Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (DPRK) - Environment

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has environmental problems in the area of water pollution from agricultural and industrial sources. The nation has 67 cubic kilometers of renewable water resources with 73% used for farming activity and 16% used for industrial purposes. Korea's cities produce an average of 2.6 million tons of solid waste per year. In 1992 the DPRK was among the 20 countries with the world's highest levels of industrial carbon dioxide emissions, which totaled 253.7 million metric tons, a per capita level of 11.21 metric tons. In 1996, the total rose to 254.3 million metric tons.

The Korean government has established 220 facilities to regulate environmental conditions, industrial areas, protected land, and water reserves. The government has also created the Law of Environmental Protection. In 2001, 7 of Korea's mammal species and 19 of its bird species were endangered. Endangered species in the DPRK included the tiger (particularly the Siberian tiger), Amur leopard, Oriental white stork, Japanese crested ibis, and Tristram's woodpecker. The Japanese sea lion has become extinct.