NORTH KOREA a Geographic Overview
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NORTH KOREA A Geographic Overview ËËËËËËË Authored by the Geography Faculty Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering United States Military Academy West Point, New York EDITORS: EUGENE J. PALKA & FRANCIS A. GALGANO FOREWORD BY: WENDELL C. KING CONTRIBUTIONS BY: JON C. MALINOWSKI DENNIS D. COWHER PETER G. ANDERSON ALBERT A. LAHOOD JAMES B. DALTON. JEFFERY S.W. GLOEDE MATTHEW R. SAMPSON MARK R. READ PATRICK E. MANGIN WILLIAM M. REDING BRANDON K. HERL ERIC D. LARKIN - ii - December 2002 Foreword ORTH KOREA IS A country about the size of New York, inhabited by about 23 million people. However, N notwithstanding its relatively small size, North Korea remains a most volatile and dangerous state, and continues to be a crucial component in the regional stability of East Asia and the security strategy of the United States long after the end of the so-called Cold War. That volatility has been magnified over previous months as evidenced by North Korea’s deliberate abrogation of a 1994 nuclear non-proliferation treaty and strident announcements that it will now continue its nuclear weapons development and production program. Since the end of the Second World War, the seminal issue on the Peninsula has been the rivalry between North and South Korea. North Korea came into existence after the conclusion of the Second World War following decades of brutal occupation by the Japanese empire. Partitioning the peninsula into North and South Korea was the politically expedient solution to one of many post-war political disagreements between the Allied powers. This artificial division of a homogenous nation and culture could be seen as a unintentional social and political human experiment. North Korea was the communist state supported by Red China and the Soviet Union, while South Korea developed under the democratic model supported principally by the United States. Nevertheless, by 1950 this political arrangement degenerated into a bloody proxy war between two dichotomous ideologies that lasted until 1953. More than 36,500 American lost their lives during the Korean War. Even with signing of the armistice in 1953, no real lasting security or political objectives were achieved and America has been deeply involved in the security, politics, and economic development of the Peninsula ever since. Thus, the cease-fire has deferred the final settlement to the political and territorial dispute. Today, North and South Korea remain in a state of belligerence, each defending their side of the 38th parallel and this rivalry is of singular importance to the long-term security and stability of the entire region. This rivalry is most clearly evident in the military sphere, as evidenced by the vast concentration of military forces along each side of the Demilitarized Zone. Consequently, the United States maintains a force of just under 36,000 troops in South Korea as a deterrent to further aggression from the north. The goal for the United States and South Korea is a peaceful end to the conflict and a return to a free and united Korea. However, there is no reason to believe that this goal will soon be achieved especially in light of recent - iv - events in the north. Thus, Korea has remained one of the most heavily armed, volatile regions on the Earth despite the end of the Cold War. Undeniably, this confrontation is the prevailing issue in the political, economic, geo-strategic, and military decision-making process in North Korea. Therefore, to understand North Korea and place its policies and national objectives into sharper focus, we must develop an understanding of the immutable role of geography in its historical development and contemporary world-view as a nation-state. North Korea is clearly a regional threatimportant to the United States because of its geographic proximity to important allies and other economic/strategic interests. Historically, Korea’s location and strategic position made it vulnerable to its much stronger neighbors. Thus, the Korean people have developed over time a philosophy of juche (i.e., self-reliance) driven by the clear recognition of their vulnerability to powerful neighbors and the rugged nature of the physical landscape. Consequently, in the face of isolation, austerity, and adversity, juche coupled with communism has been powerfully identified with North Korean nationalism and is a crucial resource in the maintenance of internal solidarity. Furthermore, loyalty to the Party and the leader has been merged indistinguishably. Essentially, we must try to comprehend a state within which the most conspicuous aspects of society are the subordination of individual desires and interests to the principle of communal well-being and its emphasis on domestic harmony and national consciousness. Thus in the face of crumbling internal solidarity, or a perceived external threat, it is indeed possible that the party and/or leader may act unilaterally with the unfettered support of the people to preserve the status quo. A geographic analysis such as this one is essentially a snapshot in time. The utility of understanding the geography of a region is the recognition of how change has given us present conditions, the spatial and temporal interconnectivity of landscape, and culture, and how it will be manifested in the future. Hence, we use a regional approach to define North Korea’s location, physical landscape, and climate; and delineate the geographic components of its human landscape. By connecting the sub- components of North Korea’s geography in time and space, we endeavor to communicate an integrated geographic vision of many complex parts. The authors of this book are uniquely qualified to offer this special perspective of North Korea’s physical and human landscapes. First, they are trained geographers academically and experientially qualified to examine the country over the gamut of physical and cultural sub-disciplines. However, more importantly, most are also experienced military officers who can add focus to issues that have special military significance. The tools and methods of analysis of the geographer, which describe a place, its people, and how they interact, systematically yield a strategic analysis that is critical to successful military planning. Our goal is to offer a complete, but not exhaustive source of information about North Korea. Beyond the obvious benefit to scholars and government officials, it is intended to be useful for anyone interested in learning more about North Korea. Though presented in a concise format, it also has references to more detailed descriptions of the many physical and human geographic features that are described herein. With the current war on terrorism re-directing our focus toward Southwest and Central Asia, and the on-going war in Iraq, there is a real danger of losing sight of other threats. As we are finalizing this book, two North Korean actions have reemphasized the need understand an important regional threat in East Asia. First, on 10 December 2002, a shipment of North Korean-made SCUD-type missiles was intercepted on their way to Yemen. Second, North Korea has recently confirmed the restart of a nuclear reactor that has significance in their admitted nuclear weapons program. However, just as alarming is the continued political instability and regional insecurity created the by deepening famine in North Korea. How the North Korean people and their government respond should this human suffering continue compounds the uncertain future of the Korean Peninsula. Ë ÕÕÕÕÕ Wendell C. King Professor and Head, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering United States Military Academy, West Point, New York April 2003 - vi - Acknowledgements: HE EDITORS WOULD LIKE to thank the Geography faculty for their tireless and professional efforts in making T this regional geography possible. Throughout the creation of this book, a number of people made significant contributions that materially aided our efforts. Ms. Kathleen Davis, audio-visual librarian and our liaison from the United States Military Academy Library, greatly assisted us in our research effort. Cadet Kafi Joseph lent her cartographic skills in creating Figures 5.1, 5.2., 5.3, and 8.1.; as did Cadet Caleb Brown in creating Figures 6.1 and 6.2. The input of these talented individuals is appreciated. Ë Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION......................................................................... 1 Eugene J. Palka CHAPTER 2: LOCATION................................................................................. 5 Eric D. Larkin CHAPTER 3: GEOMORPHOLOGY................................................................. 13 Matthew R. Sampson CHAPTER 4: CLIMATOLOGY ....................................................................... 21 Mark R. Read CHAPTER 5: BIOGEOGRAPHY ..................................................................... 31 Peter G. Anderson CHAPTER 6: HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY..................................................... 53 James B. Dalton CHAPTER 7: CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY ....................................................... 65 Jon C. Malinowski CHAPTER 8: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY........................................................ 77 William M. Reding CHAPTER 9: POPULATION GEOGRAPHY .................................................... 85 Dennis D. Cowher CHAPTER 10: URBAN GEOGRAPHY ............................................................ 99 Brandon K. Herl CHAPTER 11: ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY ................................................... 113 Albert A. Lahood CHAPTER