Contact Admin. Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Pyongyang , Hamhung, Chongjin, Wonsan. Since its creation in , North Korea has been extremely hostile toward Western nations, especially the United States , and has isolated itself from most of the world.
The fall of Communism in Eastern Europe in and the collapse of the Soviet Union in has deprived North Korea of many important allies and trading markets. Since the end of the Korean War in , North Korea has pursued, both through violence and peaceful negotiations, reunification with neighboring South Korea. The North Koreans had previously been barred from membership because of their opposition to a separate seat for South Korea.
The two countries signed an historic nonaggression pact on December 13, The pact called for a relaxation of trade and travel restrictions and allowed the construction of telephone and postal services between North and South Korea.
The accord has allowed the reunification of families separated since the end of the Korean War. On December 31, , North Korea and South Korea signed an agreement that banned the production of nuclear weapons by either country.
The new openness between the two Koreas has renewed the hope that a political reunification of the Korean peninsula will eventually occur. Although North Korea is very mountainous, Pyongyang is situated on a flat, open plain. Because it receives no protection from mountains or hills, Pyongyang is buffeted by bitterly cold winds during the winter.
