Kosŏng County 고성군 |
|
---|---|
County | |
Korean transcription(s) | |
• Chosŏn'gŭl | |
• Hancha | |
• McCune-Reischauer | Kosŏng-gun |
• Revised Romanization | Goseong-gun |
Country | North Korea |
Province | Kangwŏn Province |
Administrative divisions | 1 ŭp, 23 ri |
Kosŏng County is a kun, or county, in Kangwŏn province, North Korea. It lies in the southeasternmost corner of North Korea, immediately north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Prior to the end of the Korean War in 1953, it made up a single county, together with what is now the South Korean county of the same name. In a subsequent reorganization, the county absorbed the southern portion of Tongch'ŏn county.
Kosŏng is largely mountainous, but there is flat land along the coast of the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea) to the county's east. The mountains here are part of the Taebaek range. A portion of Kŭmgangsan mountain is included in the county.
Kosŏng county is divided into 1 ŭp (town) and 23 ri (villages):
The local economy is dominated by agriculture, although fishing also plays a role, together with the harvesting of brown seaweed and clams. Significant local crops include rice, maize, soybeans, wheat, and barley. It is particularly well known as a source for bamboo handicrafts.
Nearly half the length of the Kŭmgangsan Ch'ŏngnyŏn line of the Korean State Railway is in Kosŏng county. It is operational as far south as Kŭmgangsan Ch'ŏngnyŏn Station. From there. the line continues south to Samilp'o and Kamho stations (both in North Korea, but not in regular use), thence across the DMZ to connect to Korail's Tonghae Pukpu line at Jejin.