The Korean
Peninsula, located in Northeast Asia, is bordered on the north by China and
Russia and juts toward Japan to the southeast. The northernmost point is
Yup'ojin in Onsong-gun, Hamgyongbuk-do Province, and the southernmost point is
Marado island, Cheju-do Province. The westernmost point of Maando island
in Yongch'on-gun, Pyonganbuk-do Province, and the easternmost is Tokdo island in
Ullung-gun, Kyongsangbukdo Province. The Korean Peninsula is 222,154
square kilometers, almost the same size as the UK or Romania. The
administrative area of the Republic of Korea is 99,392 square kilometers,
slightly larger than Hungary or Portugal and a little smaller than Iceland.
The northern part of the peninsula is divided into two geographical regions:
the P'yong-an-do province in the northwest and the Hamgyong-do province in the
northeast. The former with more flatlands is also known as the Kwanso
region while the latter is often referred to as Kwanbuk. P'yong-an-do
province serves as the major agricultural area of the North.
By contrast,
Hamgyong-do province, due to its mountainous topography, boasts mining and
forestry as its major economic activities. P'yongyang, a leading
urban center in the P'yong-an-do province, is the capital of North Korea
and Namp'o serves as the gateway port to P'yongyang. Hamhung and
Ch'rongjin are the other major centers of amgyong-do province.
The third geographical region of the North,
Hwanghae-do province lies to the
south of O'yong-an-do province. Once a part of the Central region prior to
the South-North division, Hwanghae-do province shares a great many cultural
similarities with other west-central regions of the peninsula. Kaesong is
the major city of the region.
