Country North Korea Local time Saturday 2:03 PM Number of airports 1 | Administrative divisions 1 ŭp, 10 rodongjagu Province Ryanggang Province | |
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Weather -1°C, Wind N at 8 km/h, 53% Humidity | ||
Samjiyŏn County is a kun, or county, in Ryanggang Province, North Korea. It has its own airport. It takes its name from three lakes in the county, which are known as the Samjiyŏn. Samjiyŏn is situated near Mount Paektu, and tour groups fly to the district's airport to see the fabled mountain.
Contents
- Map of Samjiyon Ryanggang North Korea
- Administrative Divisions
- Air
- Rail
- Hyesan No1Wangdk Railway Station
- Tourism
- Presidential palaces
- Climate
- Sport
- References
Map of Samjiyon, Ryanggang, North Korea
Many houses and buildings in Samjiyŏn have been recently upgraded, and many new buildings, including a recreational centre for youths, were finished in 2005. Popular activities in Samjiyŏn are skiing and various activities for schoolchildren, who use the surrounding area of Mt. Paektu for various scouting-like operations in conjunction with school-led vacations or outings.
Administrative Divisions
Samjiyŏn county is divided into 1 ŭp (town) and 10 rodongjagu (workers' districts):
Air
Samjiyŏn is served by the Korean People's Air Force along with the national flag carrier Air Koryo which operates scheduled flights and charter services between Samjiyŏn and P'yŏngyang, Wŏnsan and Ch'ŏngjin.. In 2005, the airport was closed due to major renovations, which were partially underwritten by the Hyundai corporation.
Rail
Samjiyŏn county is served by the narrow-gauge Samjiyŏn Line of the Korean State Railway. Construction of a new, 78 kilometres (48 mi) standard-gauge line from the Pukpu Line at Hyesan to Samjiyŏn is underway since 2008, with 80% of the roadbed and 70% of lineside structures being complete as of June 2015; the new terminus station is to be at Chunghŭng-rodongjagu, Samjiyŏn county.
Hyesan No.1/Wangdŏk Railway Station
The current presidential train station is located near Ŭihwa-ri in Poch'ŏn county, Ryanggang, in a very narrow gorge, making aerial attack difficult. The facilities of this station are much more sophisticated than the nearby civilian Hyesan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Station. Officially called Hyesan No.1 Railway Station, it is commonly known as Wangdŏk Station due to the original 1985 station having been built only 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Wangdŏk.
The first station was built in 1985, but as it was easily viewed from China, in 1989 it was destroyed and moved to a second site, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the current third site. However, on inspecting the completed facilities, Kim Il-sung deemed it unsuitable, as it was in view of China's mountains. Ordering a third rebuild, the second station was taken over by the Samjiyŏn Precision Machinery Factory (the No. 95 Munitions Factory) after completion of the current, third site, in 1992. This third station is located directly on the Paektu Mountain Tourist Road, which gives direct access to Kim Il-sung's palace compound. 20 civilian personnel and two military squads protect the area immediately around the station. During the annual presidential visit in July or August, the entire civilian population is employed to clean the transportation system and local environment.
Tourism
The Samjiyon Grand Monument consists of four groups of sculptures called On the Battlefield, Fatherland, Longing, and Forwards.
Presidential palaces
Samjiyŏn has been a holiday resort and destination for two presidents of North Korea. Both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il have established palaces and compounds in the area, accessed by a specially developed and exclusive railway station for the presidential train.
In 1999, five years after his death, Kim Il-sung's palace was bombed. Kim Jong-il developed a new palace compound, but its location is unknown.
Climate
Samjiyon has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dwc) with mild summers and cold, dry winters.
Sport
It has one the three speed skating ovals in the country.