Hyesan

Hyesan 혜산시
Municipal City
Korean transcription(s)
• Chosŏn'gŭl
• Hancha
• McCune-Reischauer	Hyesan-si
• Revised Romanization	Hyesan-si
Downtown Hyesan in December 2005
Hyesan
Coordinates: 41°24′N 128°11′E / 41.400°N 128.183°E / 41.400; 128.183Coordinates: 41°24′N 128°11′E / 41.400°N 128.183°E / 41.400; 128.183
Country	North Korea
Province	Ryanggang
Administrative divisions	25 tong, 4 ri
Area
• Total	277 km2 (107 sq mi)
Population (2008)
• Total	192,680
• Density	700/km2 (1,800/sq mi)

Hyesan (Korean pronunciation: [he.san]) is a city in the northern part of Ryanggang province of North Korea. It is a hub of river transportation as well as a product distribution centre. It is also the administrative centre of Ryanggang Province. As of 2008, the population of the city is 192,680.

Around 1940s, this city corresponded nearby Paektu Mountains. However, due to the several changes, the area of this city was reduced, and now it only corresponds nearby Yalu River.

Due to the reunification matter with South Korea, this city is claimed by South Korea, with the area of 1940s, not the one edited by North Korea. Therefore, this city in South Korea still corresponds nearby Baekdu Mountains.

With this problem, South Korea has a conflict with PRC because of Baekdu Mountains. The mountain is actually divided in 2, south parts are ruled by DPRK while north parts are ruled by PRC. However, South Korea still claims the northern parts. It is not officially claimed, but from maps printed by South Korea, it is de facto claimed. In addition, ROC claims the entire mountain.

The city is located in the Paektu Mountains at the border with the People's Republic of China (Jilin province), from which it is separated by the Yalu (Amrok) River. Changbai is the closest Chinese city across the river.

Hyesan City is divided into 25 tong (neighbourhoods) and 4 ri (villages):

Hyesan has an elevation-influenced humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dwb). It is located in the coldest area of Korea, which holds a record low temperature of -42 ℃ (-44 ℉) in 1915.

Hyesan has lumber processing mills, paper mills and textile mills. Since the North Korean economic crisis that intensified in the mid-1990s the city has suffered from economic stagnation and some factories in the city are closed. Reports and pictures taken from the Chinese side of the river show a "Ghost City": there is almost no movement in the streets and in the night the city is dark and doesn't have electricity. Residents of the city reputedly wash their clothes in the river because homes have no running water.