North Hwanghae Province

North Hwanghae Province
황해북도
Province
Korean transcription(s)
  Hangul 황해북도
  Hanja 黃海北道
  McCuneReischauer Hwanghaebuk-to
  Revised Romanization Hwanghaebuk-do
Country North Korea
Region Haeso
Capital Sariwon
Subdivisions 3 cities; 19 counties
Area
  Total 8,154 km2 (3,148 sq mi)
Population (2008)
  Total 2,113,672
  Density 260/km2 (670/sq mi)
Dialect Hwanghae

North Hwanghae Province (Hwanghaebuk-to) 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 to the south, and South Hwanghae southwest. In 2003, Kaesong Directly Governed City (Kaesong Chikhalsi) became part of North Hwanghae.

Administrative divisions

North Hwanghae is divided into 3 cities ("si") and 19 counties ("kun"). Three of these counties (Chunghwa, Kangnam, and Sangwon) were added to the province in 2010 after being split from Pyongyang.[1]

Landscape near Koksan in North Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Cities

Counties

Transportation

North Hwanghae is connected to the rest of the country (and allegedly to South Korea) 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 educationary facilities 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

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