Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A country in East Asia: The D.P.R.K. is a nation located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. It is a single-party state governed by the Workers' Party of Korea, with its capital in Pyongyang. The country was formally established on September 9, 1948.

Usage

• The term "D.P.R.K." is the official acronym for the country's full name. It is primarily used in formal, diplomatic, and official contexts, such as in news reports, academic papers, and international relations.
• It is less common in everyday conversation, where "North Korea" is the more frequently used term.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The United Nations has issued a report on human rights in the D.P.R.K.
  • Diplomatic relations between the D.P.R.K. and several Western nations remain strained.
  • The official name of the country is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, often abbreviated as the D.P.R.K.

Advanced Usage

• In formal writing: The acronym "D.P.R.K." is often used on first reference in formal documents, sometimes followed by the full name in parentheses. Subsequently, the acronym may be used alone.
  • The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (D.P.R.K.) participated in the talks. The D.P.R.K. delegation presented its position.

Variants and Related Words

• North Korea (Proper noun): The common, informal name for the D.P.R.K., used in general media and everyday speech.
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Proper noun): The full, official name of the country.
• ROK (Proper noun): Acronym for the Republic of Korea (South Korea), the southern counterpart on the Korean Peninsula.

Synonyms

• North Korea: The most common synonym.
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea: The formal, full-name synonym.

Notes

• The D.P.R.K. is distinct from the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea). The two countries have been divided since the end of World War II and fought the Korean War (1950-1953). They remain technically at war, with an armistice rather than a peace treaty in place.
• When writing, it is conventional to use periods in the acronym: D.P.R.K.

Noun

1. a communist country in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948