Seonbong-guyeok
선봉구역
Korean transcription(s)
 • Hancha先鋒區域
 • McCune-ReischauerSŏnbong-guyŏk
 • Revised RomanizationSeonbong-guyeok
CountryNorth Korea
Special CityRasŏn-tŭkpyŏlsi
Administrative divisions14 tong, 6 ri
Population
 ([1])
 • Total27,331

Sŏnbong-guyŏk, formerly called Unggi (Korean웅기; Hanja雄基), is a subdivision of the North Korean city of Rason. It is located at the northeastern extreme of North Korea, bordering Russia and China. It lies on Unggi Bay, an extension of the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea). A uranium mine is allegedly located there, as is a 200 megawatt oil-fired power plant.[2] The word Sonbong means "Vanguard" in Korean.

The Sonbong Revolutionary Site is dedicated to a visit by Kim Jong-suk in November 1945 "upholding the policy of building a new country advanced by President Kim Il Sung" after the liberation of Korea. It includes the Sonbong Revolutionary Museum, a monument to the historic site, and the house where she stayed.[3]

Administrative divisions

Sŏnbong-guyŏk is divided into 10 tong (neighbourhoods) and 6 ri (villages):

Climate

Sonbong has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with mild to warm, rainy summers and cold, long winters. Seasons are somewhat moderated by the presence of the Sea of Japan.

Climate data for Sonbong County (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.9
(28.6)
0.7
(33.3)
5.8
(42.4)
12.1
(53.8)
16.2
(61.2)
19.3
(66.7)
23.0
(73.4)
25.2
(77.4)
22.2
(72.0)
15.9
(60.6)
7.1
(44.8)
0.0
(32.0)
12.1
(53.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.6
(20.1)
−4.4
(24.1)
0.8
(33.4)
6.8
(44.2)
11.3
(52.3)
15.7
(60.3)
20.0
(68.0)
21.6
(70.9)
17.2
(63.0)
10.3
(50.5)
2.1
(35.8)
−4.6
(23.7)
7.5
(45.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −11.5
(11.3)
−9.5
(14.9)
−4.0
(24.8)
2.0
(35.6)
7.6
(45.7)
13.0
(55.4)
17.7
(63.9)
18.4
(65.1)
12.2
(54.0)
4.7
(40.5)
−2.6
(27.3)
−9.0
(15.8)
3.2
(37.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 4.7
(0.19)
7.6
(0.30)
16.9
(0.67)
33.5
(1.32)
83.0
(3.27)
92.4
(3.64)
164.4
(6.47)
153.0
(6.02)
85.2
(3.35)
45.1
(1.78)
22.6
(0.89)
7.1
(0.28)
715.5
(28.18)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 2.1 2.9 3.7 5.4 10.5 12.9 14.6 12.5 7.2 4.6 4.3 3.5 84.2
Average snowy days 3.9 3.4 4.0 0.9 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 3.5 4.7 21.0
Average relative humidity (%) 57.6 60.5 65.5 71.4 81.2 88.4 90.4 86.8 79.2 70.4 64.9 59.1 73.0
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[4]

Transportation

Sonbong is North Korea's rail link to Russia. A rail bridge crosses the Tumen River between the border rail stations of Tumangang Workers' District, Sonbong, and Khasan, Russia. This connection lies on one of two proposed paths for linking South Korea by rail to the Trans-Siberian Railroad and the rest of Eurasia, the other being through Sinuiju. The rail link through Sonbong is lightly used, carrying only 10,000 passengers in 2005.[5]

Sonbong is one terminus of the Hambuk Line railroad. It is also served by roads.

There is a seaport and a wharf at Sonbong Port.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Sonbong, North Korea". Geoba.se. Retrieved Jan 8, 2013.
  2. ^ "Unggi/Sonbong-gun". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2006-01-24.
  3. ^ a b "Revolutionary Sites Associated with Immortal Exploits of Kim Jong Suk". KCNA. 22 December 2003. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014.
  4. ^ "30 years report of Meteorological Observations in North Korea (1991 ~ 2020)" (PDF) (in Korean). Korea Meteorological Administration. pp. 199, 261, and 343. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  5. ^ Blagov, Sergei (September 11, 2006). "Russia, China, Japan and South Korea to launch new sea route linking China and Japan". The Jamestown Foundation. Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2006-11-15.

42°21′N 130°24′E / 42.350°N 130.400°E / 42.350; 130.400