Chongjin

Coordinates: 41°47′N 129°46′E / 41.783°N 129.767°E / 41.783; 129.767
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Chongqing.

Chongjin
청진
Chongjin Airport, Air Koryo aircraft at Chongjin Airport, Air Koryo crew at Chongjin Airport
Nickname: 
City of Iron
Map of North Hamgyong showing the location of Chongjin
Map of North Hamgyong showing the location of Chongjin
Map
Chongjin is located in North Korea
Chongjin
Chongjin
Location within North Korea
Coordinates: 41°47′N 129°46′E / 41.783°N 129.767°E / 41.783; 129.767
CountryNorth Korea
ProvinceNorth Hamgyong
Administrative divisions7 kuyok
Government
 • Chairman of the Chongjin City People’s Committee of North Hamgyong ProvinceKang Jun[1]
Area
 • Total269 km2 (104 sq mi)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total627,000
 • Density2,330/km2 (6,000/sq mi)
 • Dialect
Hamgyong
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (Pyongyang Time)

Chŏngjin (Korean pronunciation: [tsʰʌŋ.dʑin]; Korean: 청진시; MR: Ch'ŏngjin-si) is the capital of North Korea's North Hamgyong Province (함경북도) and the country's third-largest city. It is sometimes called The City of Iron.[2]

History

Main Street Sept. 1946.
Aerial photograph of the industrial district 1946.

Prehistory

According to archaeological findings near the lower areas of the Tumen river, evidence of human living traces back to the paleolithic period.[3]

Ancient and medieval history

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, the region was where the tribe kingdoms of Buyeo, Mohe, Okjeo, Yilou, Yemaek and Sushen existed. The region later was the territory of Goguryeo. After the fall of Goguryeo in 668, the region was ruled by the Tang dynasty. During the reign of Balhae, the region was under the subdivision donggyeongyongwonbu. The region was under the rule of the Jin dynasty and Yuan dynasty after the fall of Balhae by the Khitans.[3]

Modern history

Emblem of Seishinfu(chongjin bu), administrative division Chongjin fell under Japanese rule

Chongjin was a small fishing village prior to the

planned city based on a rectangular street grid.[2] In 1930, Nippon Steel built a large steel mill, the Seishin Iron and Steel Works, in the town. Ranam was annexed to Chongjin in 1940, which was elevated to city status. The city was overrun after a brief resistance by the Soviet Union on 13 August 1945, only two days before the end of World War II
. Under the rule of North Korea, Chongjin remained an important military and industrial centre. It was directly administered by the central government from 1960–1967 and from 1977–1988.

On April 15, 1969 at 13:30

North Korean MiG-17 fighters SE of Chongjin over the Sea of Japan. All 31 occupants were killed, making it the deadliest plane crash in North Korean territory. The plane was on a military flight out of Atsugi NAS.[6]

During the North Korean famine of the 1990s, Chongjin was one of the worst affected locations in the country; death rates may have been as high as 20%.[2] Conditions there remain poor in terms of food availability.[2] This problem has caused several instances of civil unrest in Chongjin, a rarity in North Korea. On 4 March 2008, a crowd of women merchants protested in response to tightened market controls.[2] Rising grain prices and government attempts to prohibit "peddling in the market" have been cited as causes for the protests.[2] As a result of the protest, the Chongjin local government "posted a proclamation allowing peddling in the market."[7] On 24 August 2008, a clash occurred between foot patrol agents and female merchants, which escalated into a "massive protest rally". It was reported that the Chongjin local government-issued verbal instructions relaxing the enforcement activity until the time of the next grain ration.[7]

Administrative divisions

From 1948 to 1960, 1967 to 1977, and 1987 to present, Ch'ŏngjin was governed as a part of North Hamgyong Province. From 1960 until 1967, and again from 1977 to 1987, Chongjin was administered as a directly governed city.[8]

Ch'ŏngjin is divided into 7 wards (구역, kuyŏk, Korean pronunciation: [kujʌk]).

Geography

Chongjin is located in the northeast of North Korea, in North Hamgyong Province, near the East Korea Bay (Kyŏngsŏng Bay)[9] in the Sea of Japan. The Susong River (수성천) runs through the city; contained in the city are the Sodu Stream (서두수) and Mount Komal (고말산).

Climate

Chongjin has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dwa) with cold, dry winters and warm, rainy summers.

Climate data for Chongjin (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.3
(48.7) 		12.2
(54.0) 		22.3
(72.1) 		31.8
(89.2) 		34.5
(94.1) 		33.4
(92.1) 		36.1
(97.0) 		33.8
(92.8) 		34.0
(93.2) 		27.2
(81.0) 		20.5
(68.9) 		14.3
(57.7) 		36.1
(97.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3) 		1.5
(34.7) 		6.4
(43.5) 		12.7
(54.9) 		17.0
(62.6) 		20.4
(68.7) 		24.0
(75.2) 		25.6
(78.1) 		22.6
(72.7) 		16.8
(62.2) 		8.5
(47.3) 		1.9
(35.4) 		13.1
(55.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.7
(23.5) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		1.9
(35.4) 		7.7
(45.9) 		12.1
(53.8) 		16.3
(61.3) 		20.6
(69.1) 		22.1
(71.8) 		18.0
(64.4) 		11.7
(53.1) 		3.8
(38.8) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		8.7
(47.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −8.8
(16.2) 		−7.2
(19.0) 		−2.2
(28.0) 		3.4
(38.1) 		8.4
(47.1) 		13.4
(56.1) 		18.0
(64.4) 		19.1
(66.4) 		13.6
(56.5) 		6.6
(43.9) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		4.8
(40.6)
Record low °C (°F) −22.2
(−8.0) 		−19.0
(−2.2) 		−16.1
(3.0) 		−6.0
(21.2) 		0.0
(32.0) 		5.0
(41.0) 		8.6
(47.5) 		9.4
(48.9) 		2.4
(36.3) 		−6.0
(21.2) 		−15.0
(5.0) 		−20.0
(−4.0) 		−22.2
(−8.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 12.2
(0.48) 		7.4
(0.29) 		15.1
(0.59) 		29.6
(1.17) 		64.7
(2.55) 		73.8
(2.91) 		126.7
(4.99) 		126.1
(4.96) 		79.8
(3.14) 		34.0
(1.34) 		29.2
(1.15) 		15.3
(0.60) 		613.9
(24.17)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 4.0 2.6 3.1 4.2 8.4 9.8 11.6 10.5 6.3 3.5 4.0 4.4 72.4
Average snowy days 8.0 4.9 3.9 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 3.3 7.5 28.7
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		61.6 61.9 62.8 65.7 75.4 83.7 87.2 84.2 75.8 67.2 63.0 59.9 70.7
Source 1: Korea Meteorological Administration[10]
Source 2: Pogoda.ru.net (extremes)[11]

Economy

Chongjin is one of the DPRK's important steel and fiber industry centers. It has a

market economics in North Korea.[13]

Because of the heavy concentration of industries in the area, Chongjin is also the DPRK's air pollution black spot.[citation needed] With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent shortage of oil to generate electricity, many factories have been shuttered. One of the first senior U.N. officials permitted to visit the area, Tun Myat, observed in 1997 when the North Korea economic crisis reached its peak, "Chongjin was like a forest of scrap metal, with huge plants that seem to go on for miles and miles that have been turned into rust buckets. I've been all over the world, and I've never seen anything quite like this."[14]

Chongjin Bus Factory, established in 1981, supplies a large number of buses and trolleybuses to Chongjin.[15] It also builds the trams used within Chongjin, including one articulated tram.[16] In recent years, the factory has built more trolleybuses that visually resemble the Chollima-321 of the Trolleybuses in Pyongyang.[17]

The city is powered by the Chongjin Thermal Power Plant. The coal used by the power plant is allegedly mined in

Kwan-li-so No.22,[18] although since then the prison has apparently been closed.[19] The plant has an estimated generation capacity of 150 MW.[20]

Other industries

The area has little arable land, so the famine in the 1990s hit the residents of Chongjin particularly hard. During the late 1990s, the city's residents experienced some of the highest death rates from famine, which might have been as high as 20 percent of the population. By 1995, the local frog population was wiped out due to overhunting.[2]

Prisons

Shipping

Chongjin's port has established itself as a critical component of busy international shipping trade with neighbouring parts of Northeast and Southeast Asia. Of DPRK's eight international shipping ports, Chongjin is thought to be the second most economically important (after

Nampho port on the west coast)[24] and serves as a base of trade to Russia and Japan. Chongjin also boasts a seamen's club which serves to cater for foreign crews as well as a meeting base for North Koreans and foreigners engaged in the shipping trade.[12]

The

North Hamgyong
Province.

Transport

Air

Orang Airport located in Orang County 40 kilometres from Chongjin is equipped with a 2,500 m (8,200 ft) runway on military and civilian dual purpose air station (CHO). North Korea planned to upgrade an old airport near Hamhung as late as 2003, so that it would have a 4,000 m (13,000 ft) runway, and would act as the nation's second international airport. However, it is still not completed.

Rail

The Wonson-Rason Railway and Chongjin-Rason Railway (Pyongra Line) electric railways operated by the Korean State Railway connect Rason and capital Pyongyang.

Urban transit

Chongjin is the only city in North Korea other than Pyongyang to operate a tram system. These trams are all locally manufactured. It consists of one line built in two phases, phase 1,6 km (3.7 mi), and phase 2,7 km (4.3 mi).[25] It has a turning loop in Pongchon and Namchongjin, with the depot located in Sabong.

A trolleybus system also operates with 3 lines: Chongam - Yokchon, Hae'an - Sabong and Namchongijn - Ranam.[26]

Education

Universities and colleges

There are several state-run higher educational facilities located here, such as:

The Kim Jong-suk Teachers' College, which was named after

Kim Jong-suk, is in Chongjin.[2]

Schools

Schools for gifted and talented students include:

Culture

There is an aquatic product research center. Famous scenic sites include hot springs and

processed squid
. The city is home to the
football
team, the Ch'ŏngjin Chandongcha.

The local newspaper is the Hambuk Daily.[2]

Chongjin is featured in the book

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick.[2]

Other cultural locations

Sister cities

Chongjin has two

sister cities
:

Notable people from Chongjin

Historic gallery

  • North Hamgyong Provincial Office during the Japanese colonial era.
    North Hamgyong Provincial Office during the Japanese colonial era.
  • Port of Chongjin during the Japanese colonial era.
    Port of Chongjin during the Japanese colonial era.
  • Ranam Shinto Shrine during the Japanese colonial era.
    Ranam Shinto Shrine during the Japanese colonial era.

See also

References

  1. ^ "City has great potential for growth". The Pyongyang Times. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-84708-141-4
    .
  3. ^ a b "청진시".
  4. ^ "Woolverton Inn - Ceremony - North Korea's Geography & Major cities - A Map viewing major cities and the capital of North Korea. Highlighting important geographical locations and points of interest. One in particular being the 38th parallel". www.communitywalk.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  5. ^ Grosvenor, Gilbert, ed. (December 1945). Japan and Korea (JPG) (Map). 1:3,000,000. Cartography by Cartographic Section, National Geographic Society. Washington: National Geographic.
  6. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed EC-121M Super Constellation 135749 Chongjin". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b Good Friends, “North Korea Today,” No. 113 (Mar. 14, 2008)
  8. ^ 행정구역 개편 일지. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 5 April 2006. Archived from the original on 2 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2006.
  9. ^ "Chongjin". Encyclopaeida Britannica. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  10. ^ "30 years report of Meteorological Observations in North Korea (1991 ~ 2020)" (PDF) (in Korean). Korea Meteorological Administration. pp. 201, 267, and 343. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  11. ^ Климат Чхонджин (in Russian). Weather and Climate (Погода и климат). Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  12. ^ a b Smith, Hazel (2009).North Korean Shipping: A Potential for WMD Proliferation?, Asia Pacific Issues. No. 87. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  13. ^ Kim, Jieun (9 June 2017). "North Korea Party Officials Monopolize Local Market Stands". Radio Free Asia. The source referred to thriving Sunam Market in North Hamgyong's capital Chongjin—North Korea's third-largest city—where profits from running a stand can generate profits "as high as those earned by foreign currency-generating organizations."
  14. ^ Demick, Barbara. "Deprivation Spurs Change in N. Korea". The Seoul Times. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  15. ^ 북한지역정보넷. www.cybernk.net. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Chongjin, Tramway — Roster". transphoto.org. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Rodong Sinmun". Archived from the original on 16 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Introduction to Korean History and Culture 2017 – Lecture 11 – North Korea" (PDF). p. 9. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  19. DailyNK
    . 28 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Pyongyang's Perpetual Power Problems". 38 North. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  21. ISBN 9781847081414
    .
  22. ^ "North Hamgyong Provincial E-Business Institute Newly Built". Korean Central News Agency. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  23. ^ "KINU White paper on human rights in North Korea 2009" (PDF). p. 125.
  24. ^ "North Korea Infrastructure (Ports)". Asia Trade Hub. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016.
  25. ^ "Photo: Chongjin — Maps". transphoto.org. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Chongjin". transphoto.org. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Chongjin（D.P.R.K.）". Changchun Municipal People's Government. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Chongjin（D.P.R.K.）". People's Government of Jilin. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.

Further reading

  • Dormels, Rainer. North Korea's Cities: Industrial facilities, internal structures and typification. Jimoondang, 2014.
    ISBN 978-89-6297-167-5

External links
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