North Hamgyong Province

This article is about the province of North Korea. For the hypothetical province claimed by the Republic of Korea, see North Hamgyeong Province, Republic of Korea.
North Hamgyong Province
함경북도
Province
Korean transcription(s)
  Hangul 함경북도
  Hanja 咸鏡北道
  McCuneReischauer Hamgyŏngbuk-to
  Revised Romanization Hamgyeongbuk-do
Country North Korea
Region Kwanbuk
Capital Chongjin
Subdivisions 4 cities; 12 counties
Area
  Total 20,345 km2 (7,855 sq mi)
Population (2008)[1]
  Total 2,327,362
  Density 110/km2 (300/sq mi)
Dialect Hamgyong

North Hamgyong Province (Hamgyŏngbukdo) is the northernmost province of North Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Hamgyong Province.

Geography

The province is bordered by China on the north, South Hamgyong on the southwest, and Ryanggang on the west. On the east is the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea). The province is home to the Musudan-ri rocket launching site, and the Hoeryong concentration camp. In 2004 Rason was reabsorbed back into the province, and since 2010 Rason is again a Directly Governed City.

Most North Korean defectors that settle in South Korea come from North Hamgyong. Because of this, the province and its people are among the most well-researched topics of North Korea. Knowledge concerning the province is often erroneously generalized to concern the whole country, or ignored for being about "a backward province of a backward country ... unlikely to become popular reading: North Hamgyong is, after all, not only a very grim, but also a very boring place."[2]

Administrative divisions

North Hamgyong is divided into three cities (si) and 12 counties (kun).[3] These are further divided into villages (ri) in rural areas and dong (neighborhoods) in cities. Some cities are also divided into wards known as "kuyŏk", which are administered just below the city level.

Cities

Counties

See also

References

Coordinates: 41°54′11″N 129°24′29″E / 41.903°N 129.408°E / 41.903; 129.408

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.