Jong Il Peak () is one of the peaks of Mount Sobaek, south-east of

Paektu Mountain Paektu Mountain or Baekdu Mountain () is an active stratovolcano on the Chinese–North Korean border. In China, it is known as Changbai Mountain (). At , it is the tallest mountain in North Korea and Northeast China and the tallest mounta ...

. The height is 5,899 ft (1,798 m). It is located near the shore of Sobaek Stream, in Samjiyon County,

Ryanggang Province Ryanggang Province (Ryanggangdo; , ) is a Administrative divisions of North Korea, province in North Korea. The province is bordered by China (Jilin) to the north, North Hamgyong to the east, South Hamgyong to the south, and Chagang to the west. ...

, North Korea. The main rocks of the peak are

trachyte Trachyte () is an extrusive igneous rock composed mostly of alkali feldspar. It is usually light-colored and aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained), with minor amounts of mafic minerals, and is formed by the rapid cooling of lava (or shallow intrus ...

rhyolite Rhyolite ( ) is the most silica-rich of volcanic rocks. It is generally glassy or fine-grained (aphanitic) in texture (geology), texture, but may be porphyritic, containing larger mineral crystals (phenocrysts) in an otherwise fine-grained matri ...

and

basalt Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...

. The southern slope is a cliff about 328 ft (100 m) height, at the foot of the rock of 30–35° slope is a thick layer of scree, which is connected with the alluvial soil of the valley of Sobaek Stream. The flat northern slope is connected with Saja Peak. The Eastern slope is steeper than the western. At the Chŏng-il Peak, which is surrounded by dense forest, over 300 species of plants grow, including 16 species of trees and 40 species of shrubs. There are Manchurian Fir, Jezo Spruce and Olgan Larch growing around the peak, and well as Royal Azalea,

Rhododendron mucronulatum ''Rhododendron mucronulatum'', the Korean rhododendron or Korean rosebay (; RR: Jindalrae), is a rhododendron species native to Korea, Mongolia, Russia, and parts of northern China. It is a deciduous shrub that grows to in height, with elliptic ...

and Japanese Rowan on the southern slope.

History

Initially, the peak was named Changsu. In 1930–1940, there was the secret camp of anti-Japanese guerrillas under with the rate of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army. According to the official North Korean historiography,

Kim Jong Il Kim Jong Il (born Yuri Kim; 16 February 1941 or 1942 – 17 December 2011) was a North Korean politician who was the second Supreme Leader (North Korean title), supreme leader of North Korea from Death and state funeral of Kim Il Sung, the de ...

was born there. In 1988, the peak was renamed in his honor. A " Revolutionary Historic Site" was arranged at the territory of the former camp. Three granite plates with the name of peak, carved in red letters, were constructed on the southern rock. In 1992, for the Kim Jong Il's 50th anniversary, a memorial plate with congratulatory ode "To the Shining Star" by

Kim Il Sung Kim Il Sung (born Kim Song Ju; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as its first Supreme Leader (North Korean title), supreme leader from North Korea#Founding, its establishm ...

was placed near the camp. It is one of the most important sites of Paektu. Since 1988, 200,000 North Koreans have visited the peak each year "to chant the oath of loyalty to Kim Jong Il". There are lot of literary works in North Korea carolling Jong Il Peak. O Yŏng-jae has writing about the peak in 6th chapter of "Sons of the people" (1991). "Oh, Jong Il Peak" by Chŏn Byŏng-gu (1989) and "Thunder over Jong Il Peak" by An Jong-ho were dedicated to the peak. The

Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble The Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble (PEE) is an orchestra from North Korea (DPRK). It is famous for its performances of revolutionary and folk songs, as well as some covers of pop songs in the west, including " Brother Louie" by Modern Talking and " ...

also released the song "Snowstorm on Jong Il Peak" in 1998.

References

External links

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정일봉(正日峰)
in cybernk.net Mountains of North Korea Propaganda in North Korea {{NorthKorea-geo-stub