Riwon County

Riwŏn or Iwon County is a county in South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea. It is located at the province's northeastern tip and borders the Sea of Japan (Korea's "East Sea") to the southeast.

Riwon County
리원군
County
Map of South Hamgyong showing the location of Riwon
Map of South Hamgyong showing the location of Riwon
CountryNorth Korea
ProvinceSouth Hamgyong Province
Administrative divisions1 ŭp, 3 workers' districts, 21 ri
Area
 • Total474.8 km2 (183.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2008[1])
 • Total117,320
 • Density250/km2 (640/sq mi)

Name
Riwon County
The US 7th Infantry Division—augmented by South Korean soldiers—landing at Riwon in late 1950.
Korean name
Hancha利原郡
North Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl리원군
South Korean name
Hangul이원군

"Riwŏn" is the official North Korean romanization of the county's name, using the McCune–Reischauer system. The breve is often omitted.[2] It is named for its seat, Riwon. Due to the silting of the mouth of the Namdae, Riwon was located a little inland by the 1950s, with a larger port named Kunsŏn.[3] The two communities have since merged under the name Riwon. In South Korean sources, the county's name often appears as 이원,[4] now officially romanized as Iwon using Revised Romanization.[5] The MR romanization used before the year 2000 was Iwŏn.

Physical features

Riwŏn is mountainous, although there are also small plains, and is home to the Taedŏk Mountains (대덕산맥). The highest peak is Taedŏksan (1,442 m). There are some 10 significant streams; the chief of these is the Namdaech'ŏn, which drains into the Sea of Japan. There are various bays and islands along the coast. Thanks to its coastal location, the county enjoys a mild maritime climate. Forestland (70% of which is coniferous) takes up 73% of the county's area.

Administrative divisions

Riwŏn county is divided into 1 ŭp (town), 3 rodongjagu (workers' districts) and 21 ri (villages):

  • Riwŏn-ŭp
  • Ch'aho-rodongjagu
  • Hwalsŏng-rodongjagu
  • Rahŭng-rodongjagu
  • Changch'ung-ri
  • Chungp'yŏng-ri
  • Ch'ŏngsal-li
  • Haksadae-ri
  • Hajŏl-li
  • Kiam-ri
  • Kokch'ang-ri
  • Kokku-ri
  • Kuŭp-ri
  • Kyŏngsŏng-ri
  • Mun'am-ri
  • P'ung'am-ri
  • Ryongpung-ri
  • Ryulji-ri
  • Songdong-ri
  • Sŏnggung-ri
  • Songjŏm-ri
  • Tabo-ri
  • Taedŏng-ri
  • Wŏnsa-ri
  • Yusŏng-ri

Economy

Mining and manufacturing

Machine manufacturing dominates the local economy, accounting for half of annual industrial production. Deposits of iron, iron sulfide, talc, limestone, graphite, quartzite and silica are found in the county. The Riwon Mine produces talc.

Agriculture

Agriculture is carried out in the plains and along the streams; major crops include rice, soybeans and maize.

Transport

Riwŏn is served by roads, and by the P'yŏngra line of the Korean State Railway.

See also

References
  1. North Korea: Administrative Division
  2. "Map of Korea", Pyongyang: Map Publishing House of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 1986.
  3. "NK 52-11: Sōngjin", AMS Series L552, Washington: Army Map Service, 1954.
  4. ?, Seoul: National Geographic Information Institute, 2009. (in Korean)
  5. "Korea and Vicinity", Seoul: National Geographic Information Institute, 2010.

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