• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.305-314
• /
• 2011

Imnam Dam construction and inter-basin water transfer use by North Korea have caused several problems including water resources management aspects in the downstream reach of North Han River. Therefore, cooperative works between North and South Korea are required to make a reasonable management situation of the shared river for water quantity and quality. However, efforts by the North and the South has done not enough to achieve equitable water use in the shared river. This study analyzes main impacts caused by Imnam Dam in key sectors for reviewing water use right regarded as the most important decision-making criterion in international rivers. As the results, water deficit by Imnam Dam is calculated at 379 million $m^3$/year when river drought year for water assessment is set in 1978 in the Han River basin. Additionally hydropower production is decreased by 234 GWh/year in exclusive hydropower generation dams. In respective of water quality, BOD concentration is increased by 0.065 ppm at Sambongli in North Han River. Finally it is identified that unequitable water use based on the absolute territorial sovereignty by North Korea in North Han River has directly and indirectly affected severe impacts to South Korea as the downstream user.