• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.325-334
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• 2016

Both 1900 years of historic literature and recent instrumental seismic records indicate the Korean Peninsula has repeatedly experienced small and large earthquakes. This study has used historical and instrumental records of Korea to investigate the characteristics of earthquakes in the peninsula. Results of GIS spatial analyses indicate Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, is more vulnerable to the earthquake hazard than that of other regions in the Korean Peninsula. It is also noted that Pyongyang is exposed to high risks of other natural and social disasters because of the high population density and concentrated infra structures. Scenario shake map drawn up assuming a magnitude 6.7 earthquake, which was experienced in A.D. 502 in the area, indicates that 51.1% of the city are exposed to PGA 0.24 g or higher. Recent statistics by the Statistics Korea also indicates the North Korea is far more vulnerable to disasters than those in the South Korea. Results of the preliminary study provide essential information for comprehensive understanding of earthquake hazard estimation in Korea including the North Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.44-54
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• 2005

In this study the tidal area in Seo han bay, North Korea was detected and extracted by using various satellite images (ASTER, KOMPSAT EOC, Landsat TM/ETM+) and GIS spatial analysis. Especially, the micro-landform was classified through the spectral characteristic of each satellite image and the change of tidal flat size was detected on passing year. For this, the spectral characteristics of eight tidal flat area in Korea, which are called as Seo han bay, Gwang ryang bay, Hae iu bay, Gang hwa bay, A san bay, Garorim bay, Jul po bay and Soon chun bay, were analyzed by using multi band of multi spectral satellite images such as Landsat TM/ETM+. Moreover, the micro-landform tidal flat in Seo han bay, North Korea was extracted by using ISODATA clustering based on the result of spectral characteristic. In addition, in order to detect the change of tidal flat size on passing years, the ancient topography map (1918-1920) was constructed as GIS DB. Also, the tidal flat distribution map based on the temporal satellite images were constructed to detect the tidal flat size for recent years. Through this, the efficient band to classify the micro-landform and detect its boundary was clarified and one possibility of KOMPSAT EOC application could be also introduced by extracting the spatial information of tidal flat efficiently.

• Economic Analysis
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.71-123
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• 2021

In this study, we present a methodology and model to estimate land prices and the value of land assets in North Korea in the absence of any data about land characteristics from North Korean authorities. Using this framework, we experimentally make market price-based estimates for land assets across the entire urban area of North Korea. First, we estimate the determinants of land prices in South Korea using data on market prices of land from the late 1970s, when it was estimated that the income level gap between South Korea and North Korea wasn't relatively large, and from the early 1980s, when urbanization levels in both of them were similar. Second, we calculate land prices and their relative ratios for each city and urban area in North Korea around 2015 by substituting proxy variables of determinants of land prices derived through a geographic information analysis of North Korea into the function of land prices that we have already estimated. Finally, we estimate the value of land assets in urban areas across North Korea by combining the ratio of housing transaction prices surveyed in several cities in North Korea with the relative prices estimated in this research. As a result, land prices in urban areas in North Korea, looking at the relative ratio of price by city, are estimated to be the highest, at 100.00, in Tongdaewon district of Pyongyang, and to be the lowest, at 1.70, in Phungso county, Ryanggang Province. Meanwhile, the value of land assets in urbanized areas was estimated at $21.6 billion in 2015, which was 1.2 to 1.3 times the GDP of North Korea that year. This ratio is similar to South Korea's in the 1978-1980 period, when the South Korean economy grew at an average rate of 6%. Considering North Korea's growth rate of about 1% in the 2013-2014 period, its ratio of land assets to GDP appears very high.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.51-64
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• 2019

Mt. Geumgang has been a scenic spot representing the Korean peninsula since the Joseon Dynasty, and became a symbol of inter-Korean exchanges with the Gaesong Industrial Complex after the division of the South and North. Mt. Geumgang Tour Course is divided into the Inner-Geumgang (Naegeumgang) and the Outer-Geumgang (Oegeumgang). It was common for the Mt. Geumgang tour route during the Joseon Dynasty and the Japanese Imperialization period to enter the Inner-Geumgang, near Seoul, and come to the East Sea through the Outer-Geumgang. However, the tour route starting from Goseong was utilized for the Mt. Geumgang tour course operated by Hyundai. Because North Korea opened only the Outer-Geumgang area. North Korea has only opened some of its tour courses to Hyundai, but if Geumgang tourism is resumed in the future, there is a high possibility that it will be opened further, such as opening some sections of the Inner-Geumgang in 2007. In this case, it is necessary to connect additional transportation networks to access Inner-Geumgang from South Korea. The best alternative was the restoration of the Mt. Geumgang Railway. However, considering the fact that the reconstruction of the Mt. Geumgang Railway can not be completed due to the construction of the Imnam Dam, it is the most realistic alternative to restore Route 31 connecting Yanggu and Geumgang-eup. As a result of the analysis of road connecting Inner-Geumgang, three routes were confirmed. All of which were adjacent to the existing National Route 31. These routes passing through Dutayeon and Mundeung-ri and joining the Route 31 from Inje. Considering road length, topography characteristics, and military facility layout, it seems that the connection of 'Dutaeyun - Mundeung - Geumgang' is a realistic alternative connecting from South Korea to Inner-Geumgang.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.65-81
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• 2019

The twenty-four Solar Terms are Chinese traditional astronomical divisions that describe seasonal cycles of the year. Based on the analyses of meteorological data during 1979~2018, study results showed that the temperatures of the Solar Terms had increased in general in the Korean Peninsula. In North Korea, temperature increases were observed on 21 Solar Terms, and their seasonal mean temperatures were increased by $0.87^{\circ}C$, $1.19^{\circ}C$, $1.45^{\circ}C$, and $0.64^{\circ}C$ on average in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively. The duration of summer has lengthened due to the temperature rise in fall, and the magnitude of temperature change was greater in summer compared to winter. As for South Korea, increases in temperature were observed on 18 Solar Terms, and the temperature changes were more pronounced in fall and winter than spring and summer. The Great Snow temperature decreased more than any other Solar Terms during the study period, and this temperature change was observed both in North and South Koreas. The Great Cold, which represents the coldest day of the year, showed a significant temperature increase of $3.08^{\circ}C$, while the Slight Heat had a marginal temperature increase of $0.29^{\circ}C$. The hottest day and the first day of frost tended to come later than the Great Heat and the Frost's Decent. By contrast, the coldest day tended to occur later than the Great Cold in the study area. On average over the entire study period, the climatic fitness of the Great Heat and the Frost's Decent was higher in North Korea, and that of the Great Cold was higher in South Korea, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.189-204
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• 2018

This study has developed a forest fire occurrence probability model for inaccessible areas such as North Korea and Demilitarized Zone and we have developed a real-time forest fire danger rating system that can be used in fire-related works. There are limitations on the research that it is impossible to conduct site investigation for data acquisition and verification for forest fire weather index model and system development. To solve this problem, we estimated the fire spots in the areas where access is impossible by using MODIS satellite data with scientific basis. Using the past meteorological reanalysis data(5㎞ resolution) produced by the Korea Meteorological Administration(KMA) on the extracted fires, the meteorological characteristics of the fires were extracted and made database. The meteorological factors extracted from the forest fire ignition points in the inaccessible areas are statistically correlated with the forest fire occurrence and the weather factors and the logistic regression model that can estimate the forest fires occurrence(fires 1 and non-fores 0). And used to calculate the forest fire weather index(FWI). The results of the statistical analysis show that the logistic models(p<0.01) strongly depends on maximum temperature, minimum relative humidity, effective humidity and average wind speed. The logistic regression model constructed in this study showed a relatively high accuracy of 66%. These findings may be beneficial to the policy makers in Republic of Korea(ROK) and Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) for the prevention of forest fires.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.41 no.3 s.114
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• pp.283-300
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• 2006

Gaesung city of North Korea is meaningful because of the development of Gaesung industrial complex as a peace-building project and economical cooperation works between South Korea and North Korea. This article presents the characteristics of natural landscape of Gaesung through geographical names. This research was studied by literature analysis of North Korea, depth interview of North Korean labour and refugees, and second times fieldwork. The main results of this study are as follows. Firstly, the mountain landscape of Geasung revealed on geographical names characterized mountainousness and round shape. Especially, the places where are enclosed by mountain and streams are foggy and rocky. Next the landscape of stream characterizes sandy, unstable, and tidal river. Thirdly the fauna and flora which are reflected on geographical names are hawk, snake, tiger, homed owl, snapping turtle, chestnut tree, pine tree, pear tree, zelkova tree, and willow etcetera. The environmental conditions of habitation of these are similar to the natural environment of Gaesung. Besides, the geographical names related to soil distributed in northern mountain area of Geasung. The place names implicated cliff located on the riverside. In addition to this, the geographical name of 'Bul' implicated plain distributed in the riverside of 'Seoam' which a branch stream of 'Sacheo'. And the place names related rock located in place enclosed by mountain, river, and village. In cnclusion, Gaesung is more important to us as the Gaesung industrial complex and tourism development. But the fundamental research on Gaesung is a few because Gaesung belongs to North Korea. Therefore, this research will be useful for the control and management of Gaesung in the future.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2020

Recent research trend of North Korean mining and rock engineering in the past 10 years was analyzed by a literature review of mining and rock engineering papers published in North Korean major mining journals, 'mining engineering', 'geological and geographical science' and 'technology innovation' published in 2008-2017. Basic database was established by organizing bibliographic information and abstract data of research papers in each journal. For each journal, paper submission trend classified by research field was analyzed using the basic database. And further study was conducted to the papers which showed distinguishing methodology and result, to analyze the trend of North Korean mining and rock engineering. The literature study showed a recent trend of quantification and automation in mining and rock engineering researches in North Korea, which seems due to recent changes in North Korea's science and technology policy and deterioration of the mining conditions. The results of this study can be applied in the feasibility studies of North Korea's mineral resource development projects. Future inter-Korean technical cooperation and site survey on North Korean field can secure complement the reliability of this study.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.95-104
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• 2006

The DMZ is a 248km long thin green line which has various landscapes of fields, hills and mountains. This study focused on western part of DMZ and vicinity which consist of abandoned rice paddy, wetlands and fields. The main purpose of this study is to detect the vegetation vitality from the western part of MDL to DMZ vicinity and identify and quantify ecological buffer(ecotone) width adopting logistic function derived from 'Vegetation Index-distance curve' using an Landsat ETM+ image acquired on June of 2002. Green leaf vegetation was quantified to identify the ecotone buffer in western DMZ and vicinity(civilian control area: CCA) using Transformed Vegetation Index(TVI) which is one of common measurement among various indices. Vegetation measurement from Military Demarcation Line(MDL) to vicinity area was investigated at 500m intervals to 10kms of southern and northern part of western DMZ and vicinity. The Logistic function models the sigmoid curve of growth with three stages of growth of initial competition and maturity. In the TVI-distance logistic curve, the maturity is high vegetation vitality, the competition is vitality changing, and the initial is low vitality. In the TVI-distance curve, maturity area of high TVI value is core area for ecological conservation, and the competition area between inflection points can be an ecotone(ecological buffer). In case of southern part, maximum TVI value is 221.92 and minimum is 207.16, and maximum TVI of northen part is 215.32 and minimum is 188.35. That means forest devastation of north Korean part of DMZ and vicinity is severer than that of south Korea. The width of core area for ecological conservation is 2,311m, and ecotone in the southern part is 5,339m, so minimum width from MDL for ecological conservation can be computed as 7,651m. In case of Northern part, the width of core area is 1,841m, and ecotone buffer is 5,014m, so ecological conservation width can be estimated as 6,855m. In case of northen part, width of estimated core area is less than that of DMZ width, which means ecological disturbance is very severe in northern part of western DMZ.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-33
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• 2006

Changing of industry structure and development of traffic and telecommunications requires a change of the knowledge about the space where the human beings reside. Step by step the world is being divided into specified utility blocks. Today there is a limit that only one local government can compete with another region in the world. This study provides decision support tools with the use of GIS on the regional level for regions competition. GIS establishes regions and analyzes their geographic environment data, which will help in local-government problem solving and provide framework data for similar regions to become the community. The wide-area GIS application can present an objective and rational basis for regulation of inefficient investments and excessive competition between adjacent regions. The study area is Gangwon-do. Considering specific features of Gangwon-do which preserved high-quality environment resources, river basins were taken as a basis among natural regional elements. The main object of analysis conducted were the facts relevant to environmental regulation. The Gangwon-do consists of three regions in this study: Yongdong region, North-Hangang region and South-Hangang region. The analysis of each region regulation cases showed the following: in Youngdong region the forests regulation rate is high, in North-Hangang region the military installations protection sector's rate as well as regulation rate for water resources protection is relatively high, in South-Hangang region the forest and water resources regulation rate is high. The percentage of forests and water regulation rate appeared to be rather high in Gangwon-do, which means that the value of forest and water resources there is very high.