Mining by country

Mining in North Korea

What North Korea mines: tungsten (2.4% of world output, #4), graphite (natural) (0.4% of world output, #9), molybdenum (0.3% of world output, #14).

Biggest world roleTungsten2.4% of world mine output, #4, 2025.
World top-3 producer of0minerals we track.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law-1.49above 7% of countries
  • Political stability+0.08above 46% of countries
  • Regulatory quality-1.99above 0% of countries
  • Control of corruption-1.55above 3% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in North Korea at a glance

Mining law
Mineral Resource Law (Act No. 14 of 1993; Amendment Act No. 2979 of 2013). Coal has separate laws (2009, amended 2012) and small mines a 2014 act. Source: USGS
State mining company
Ministry of Mining Industry; Ministry of Coal Industry; Ministry of Metallurgical Industry. Mines are run by ministries: the Ministry of Mining Industry for most mines, Coal Industry for coal, Metallurgical Industry for iron ore and magnesite. Source: USGS

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

Share of world mine production

MineralWorld shareWorld rankYear
Tungsten2.4%42025
Graphite (natural)0.4%92025
Molybdenum0.3%142025

Tungsten mining in North Korea

North Korea mined 2.4% of the world's tungsten in 2025, ranking #4 (USGS). Every tungsten mine and project in North Korea.

Graphite mining in North Korea

North Korea mined 0.4% of the world's graphite in 2025, ranking #9 (USGS). Every graphite mine and project in North Korea.

Molybdenum mining in North Korea

North Korea mined 0.3% of the world's molybdenum in 2025, ranking #14 (USGS). Every molybdenum mine and project in North Korea.

History of mining in North Korea

What the ground holds. copper, gold, iron-ore, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, rare-earths, silver, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, phosphate, coal and uranium. Source: USGS

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

By mineral

Graphite (natural) minesMolybdenum minesTungsten mines

Mining elsewhere in Asia

ChinaIndonesiaJapanKazakhstanSouth KoreaIndiaTurkeyMongoliaPhilippinesVietnam

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.