Kaech'ŏn | |
Native Name Lang: | ko |
Other Name: | Kaechon |
Settlement Type: | Municipal City |
Translit Lang1 Type: | Chosŏn'gŭl |
Translit Lang1 Info: | 개천시 |
Translit Lang1: | Korean |
Translit Lang1 Type1: | Hancha |
Translit Lang1 Info2: | Kaech'ŏn-si |
Translit Lang1 Info3: | Gaecheon-si |
Pushpin Map: | North Korea |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within North Korea |
Coordinates: | 39.6986°N 125.9061°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | North Korea |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | South P'yŏngan |
Area Total Km2: | 738 |
Population As Of: | 2008 |
Population Total: | 319,554 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Population Blank1 Title: | Dialect |
Population Blank1: | P'yŏngan |
Parts Type: | Administrative divisions |
Parts: | 26 tong, 11 ri |
Timezone: | Pyongyang Time |
Utc Offset: | +9 |
Kaech'ŏn or Kaechon ([1] pronounced as /ko/; Hangul: Korean: 개천시, Hanja: Korean: 价川市) is a city in South P'yŏngan province, North Korea.
The Myohyangsan, Changansan, Ch'ŏnsŏngsan, and Ch'ŏngryongsan mountain ranges come together in Kaech'ŏn. The highest peak is Paekt'apsan. The most important rivers are the Ch'ŏngch'ŏn River and the Taedong River. The area of the city is 61% forested.
Kaech'ŏn-si is divided into 26 tong (neighbourhoods) and 11 ri (villages):
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Water resources are abundant, and several reservoirs are located in Kaech'ŏn.
Agriculture has been extensively developed, including livestock and fruit orchards. Machining and metalworking are the dominant industries, mining has also become more prominent.
Kaech'ŏn is served by the Korean State Railway's Kaech'ŏn Line and the Manp'o Line trunk lines, as well as the Choyang Colliery Line and Chunhyŏk Line secondary lines.
Tourist sites in Kaech'ŏn include Songam Cavern, Taeripsa Temple with its 9-level stone pagoda, the fortresses of Changhamsŏng, T'osŏng, and Kosasansŏng, Namsa dolmen, and the group of dolments at Mukpangsan. There are also Yŏnpung Lake, which was constructed in 1956, and Yongwŏn Cavern, which was discovered in 1966 and is preserved as North Korea's Natural Monument No. 43.
The Kaechon Revolutionary Site is associated with Kim Il Sung's 250 Mile Journey for National Liberation. A statue was erected there on the occasion of the Day of the Sun, April 15, in 2001.[2]
There are two large prison camps in Kaech'ŏn, both known for very harsh conditions: