Media | Pyongyang | 1959 | Art studio |
| Mansudae Overseas Project Group of Companies | Industrials | Construction & materials | Pyongyang | 1967 | Monuments and memorials, part of Mansudae Art Studio |
| Noko Jeans | Consumer goods | Personal goods | Pyongyang | 2007 | First denim jeans production company in North Korea, defunct 2011 |
| Nosotek | Technology | Computer services | Pyongyang | 2008 | IT joint venture |
| Okryu-gwan | Consumer services | Retail | Pyongyang | 1960 | Restaurant in Pyongyang |
| Pyongyang | Consumer services | Travel & leisure | Pyongyang | ? | Restaurant chain |
| Pyongyang Chewing Gum Factory | Consumer goods | Food & beverage | Pyongyang | 2003 | Gum |
| Ryonbong | Industrials | Industrial transportation | Pyongyang | ? | Machine/materials export |
| SEK Studio | Consumer services | Media | Pyongyang | 1957 | Animation services |
| Sungri Motor Plant | Industrials | General industries | Tokchon | 1950 | Motors |
| SunNet | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Pyongyang | 2002 | Mobile network, defunct 2010 |
| Taedonggang Brewing Company | Consumer goods | Food & beverage | Pyongyang | 2000 | Brewery |
| Taep'oong International Investment Group of Korea | Financials | Financial services | Pyongyang | ? | Investments |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Frank Jacobs (21 February 2012). "Manchurian Trivia" (blog by expert). The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ French 2007, p. 32.
- ^ Wikisource:Constitution of North Korea (1972)
- ^ Martin 2004, p. 111: "Although it was in that 1955 speech that Kim Il-sung gave full voice to his arguments for juche, he had been talking along similar lines as early as 1948."
- ^ Country Profile 2007, pp. 7–8.
- ^ "UN: North Korea's policies cause the nation's food shortages". Pajamas Media. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^ H. Hodge (2003). "North Korea’s Military Strategy", Parameters, U.S. Army War College Quarterly.
- ^ Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (April 2007). "Background Note: North Korea". United States Department of State. Retrieved 1 August 2007.
External links[edit]
- Economy and foreign trade at Naenara
- Corporations and agencies on Naenara at the Wayback Machine (archived May 30, 2009)