Nyongbyon County

Not to be confused with Yanbian County.

Nyŏngbyŏn County 녕변군
County
Korean transcription(s)
• Chosŏn'gŭl	녕변군
• Hancha	寧邊郡
• McCune-Reischauer	Nyŏngbyŏn-gun
• Revised Romanization	Nyeongbyeon-gun
Country	North Korea
Province	North Pyongan
Administrative divisions	1 ŭp, 1 workers' district, 26 ri
Area
• Total	506.2 km2 (195.4 sq mi)
Population  (2008)
• Total	113,852
• Density	220/km2 (580/sq mi)

Nyŏngbyŏn County is a county in North Pyŏngan Province, North Korea. It borders the cities of Kaechŏn and Anju, and covers an area of 504 km².

Description

The city was heavily fortified during the 15th century as a result of its strategic position, and during the Josŏn dynasty, became a retreat for the aristocratic ryangban due to its fantastic scenery. The city's Yaksan, meaning medicine mountain, was well known for its azaleas; the modern poet Kim So-wol wrote one of his best-known poems on this subject. Two other mountains, Yaksan-dongdae, east of Yaksan, and Moran Hill are also scenic spots. Nyŏngbyŏn also houses many important relics, including the Chŏnju and Sound Buddhist temples, dating from 1345 and 1684 respectively; the Ryuksung Pavilion, famous for "six scenic views" of Nyŏngbyŏn; and the Ch'ŏl'ong Castle, built to protect the city during the Ri dynasty. The south gate of Nyŏngbyŏn, called Mannomun, is also nearby.

Administrative divisions

Nyŏngbyŏn county is divided into 1 ŭp (town), 1 rodongjagu (workers' district) and 26 ri (villages):

Nyŏngbyŏn-ŭp (녕변읍) Pharwŏn-rodongjagu (팔원로동자구) Hacho-ri (하초리) Hwaphyŏng-ri (화평리) Kosŏng-ri (고성리) Kuhang-ri (구항리) Kusan-ri (구산리) Kwanha-ri (관하리) Mangil-ri (망일리) Myŏngdŏk-ri (명덕리) Namdŭng-ri (남등리) Namsan-ri (남산리) Obong-ri (오봉리) Okchang-ri (옥창리)

Pongsan-ri (봉산리) Ryongchu-ri (룡추리) Ryonghwa-ri (룡화리) Ryongpho-ri (룡포리) Ryongsŏng-ri (룡성리) Sejuk-ri (세죽리) Sŏha-ri (서하리) Songgang-ri (송강리) Songhwa-ri (송화리) Sŏsan-ri (서산리) Sŏwi-ri (서위리) Taejŏn-ri (대전리) Tongnam-ri (동남리) Yŏnha-ri (연하리)

Economy

The Nyŏngbyŏn Nuclear Scientific Research Centre, a major component of the North Korean nuclear program, is located here.

Transportation

The Chŏngnyŏn Pharwŏn Line of the Korean State Railway passes through Nyŏngbyŏn county.

See also

• Administrative divisions of North Korea
• Geography of North Korea

External links

• Interactive map of Yongbyon site
• North Korea's nuclear facilities by Google Earth
• Map of Nyongbyon, in Korean