Wonsan
Wonsan, previously known as Wonsanjin, is a port city and naval base located in Kangwon Province, North Korea, along the eastern side of the Korean Peninsula, on the Sea of Japan and the provincial capital. The port was opened by Japanese forces in 1880.
Before the 19501953 Korean War, it fell within the jurisdiction of the then South Hamgyong province, and during the war, it was the location of the Blockade of Wonsan. The population of the city was estimated at 329,207 in 2013. Notable people from Wonsan include Kim Ki-nam, a diplomat and former Vice Chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.
In 2013, it was announced that Wonsan would be converted into a summer destination with resorts and entertainment. Having spent his childhood years there, Kim Jong Un has expressed significant interest in developing the region, with the construction of new infrastructure such as Kalma Airport, a dual-use civilian international airport and military proving ground. A state corporation, the Wonsan Zone Development Corporation, has been established with feasibility studies for a wide variety of hotels and commercial and industrial development.
Name
Wonsan has also been known as Yonghunghang, Yuanshan in Chinese, Genzan or Gensan in Japanese, and Port Lazareva or Port Lazarev in Russian.Geography
Wonsan's area is. It is located in Kangwon Province, on the westernmost part of the Sea of Japan and the east end of the Korean peninsula's neck. Mt. Changdok and Mt. Nap'al are located to the west of the city. More than 20 small islands flank Wonsan's immediate coastal area, including Hwangt'o Island and Ryo Island. Wonsan is considered an excellent natural port location. Mount Kŭmgang is located near Wonsan.Administrative divisions
Wonsan serves as the administrative center of Kangwon Province.The City of Wonsan is divided into 45 tong and 14 ri :
- Changchon-dong
- Changdŏk-dong
- Changsan-dong
- Chŏkchŏn-dong
- Chŏnjin-dong
- Chungchŏng-dong
- Haean-dong
- Haebang 1-dong
- Haebang 2-dong
- Kaesŏn-dong
- Kalma-dong
- Kwangsŏk-dong
- Kwanphung-dong
- Myŏngsasimri-dong
- Myŏngsŏk-dong
- Naewŏnsan-dong
- Namsan-dong
- Panghasan-dong
- Pogmak-dong
- Poha-dong
- Pongchun-dong
- Pongsu-dong
- Phyŏnghwa-dong
- Ryŏdo-dong
- Ryongha-dong
- Ryul-dong
- Sambong-dong
- Sang-dong
- Segil-dong
- Sinhŭng-dong
- Sinphung-dong
- Sinsŏng-dong
- Sŏgu-dong
- Sŏkhyŏn-dong
- Songchŏn-dong
- Songhŭng-dong
- Sŭngri-dong
- Tŏksŏng-dong
- Tongmyŏngsan-dong
- Thap-dong
- Wau-dong
- Wŏnnam 1-dong
- Wŏnnam 2-dong
- Wŏnsŏk-dong
- Yangji-dong
- Changrim-ri
- Chuksal-li
- Chungp'yŏng-ri
- Chilbong-ri
- Chunsan-ri
- Hyŏndong-ri
- Namchŏn-ri
- Raksu-ri
- Ryongchŏn-ri
- Samthae-ri
- Sangja-ri
- Sinsŏng-ri
- Susang-ri
- Yŏngsam-ri
Climate
History
Ancient history
Evidence of humans living in the area during the Neolithic period and Bronze age was found in the Chungpyongdong area, where pottery was found. The area was called Eo eul mae and Chonjung county, when it was under the rule of Goguryeo, and became Jungchon county after it incorporated into the kingdom of Silla in 681. After Taejo of Goryeo conquered the region, the region was renamed as yongju where it was ruled by a special defense administrator. The area was renamed again as Uiju, and a fortress was constructed in 1108. From 1258 to 1356, it was part of the Ssangseong Prefectures.Modern history
In 1854, the Russian Empire surveyed the area and found it highly desirable.Wonsan opened as a trade port in 1880. Its original name was Wonsanjin, but it was also known by the Russian name of Port Lazarev. Under Japanese rule it was called Gensan. In 1914 the P'yongwon and Kyongwon railway lines were opened, connecting the city to P'yongyang and Seoul. Thus, the city gradually developed into an eastern product distribution center. Under the Japanese occupation, the city was heavily industrialized and served as an important point in the distribution of trade between Korea and mainland Japan.
File:Wonsan. Doppelmonument Kim Il-sung - Kim Jong-il.jpg|thumb|Statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Wonsan
After the Korean War broke out it was captured by American and South Korean troops on 10 October 1950 during their drive north. They left ahead of the Chinese counter-attack, and the city fell under Chinese control on 9 December 1950. It was heavily bombed and shelled by the United Nations in the Blockade of Wonsan. According to the official US Navy history, Wonsan was under continuous siege and bombardment by the American navy from March 1951 until July 27, 1953, making it the longest siege in modern American naval history. By the war's end, the city was a vast shell.
City centre redevelopment
announced in 2015 plans for a $582 million redevelopment of the city center, which is to be entirely demolished and rebuilt. A 5-star hotel, a 17-story Wonsan International Finance Centre, and a $9.6m exhibition hall are expected to be built.Kim Jong Un maintains a private compound in Wonsan that includes a palace with several guest houses, a harbor with a boathouse, a beach, and a racehorse track.
Provincial borders
Wonsan used to be in South Hamgyong, but when provincial borders were redrawn in 1946, it joined the northern half of Kangwon and became its capital, as Kangwon's traditional capitals Wonju and Ch'unch'on both were south of the 38th parallel and south of the Military Demarcation Line that replaced the 38th parallel as a border in 1953.Food
Due to it being a coastal city, seafood is commonly consumed in Wonsan.Wonsan is known for many local seafood delicacies including boiled rice with clam meat, a speciality of Kangwon Province.
Economy
Wonsan has an aquatic product processing factory, shipyard, chemistry enterprise, a cement factory, as well as the 4 June Rolling Stock Works, which is one of the DPRK's largest railway rolling stock factories. The Wonsan-Mt. Kumgang International Tourist Zone, announced in 2014, was set to become an investment hub in North Korea. The investment proposal, titled 'Integrated Development of Jung-dong,' aims to construct 4 blocks of 30-storied and 6 blocks of 21-storied apartments for lease in No.1 and No.2 districts. The proposal includes around 2,000 flats with 3-4 living rooms. The area is primarily developed for foreign investors and is adjacent to "Office Work" complexes, including an international financial building, leasing office building, and restaurants specializing in International cuisine. The plan also includes an international finance complex, which was previously referred to as a "financial service center" but has been renamed to "financial complex."Transportation
Road and rail
The district of Wonsan-si is served by several stations on the Kangwon Line of the Korean State Railway, including a branch to the port; it is also connected to the national road network, and is the terminus of the P'yongyang-Wonsan Tourist Motorway and the Wonsan-Kŭmgangsan Highway.Urban transit
A trolleybus system with two lines is currently in operation in Wonsan. The system opened on September 8, 1988, from Wonsan station to Changchon-dong. In 2020, there were three new trolleybus lines under construction in the city, which is aimed at reducing the number of fossil fuel-powered vehicles and to prevent air pollution, and a covered depot was opened. Prior to that, the vehicles were parked on the western loop. Services were often interrupted during this time. The new lines were planned to run from Changchon-dong to Kalma station, to Songdowon and to Myongsasimiri-dong. NK News however, incorrectly reported by implying that it was only being revived recently, while in fact, new Chollima-321 trolleybuses had been delivered since 2019. In 2020, the extension from Changchon-dong to Kalma station was completed, while in 2021, a fully new line was opened, and trolleybuses started to run to Songdowon, from Changchon-dong.A tram line is also under construction, with the trams to be built by the Kim Chong-t'ae Electric Locomotive Works. The trams will be narrow gauge vehicles. This was after Kim Jong Un stressed the need for a tram line at the resort area. The line was completed on November 24, 2020, though passenger service has not started due to the incomplete state of the rest of the resort.
Air
The city has the dual purpose military and civilian Wonsan Airport equipped with 01/19 and 15/33 dual runways. Images from Google Earth from July and August 2014 indicated that major expansion was taking place, including the construction of two new runways. There is also an underground air force runway which runs through a mountain, near Wonsan. North Korea's first public air show, the Wonsan International Friendship Air Festival, was held at Wonsan Airport in September 2016.Sea
Wonsan was also the terminus of the Mangyongbong-92 ferry that operated between Wonsan and Niigata, which was the only direct connection between Japan and North Korea. This service was canceled in 2006 when Japan banned North Korean ships.Media
Wonsan has at least one provincial newspaper.The Korean Central Broadcasting Station maintains a 250-kilowatt mediumwave transmitter broadcasting on 882 kHz AM.