note: Kiribati is
being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network,
which should improve telephone service

Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 note: the FM and
shortwave stations may be inactive (2002)

Radios: 17,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 1 (not reported to be active) (2002)

Televisions: 1,000 (1997)

Internet country code: .ki

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)

Internet users: 1,000 (2000)

Transportation Kiribati

Railways: 0 km

Highways: total: 670 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: 27 km are
paved in South Tarawa (2001)

Waterways: 5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands)

Ports and harbors: Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton

Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291
GRT/1,295 DWT ships by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2002 est.)

Airports: 21 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2001)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under
914 m: 4 (2001)

Military Kiribati

Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries
out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police
posts are on all islands)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%

Military - note: Kiribati does not have military forces; defense
assistance is provided by Australia and NZ

Transnational Issues Kiribati

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Korea, South

Introduction

Korea, South

Background: After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern
half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was
installed in the north. The Korean War (1950-53) had US and other UN
forces intervene to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported
by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula
along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter,
South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income far
outstripping the level of North Korea. In 1997, the nation suffered
a severe financial crisis from which it continues to make a solid
recovery. South Korea has also maintained its commitment to democratize
its political processes. In June 2000, a historic first south-north
su