Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, are divided by the Demilitarized Zone.

 

The North, the South and DMZ are acceptable on subsequent mentions.

 

The Koreas are technically still in a state of war; an armistice signed on July 27, 1953 created the DMZ but no peace treaty was ever signed.

North Korea

Pyongyang is the capital.

Leader: Kim Jong-un. He is not the president: His grandfather Kim Il-sung holds the title President for eternity; his father Kim Jong-il holds the title Supreme Leader for eternity.

Kim Jong-un has chosen his own titles:

  • Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army
  • Marshal of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Il-sung and Jong-il hold the titles great marshal)
  • First Chairman of the National Defense Commission
  • First Secretary of the Workers’ Party
  • Chairman of the Workers’ Party Central Military Commission

It is sufficient to refer to Kim Jong-un as the leader or supreme leader.

South Korea

President: Park Guen-hye

Prime Minister: Hwang Kyo-ahn

The capital is Seoul.

Korean Names

Written in two parts with a hyphen: Kim Jong-un, Park Guen-hye; they become Kim and Park on second mention.