The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels. These divisions were created in 2002. Many of the units have equivalents in the system of South Korea. At the highest level are nine provinces and four special municipalities. The second-level divisions are cities, counties, and districts. These are further subdivided into third-level entities: towns, dongs (neighborhoods), ris (villages), and workers’ districts.
Rason is a North Korean city and ice-free port in the Sea of Japan in the North Pacific Ocean on the northeast tip of North Korea. It is in the Kwanbuk region and location of the Rason Special Economic Zone.
Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region is a special administrative region (SAR) of North Korea proclaimed in 2002, on the border with China. It was established in September 2002 in an area including parts of Sinŭiju and the surrounding area, in an attempt to introduce market economics, and is directly governed as in the case of "Directly Governed Cities". The special administrative region was modelled after China's Special Administrative Regions (SARs), Hong Kong and Macau, and, like them, has a "Basic Law".
Sonbong County, formerly called Unggi, 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. A uranium mine is allegedly located there, as is a 200 megawatt oil-fired power plant. The word Sonbong means "Vanguard" in Korean.
Chasŏng County is a county (kun) in Chagang Province, North Korea. The city is immediately south of the Chinese-North Korean border. Its approximate population to 7 km from the city center is 8,317. The average altitude is 1279 feet, or 389 meters. Nearby cities and towns include Haengjangp'yong and Umnae-dong.
Kimhyŏngjik County is a kun of Ryanggang Province, North Korea. Formerly known as Huch'ang County, it was renamed in 1988 in honour of Kim Hyŏng-jik, the leader of the anti-Japanese liberation movement of Korea.
Chŏngp'yŏng County is a county in South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea. It borders South P'yŏngan province to the south, and the East Korea Bay to the east.
Ryongrim County is a kun, or county, in southeastern Chagang Province, North Korea. It borders Rangrim, Changjin, Chŏnch'ŏn, Tongsin, Taehŭng, and Sŏnggan counties. The county is mainly alpine territory. It contains many mountain peaks, such as Wagalbong (2,260m), Ch'ŏnŭimulsan (2,032m), Rangrimsan (2,186m), Milpuldŏksan (1,577m), Ungŏsusan (2,020m), Tomabong (1,525m), Paktalsan (1,817m), Taedasan (1,463m), and Sonamsan (1,178m).
Samsu County is a kun, or county, in Ryanggang province, North Korea. Prior to 1954, it was part of South Hamgyŏng province.
Hwapyong County is a kun, or county, in Chagang Province, North Korea. It was incorporated as a new county as part of a general reorganization of local government in December 1952. Previously it had been part of Chasong and Huchang.
Chunggang County is a kun, or county, in northern Chagang province, North Korea. It was originally part of Huchang county in Ryanggang, and for that reason older sources still identify it as being part of Huchang. The county seat was originally known as Chunggangjin (중강진), but is now known as Chunggang ŭp. Chunggang looks across the Yalu River at China, and borders Ryanggang province to the south.
Chŏnch'ŏn County is a kun, or county, in central Chagang province, North Korea. Originally part of Kanggye county, it was made a separate county in 1949.
Changgang County is a kun, or county, in north-central Chagang province, North Korea. Originally part of Kanggye, it was made a separate county in 1949. It borders Hwapyong and Rangrim to the east, Kanggye and Sijung to the west, Songgan to the south, and Chasong to the north.
Rangrim County is a kun, or county, on the eastern flank of Chagang province, North Korea. It was created in 1952 from portions of Changgang and Changjin, as part of a general reorganization of local government. Originally part of South Hamgyong, it was transferred to Chagang province in 1954. It borders Hwapyong and Ryanggang's Kimjongsuk and Kimhyongjik counties to the north, South Hamgyong's Pujon county to the east and Changjin to the south, as well as the counties of Changgang, Songgan, and Ryongnim to the west.
Sijung County is a kun, or county, in Chagang province, North Korea. It borders Kanggye and Changgang to the east, Manpo to the north and west, and Wiwon to the south. Formerly part of Kanggye, Sijung became a separate county in 1952 as part of a general reorganization of local government.
Wiwŏn County is a kun, or county, in northern Chagang province, North Korea. It stands across the Yalu River from the People's Republic of China. It was originally part of North P'yŏngan province, but was annexed to Chagang in 1954. It borders Manp'o and Sijungto the north, Kanggye and Songgan to the east, Ch'onch'ŏn to the southeast, Kop'ung to the south and west, and Ch'osan to the west.
Tongsin County is a kun, or county, in southern Chagang province, North Korea. It borders Ryongrim and Chonchon to the north, the counties of Taehung and Yongwon in South Pyongan to the south and east, and Huichon and Songwon to the west and southwest. Originally part of Huichon, it was created in 1952 as part of a general reorganization of local government.
Tongchang County is a kun, or county, in the northeast of the far western North Pyŏngan province, North Korea. It borders Pyŏktong and Chagang's Usi county to the north, Unsan and Songwŏn to the east, Thaechŏn to the south, and Changsŏng and Taegwan to the west.
Unsan County is a kun, or county, in eastern North P'yŏngan province, North Korea. Within the province, it borders Hyangsan in the east, Kujang and Nyŏngbyŏn in the south, and Tongch'ang and T'aech'ŏn in the west. In addition, it is bordered by Chagang province to the east (Hŭich'ŏn) and north (Songwŏn).
Usi County is a kun, or county, in westernmost Chagang Province, North Korea. It looks across the Yalu River into the People's Republic of China. Within North Korea, it borders Chosan and Kopung to the east, Songwon to the south, and North Pyongan Province's Pyoktong county to the west. Originally part of Pyoktong, it was made a separate county in 1952 as part of a general reorganization of local government; in 1954, it was transferred from North Pyongan to Chagang.
