Onsong County


Onsŏng County is a county in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, located near the border with China. The administrative center is the town of Onsong. Onsong is the alleged site of the former Onsong concentration camp, now closed.

History

Onsong was one of the six post/garrisons established under the order of Sejong the Great of Joseon to safeguard his people from the hostile Chinese and Manchurian nomads living in Manchuria.

Geography

Onsong lies along the Tumen River, which forms the border with China. To the north of Onsong is Jilin Province, China. Onsong also contains the northernmost point in Korea, at 43°0'39″ N. Liangshui, in Tumen prefecture, is the closest Chinese town across the river.
The land of Onsong is mainly mountainous, although a part is flatland. It has a continental climate, and is the region of Korea with the longest winter, except the Kaema Plateau. The highest peak is Yŏndubong.

Economy

Being mountainous in nature, Onsong is not well suited to agriculture. Ironically, however, it has the highest ratio of rice paddies to dry fields of any district in North Hamgyong Province. Logging is prevalent in the Tumen River basin. Lignite coal is also produced.

Transportation

Onsong is served by roads and railroads. In winter, it is also possible to cross the frozen Tumen River into China.

Administrative divisions

Onsŏng County is divided into 1 town, 10 worker's districts and 15 villages :
Chosŏn'gŭlHancha
Onsŏng-ŭp온성읍穩城邑
Chongsŏng-rodongjagu종성로동자구鍾城勞動者區
Chuwŏl-lodongjagu주원로동자구周原勞動者區
Ch'angp'yŏng-rodongjagu창평로동자구蒼坪勞動者區
Namyang-rodongjagu남양로동자구南陽勞動者區
Ont'al-lodongjagu온탄로동자구穩炭勞動者區
P'ung'il-lodongjagu풍인로동자구豊仁勞動者區
Sambong-rodongjagu삼봉로동자구三峰勞動者區
Sanghwa-rodongjagu상화로동자구上和勞動煮區
Sansŏng-rodongjagu산성로동자구山城勞動者區
Tongp'o-rodongjagu동포로동자구東浦勞動者區
Chungsal-li증산리甑山里
Hasambong-ri하삼봉리下三峰里
Hyangdang-ri향당리香堂里
Kangal-li강안리江岸里
Misal-li미산리美山里
P'ungch'ŏl-li풍천리豊川里
P'unggye-ri풍계리豊溪里
P'ungha-ri풍하리豊利里
P'ungsŏ-ri풍서리豊西里
Ryongnam-ri룡남리龍南里
Sesŏl-li세선리世仙里
Turubong-ri두루봉리
Un'am-ri운암리雲岩里
Wangjaesal-li왕재산리
Yŏnggang-ri영강리永江里

Notables personalities