North Hwanghae Province

North Hwanghae Province (Hwanghaebuk-to; Korean pronunciation: [ɸwa̠ŋ.ɦɛ.buk̚.t͈o̞], lit. "north Yellow Sea province") is a province of North Korea. The province was formed in 1954 when the former Hwanghae Province was split into North and South Hwanghae. The provincial capital is Sariwon. The province is bordered by Pyongyang and South Pyongan to the north, Kangwon to the east, Kaesong Industrial Region and South Korea's Gyeonggi Province to the south, and South Hwanghae southwest. In 2003, Kaesong Directly Governed City (Kaesong Chikhalsi) became part of North Hwanghae as Kaepung County. Later on in 2019, it was promoted as Special City (Kaesong T'ŭkpyŏlsi). Thus, it was separated from North Hwanghae.

North Hwanghae Province
황해북도
Province
Korean transcription(s)
 • Chosŏn'gŭl황해북도
 • Hancha黃海北道
 • McCune-ReischauerHwanghaebuk-to
 • Revised RomanizationHwanghaebuk-do
Location of North Hwanghae Province
Coordinates: 38°30′23.0″N 125°45′34.9″E
CountryNorth Korea
RegionHaeso
CapitalSariwon
Subdivisions2 cities; 18 counties
Government
 • Party Committee ChairmanRyang Jong-hun[1] (WPK)
 • Provincial Committee of the WPKPak Chang-ho[2]
 • People's Committee ChairmanIm Hun[1]
Area
 • Total8,154 km2 (3,148 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total2,113,672
 • Density260/km2 (670/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+9 (Pyongyang Time)
DialectHwanghae

Administrative divisions

North Hwanghae is divided into 2 cities ("si") and 18 counties ("kun"). Three of these counties (Chunghwa, Kangnam, and Sangwon) were added to the province in 2010 after being split from Pyongyang.[3] However, Kangnam was returned to Pyongyang in 2011.[4]

Landscape near Koksan in North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Cities

Counties

Transportation

North Hwanghae is connected to the rest of the country by way of the Pyongbu Railway Line (known in South Korea as the Kyongui Line), which, in theory, runs from Pyongyang to Pusan; however, in reality, the line is cut short by the Korean Demilitarized Zone. It is also served by several large highways, most notably the Pyongyang-Kaesong Motorway.

Education

There are several higher-level educational institutions in North Hwanghae, all government-run. These include the Kye Ung Sang Sariwon University of Agriculture, the Sariwon University of Geology, and the Sariwon Teachers University.

Culture

Historic landmarks

North Hwanghae has many historical relics as the site of the Koryo-dynasty capital at Kaesong, a depository for many famous historic relics. The province is also home to the tombs of many of the Koryo monarchs, the most famous being the tombs of kings Taejo and Kongmin, though others are spread throughout Kaesong and Kaepung county. Kaesong also houses the Koguryo-era Taehungsan Fortress, built to protect the kingdom's capital at Pyongyang and enclosing the famous Kwanum Temple. Nearby to Sariwin is the famous Jongbangsan Fortress, another Koguryo satellite for the defense of Pyongyang. This fortress encompasses the 9th-century Songbulsa Buddhist temple, one of the oldest and most picturesque in the country.

References
  1. "Organizational Chart of North Korean Leadership" (PDF). Seoul: Political and Military Analysis Division, Intelligence and Analysis Bureau; Ministry of Unification. January 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  2. "Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Inspects Rebuilt Kangbuk-ri, Kumchon County, North Hwanghae Province". Pyongyang: Rodong Sinmun. September 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-11-06. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  3. "Pyongyang now more than one-third smaller; food shortage issues suspected", Asahi Shimbun, 2010-07-17, retrieved 2010-07-19
  4. "Kangnam moved into Pyongyang".
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