Kosong County

Not to be confused with two counties called Goseong in South Korea.
Kosŏng County
고성군
County
Korean transcription(s)
 • Chosŏn'gŭl 고성군
 • Hancha 高城郡
 • McCune-Reischauer Kosŏng-gun
 • Revised Romanization Goseong-gun
Country North Korea
Province Kangwŏn Province
Administrative divisions 1 ŭp, 23 ri

Kosŏng County is a kun, or county, in Kangwŏn province, North Korea. It lies in the southeasternmost corner of North Korea, immediately north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Prior to the end of the Korean War in 1953, it made up a single county, together with what is now the South Korean county of the same name. In a subsequent reorganization, the county absorbed the southern portion of Tongch'ŏn county.

Physical features

Kŭmgangsan beach.

Kosŏng is largely mountainous, but there is flat land along the coast of the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea) to the county's east. The mountains here are part of the Taebaek range. A portion of Kŭmgangsan mountain is included in the county.

Administrative Divisions

Kosŏng county is divided into 1 ŭp (town) and 23 ri (villages):

  • Kosŏng-ŭp
  • Changp'o-ri
  • Chonggong-ri
  • Chudung-ri
  • Ch'ogu-ri
  • Haebang-ri
  • Haegŭmgang-ri
  • Kobong-ri
  • Kŭmch'ŏl-li
  • Kuŭp-ri
  • Nam'ae-ri
  • Okch'ŏl-li
  • Poksong-ri
  • Pongha-ri
  • Rŭngdong-ri
  • Ryŏmsŏng-ri
  • Samilp'o-ri
  • Sinbong-ri
  • Sŏngbung-ri
  • Sunhang-ri
  • Tup'o-ri
  • Ungong-ri
  • Unjŏl-li
  • Wŏlbisal-li

Economy

The local economy is dominated by agriculture, although fishing also plays a role, together with the harvesting of brown seaweed and clams. Significant local crops include rice, maize, soybeans, wheat, and barley. It is particularly well known as a source for bamboo handicrafts.

Transport

Rail

Nearly half the length of the Kŭmgangsan Ch'ŏngnyŏn line of the Korean State Railway is in Kosŏng county. It is operational as far south as Kŭmgangsan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Station. From there. the line continues south to Samilp'o and Kamho stations (both in North Korea, but not in regular use), thence across the DMZ to connect to Korail's Tonghae Pukpu line at Jejin.[1]

The section between Kŭmgangsan Ch'ŏngnyŏn and Jejin stations was out of service from the partition of Korea until 2007, when it was reopened for passenger trains from the South to the Mount Kŭmgang Tourist Region; it was closed again after the shooting of a South Korean tourist by a KPA soldier.[2]

Sea

The nearest major port is Wŏnsan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
  2. ↑ ROK woman tourist shot dead at DPRK resort. China Daily. July 12, 2008

Coordinates: 38°40′05″N 128°19′05″E / 38.66806°N 128.31806°E / 38.66806; 128.31806

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