ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 691,802 GRT/992,789 DWT
ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multifunction
large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1,
short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)

Airports: 49 (1994 est.) (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)

Military

Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air
Force), Civil Security Forces

Military manpower--military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 5,768,038 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,483,188 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 177,888 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $5 billion to $7 billion
(1997 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 25% to 33% (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: 33-km section of boundary with China in
the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with
South Korea

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@Korea, South
------------

Introduction

Background: At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet
Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese
forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so
in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after
P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections
were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the
following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded
South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the
South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a
bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing
a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. Thereafter,
South Korea achieved amazing economic growth, with per capita output
rising to 13 times the level in the North. Since late 1997, however,
the nation has suffered widesprea