Kangwon Province, North Korea

Kangwon Province is a place in North Korea. Its biggest city is called Wŏnsan. Before 1945, when Korea was divided, Kangwon Province and a nearby area in South Korea called Gangwon Province were actually one big province. Today, they are two separate places, but they still share a similar history and name.

History

Kangwŏn was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. It was formed in 1395 and got its name from the main cities of Gangneung and Wonju.

In 1895, Kangwŏn was split into two areas. But in 1896, it was brought back together again. After World War II in 1945, Korea was divided, and Kangwŏn was split between North and South Korea. The capital of the North Korean part was set at Wŏnsan. Later changes moved some areas in and out of the province, and in 2002, a special tourist area was created, but it was closed by North Korea in 2024.

Geography

Kangwon Province in North Korea is surrounded by other areas. To the north, it borders South Hamgyŏng, and to the west, it is next to South P'yŏngan and North Hwanghae. To the south lies Kaesŏng. The province is also close to its neighbor, Gangwon, across the Korean Demilitarized Zone, and to the east, it meets the Sea of Japan.

The land is shaped by the T'aebaek Mountains, with the tallest point being Mount Kumgang, known as "Diamond Mountain." Together, Kangwŏn and Gangwon Provinces are called the Gwandong region. West of the mountains is Yŏngsŏ, and east is Yŏngdong.

In April 2003, a special area called the Mt. Chuae Plant Reserve was created. It covers 687 hectares in Shindong-ri, Sepho County, and Sanyang-ri, Kosan County. Mt. Chuae stands at 1,528 meters tall and is part of the Masingnyong Mountains. Efforts are in place to protect the mixed forests of pine and broad-leaf trees, with rules set to stop animal grazing and harmful activities.

Administrative divisions

Kangwŏn Province is divided into two cities, one special area, and 15 counties.

Cities

• Munch'ŏn-si (문천시; 文川市)
• Wŏnsan-si (원산시; 元山市)

Counties

• Anbyŏn-gun (안변군; 安邊郡)
• Ch'angdo-gun (창도군; 昌道郡)
• Ch'ŏnnae-gun (천내군; 川內郡)
• Ch'ŏrwŏn-gun (철원군; 鐵原郡)
• Hoeyang-gun (회양군; 淮陽郡)
• Ich'ŏn-gun (이천군; 伊川郡)
• Kimhwa-gun (김화군; 金化郡)
• Kosan-gun (고산군; 高山郡)
• Kosŏng-gun (고성군; 高城郡)
• Kŭmgang-gun (금강군; 金剛郡)
  • Mount Kumgang Tourist Region (금강산 관광 지구; 金剛山觀光地區)
• P'an'gyo-gun (판교군; 板橋郡)
• Pŏptong-gun (법동군; 法洞郡)
• P'yŏnggang-gun (평강군; 平康郡)
• Sep'o-gun (세포군; 洗浦군)
• T'ongch'ŏn-gun (통천군; 通川郡)