Samjiyŏn is a city in

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 North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

. It takes its name from three lakes in the city, which are collectively known as the Samjiyŏn. Samjiyŏn is situated near Mount Paektu, and tour groups fly to the city's airport to see the mountain, which holds significance in North Korean mythology. Samjiyon is the least populated city in North Korea. Many houses and buildings in Samjiyŏn have been upgraded in recent decades, 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. In December 2019,

Kim Jong Un Kim Jong Un (born 8 January 1983 or 1984) is a North Korean politician and dictator who has served as supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) since 2012. He is the third son of Kim ...

opened a completed expansion of the existing township, described by state media as a "modern" city with residences and industrial parks. The city was known as a county until the decision of an upgraded its status in December 2019. The modernization of Samjiyon City is to also help boost tourism to North Korea. The city is scheduled to open for international tourists in December 2024.

Administrative divisions

Samjiyŏn is divided into 10 ''dong'' (neighborhoods) and 6 ''ri'' (villages):

Transportation

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 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 Japanes ...

and Ch'ŏngjin. In 2005, the airport was closed due to major renovations, which were partially underwritten by the Hyundai corporation.

Rail

Samjiyŏn city is served by the

narrow-gauge A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge (distance between the rails) narrower than . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curv ...

Samjiyŏn Line of the

Korean State Railway The Korean State Railway is the operating arm of the Ministry of Railways of North Korea (), commonly called the State Rail () and has its headquarters at Pyongyang, P'yŏngyang. The current Minister of Railways is Chang Jun-song. History 19 ...

. Construction of a new, standard-gauge line from the

Pukbunaeryuk Line The Pukbunaeryuk Line, also called the Hyesan–Manp'o Ch'ŏngnyŏn Line after the only completed stage of three planned stages, is an electrified standard-gauge secondary trunk line of the Korean State Railway in Chagang and Ryanggang Provinc ...

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-ri, Samjiyŏn city.

Hyesan No.1/Wangdŏk Railway Station

The current train station for the leader 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 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, 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 visit by the leader 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 leaders of North Korea. Both

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 ...

and

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 ...

have established palaces and compounds in the area, accessed by a specially developed and exclusive railway station for the leaders’ train.

Climate

Samjiyon has a

subarctic climate The subarctic climate (also called subpolar climate, or boreal climate) is a continental climate with long, cold (often very cold) winters, and short, warm to cool summers. It is found on large landmasses, often away from the moderating effects of ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

''Dwc/Dwb'') with cool summers and cold, dry winters.

Sport

It has one of the three speed skating ovals in the country.

References

External links

North Korea Uncovered
, (North Korea Google Earth) a Google Earth map of most of Samjiyŏn's monuments, tourist facilities, and political residencies.
A collection of photos from in and around Samjiyon''Samjiyon County Changes Its Appearance'' picture album
at

Naenara Naenara () is the official web portal of the North Korean government. History Naenara was the first website in North Korea, and was created in 1996. Usage Naenara carries publications such as '' The Pyongyang Times'', ' magazine, '' Korea ...

{{Cities in North Korea Counties of Ryanggang Ski areas and resorts in North Korea