page_title: Administrative divisions of North Korea
section_title: Second-level divisions
hierarchical_section_title: Administrative divisions of North Korea / Second-level divisions
caption_attribution_description: A map of North Korea with second-level divisions in 2012.
context_page_description: The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels. These divisions were discovered in 2002. Many of the units have equivalents in the system of South Korea. At the highest level are nine provinces, two directly governed cities, and three special administrative divisions. The second-level divisions are cities, counties, wards, and districts. These are further subdivided into third-level entities: towns, neighborhoods, villages, and workers' districts.
  The three-level administrative system used in North Korea was first inaugurated by Kim Il-sung in 1952, as part of a massive restructuring of local government. Previously, the country had used a multi-level system similar to that still used in South Korea.
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context_section_description: The most common second-level division is the county (Kun; 군, 郡), a less urbanized area within a province or directly governed city.  The more populous districts within provinces are cities (Si; 시, 市), and the city of Nampho is a special city (T'ŭkkŭpsi; 특급시, 特級市).  Some provinces also have two types of districts (Ku, Chigu).
  The city centers of the directly governed cities are organized into wards (Kuyŏk, equivalent to South Korean Gu).
caption: A map of North Korea with second-level divisions
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