View source for Kanggye

{{more citations needed|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| name               = Kanggye
| native_name        = {{nobold|강계시}}
| native_name_lang   = ko
| official_name      = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in North Korea|Municipal City]]
| total_type         = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| motto              = 
| translit_lang1     = Korean
| translit_lang1_type = [[Hangul|Chosŏn'gŭl]]
| translit_lang1_info = 강계시
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Hanja|Hancha]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = 江界市
| translit_lang1_type2 = {{Nowrap|[[McCune-Reischauer]]}}
| translit_lang1_info2 = Kanggye-si
| translit_lang1_type3 = {{Nowrap|[[Revised Romanization]]}}
| translit_lang1_info3 = Ganggye-si

<!-- images and maps  ----------->| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_map          = DPRK2006 Chagang-Kanggye.PNG
| image_caption      = 
| map_caption        = Map of Chagang showing the location of Kanggye
| mapsize            = 
| image_map1         = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=9}}
| pushpin_map        = North Korea
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within North Korea
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|58|N|126|36|E|display=inline}}
<!-- Location ------------------>
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|North Korea}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of North Korea|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Chagang Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = <!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government -->
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = <!--add   (no-break space) to leader names to disable automatic links-->
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| established_title1 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date1  = 
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3  = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| parts_type         = [[Administrative divisions of North Korea|Administrative divisions]]
| parts              = 34 ''dong'', 2 ''ri''
<!-- Area    --------------------->| area_magnitude     = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| unit_pref          = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric-->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 263.667<!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2      = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_total_dunam   = <!--Used in Middle East articles only-->
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_land_sq_mi    = 
| area_water_sq_mi   = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Elevation -------------------------->
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use<ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 
| elevation_max_m    = 
| elevation_max_ft   = 
| elevation_min_m    = 
| elevation_min_ft   = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = 2008
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 251971
| population_density_km2 = <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto -->
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title = Dialect
| population_blank1  = [[P'yŏngan]]
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone           = [[Time in North Korea|Pyongyang Time]]
| utc_offset         = +9
| timezone_DST       = 
| utc_offset_DST     = 
| coor_pinpoint      = <!-- can be used to specify exactly where/what the coordinates refer to -->
| postal_code_type   = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
| postal_code        = 
| area_code          = 
| twin1              = 
| twin1_country      = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Kanggye''' ({{Korean|hangul=강계시}}; {{IPA|ko|kɐŋ.ɡje}}) is the provincial capital of [[Chagang]], [[North Korea]] and has a population of 251,971. Because of its strategic importance, derived from its [[topography]], it has been of military interest from the time of the [[Joseon Dynasty]] (1392-1910).

==History==
In December 1949, Kanggye-myon was promoted to Kanggye-si.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=북한지역정보넷|url=http://www.cybernk.net/infoText/InfoAdminstList.aspx?mc=AD0101&direct=1&ac=A0401|access-date=2021-09-17|website=www.cybernk.net}}</ref>

During the [[Korean War]], after being driven from [[Pyongyang]], [[Kim Il Sung]] and his government temporarily moved the capital to Kanggye after first moving temporarily to [[Sinuiju]].<ref name="mossman" /><ref name="sandler" /> The city was firebombed in November 1950 on American general [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s orders after the Chinese [[People's Volunteer Army]] turned the course of the war; at least 65% of the city was destroyed.<ref>Barros, Andrew and Martin Thomas (2018) ''The Civilianization of War''</ref> The following month Kim presided over a plenum of the [[Cabinet of North Korea|cabinet]] at Kanggye, where he assigned blame for what he claimed were military failures during the losing phase of the war.<ref>Song, Wojun and Joseph Wright (2018) "The North Korean Autocracy in Comparative Perspective" ''Journal of East Asian Studies'' 20:2</ref>
==Culture==

=== Attractions ===
Kanggye is home to an open-air stadium and is also home to the Kanggye Riding Club, which was built in 2024. Kanggye has scenic walkways along the Changja River and a small waterpark.

Other places of interest include [[Inphung Pavilion]] and [[Mount Ryonhwa]]. Tourist attractions have been developed to show the mountainous nature of the city.

=== Facilities ===
[[Kanggye University of Education]], [[Kanggye University of Technology]], and the [[Kanggye University of Medicine]] are located in the city.

The city has more than 50 various medical centres including an oral care and a maternity hospital.<ref>{{Cite web |title=북한지역정보넷 |url=http://www.cybernk.net/infoText/InfoAdminstList.aspx?mc=AD0105&direct=1&ac=A0401 |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=www.cybernk.net}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Kanggye is a transportation hub, connected to other cities by road and rail. It lies at the junction of the [[Kanggye Line|Kanggye]] and [[Manp'o Line]]s. Commuter trains run on the Manpo line between Kanggye and Ssangbangdong stations. In addition, highways connect it to [[Pyongyang]] and other locations, with the road network of Chagang province being centered on the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=북한지역정보넷|url=http://www.cybernk.net/infoText/InfoAdminstList.aspx?mc=AD0104&direct=1&ac=A0401|access-date=2021-09-17|website=www.cybernk.net}}</ref>

Kanggye has a [[trolleybus]] (무궤도전차) system, opened on April 17, 1992, with one 12&nbsp;km line running from Changja-dong to Kong'in-dong, following the embankment of the Changja and Puchon rivers. Up until 2009 it had 6 full length and 2 medium trolleybuses; in the 2010s 5 full length and 1 medium trolleybus remained. In 2020, the northern loop was built into a small depot.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kanggye|url=https://transphoto.org/city/1294/|access-date=2020-10-16|website=transphoto.org}}</ref>

==Broadcasting==
A local radio station called "Kanggye Broadcasting ({{Korean|hangul=강계방송|labels=no}})", originally founded in 1947 as a local broadcasting station for [[North Pyongan Province]], which later became a local broadcasting station for [[Chagang Province]] in 1949. It is operated by the Chagang Province Broadcasting Committee ({{Korean|hangul=자강도 방송위원회|labels=no}}). It airs programs that cover topics such as ideological education or local weather information.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Item/E0070614|title=강계방송|publisher=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]]|access-date=2021-02-02}}</ref>

==Economy==
From 1945, the manufacturing industry developed rapidly.

Kanggye has a [[mining]] industry producing [[copper]], [[zinc]] ore, [[coal]] and [[graphite]].

Kanggye hosts one of the main [[Kanggye Timber Processing Factory|timber processing factories]] of [[Chagang]] province and [[North Korea]]. The city has various light industry along with production of construction, electrical and precision machinery. The pencils produced, which are also exported, have 'national significance'. The city also has agricultural, fruit, vegetable and livestock production.<ref>{{Cite web|title=북한지역정보넷|url=http://www.cybernk.net/infoText/InfoAdminstList.aspx?mc=AD0103&direct=1&ac=A0401|access-date=2021-09-17|website=www.cybernk.net}}</ref>

=== Electricity production ===
The city has a large number of hydropower plants due to its location near a number of rivers. The first hydropower station in a series of them is called Hungju No.1 Youth Power Station, is located 3.5&nbsp;km north of Kanggye. It is supported by the Ryongrim dam, which does not have a power station attached to it.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2019-08-29|title=North Korea’s Hydroelectric Power – Part II {{!}} 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea|url=https://www.38north.org/2019/08/hydropower082919/|access-date=2021-09-17|website=[[38 North]]|language=en}}</ref> This allows a careful management of the water level to ensure efficient operation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=《조선의 오늘》|url=https://dprktoday.com/abroad/news/8255?lang=|access-date=2021-09-17|website=[[DPRK Today]]}}</ref> This is followed by the Hungju Youth Power Station No. 2 and 3. No.2 was completed in 2007 and No.3 was completed by February 2019,   fitted with three generator turbines.<ref name=":1" />

There are also a series of four small scale hydropower plants on the Pukchon river.<ref>{{Cite web|title=《조선의 오늘》|url=https://dprktoday.com/news/7494|access-date=2021-09-18|website=[[DPRK Today]]}}</ref>

===Kanggye Timber Processing Factory===
Kanggye Timber Processing Factory(강계목재가공공장) is a small state-run factory located in Kanggye City. At the start of operations, it produced only two kinds of furniture (dining tables and sterilized chopsticks) through manual labour. Over time it has developed into a comprehensive modernized furniture producer, producing woodwork with a hundred and dozens of modern facilities in production.
 
Amongst machinery in use are three- and four-faced automatic planes, all-purpose polishers, joining machines, and grooving saws.
 
Meanwhile, the factory has directed an effort into the programme of modernizing the drying job, which is an important part of the woodworking process. By making technical innovations (such as replacing a boiler-induced drying process drying ovens and using fuels other than coal) the factory increased production and lowered manpower.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.unityinfo.co.kr/4417|title=[탐방] 목재가구공장|website=통일신문}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
{{Clear}}

===No.26 General Plant===

The No.26 factory is the largest underground military facility in Korea. The plant manufactures ammunition which has been exported to Libya, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Egypt. It employs more than 20,000 workers and can produce 126,000 mortar rounds and 1.76 million rounds of rifle ammunition per year. On November 30, 1991, up to a thousand people were allegedly killed after a massive explosion at the plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nknews.org/2018/01/the-kanggye-explosion-a-man-made-disaster-in-north-korea/|title=The Kanggye explosion: a man-made disaster in North Korea - North Korea News|date=12 January 2018|publisher=[[NK News]]}}</ref> South Korean sources put the number of fatalities at six times that amount or more based on the claims of survivors of the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailynk.com/english/remembering-kanggye-tractor-factory-incident-1991/|title=Remembering the Kanggye Tractor Factory incident of 1991|date=13 February 2020|publisher=[[Daily NK]] / Unification Media Group}}</ref>

==Administrative divisions==

Kanggye is divided into 34 ''[[Administrative divisions of North Korea|tong]]'' (neighbourhoods) and two ''[[Administrative divisions of North Korea|ri]]'' (villages):<ref name=":0" />

{|
|-
| valign="top" |
* Changja-dong 장자동(將子洞)
* Ch'ungsŏng-dong 충성동(忠誠洞)
* Hyangro-dong 향로동(香爐洞)
* Hŭngju-dong 흥주동(興洲洞)
* Kangsŏ-dong 강서동(江西洞)
* Koyŏng 1-dong 고영1동(古營一洞)
* Koyŏng 2-dong 고영2동(古營二洞)
* Konggwi-dong 공귀동(公貴洞)
* Kong'in-dong 공인동(公仁洞)
* Mansu-dong 만수동(萬壽洞)
* Nammun-dong 남문동(南門洞)
* Namsan-dong 남산동(南山洞)
| valign="top" |
* Ryu-dong 류동(柳洞)
* Sinmun-dong 신문동(新門洞)
* Sŏsan-dong 서산동(西山洞)
* Sŏkcho-dong 석조동(石造洞)
* Sŏkhyŏn-dong 석현동(石峴洞)
* Such'im-dong 수침동(水砧洞)
* Taeŭng-dong 대응동(大應洞)
* Tŏksan-dong 독산동(獨山洞)
* Tongbu-dong 동부동(東部洞)
* Tongmun-dong 동문동(東門洞)
* Ŭijin-dong 의진동(義眞洞)
* Ŭnjŏng-dong 은정동(恩情洞)
|
*Oeryong-dong 외룡동(外龍洞)
* Puch'ang-dong 부창동(府倉洞)
* Pukmun-dong 북문동(北門洞)
* Rodongja-dong 로동자동(勞動者洞)
*Yŏnp'ung-dong 연풍동(淵豊洞)
* Yŏnsŏk-dong 연석동(煙石洞)
* Sinhŭng-ri 신흥리(新興里)
* Tuhŭng-ri 두흥리(斗興里)
*Yahak-tong 야학동(野鶴洞)
* Yŏnju-dong 연주동(煙州洞)
*Namch'ŏn-dong 남천동(南川洞)
* Naeryong-dong 내룡동(內龍洞)
|}

==Geography==
Kanggye gets its name, "river junction," from the [[Changja River]], which flows through the city, and two tributaries. The city is located in a basin, and is hence surrounded by mountains. The main mountain ranges are the Nangnim and Gangnam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=북한지역정보넷 |url=http://www.cybernk.net/infoText/InfoAdminstList.aspx?mc=AD0102&direct=1&ac=A0401 |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=www.cybernk.net}}</ref>

===Climate===
Kanggye has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dwa'').
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Kanggye (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1957-present)
| Jan high C = -4.9
| Feb high C = 0.2
| Mar high C = 7.5
| Apr high C = 16.4
| May high C = 23.2
| Jun high C = 27.5
| Jul high C = 29.4
| Aug high C = 28.7
| Sep high C = 24.1
| Oct high C = 16.5
| Nov high C = 5.8
| Dec high C = -3.2
| year high C = 14.3
| Jan mean C = -12.6
| Feb mean C = -7.4
| Mar mean C = 0.8
| Apr mean C = 9.2
| May mean C = 15.9
| Jun mean C = 20.5
| Jul mean C = 23.7
| Aug mean C = 22.8
| Sep mean C = 16.8
| Oct mean C = 8.8
| Nov mean C = -0.2
| Dec mean C = -9.5
| year mean C = 7.4
| Jan low C = -18.4
| Feb low C = -13.8
| Mar low C = -4.9
| Apr low C = 2.7
| May low C = 9.4
| Jun low C = 15.1
| Jul low C = 19.4
| Aug low C = 18.5
| Sep low C = 11.3
| Oct low C = 2.9
| Nov low C = -4.9
| Dec low C = -14.8
| year low C = 1.9
| Jan record high C = 6.9
| Feb record high C = 14.7
| Mar record high C = 24.0
| Apr record high C = 30.8
| May record high C = 33.9
| Jun record high C = 37.8
| Jul record high C = 38.0
| Aug record high C = 38.9
| Sep record high C = 30.5
| Oct record high C = 28.2
| Nov record high C = 21.2
| Dec record high C = 12.2
| Jan record low C = -32.8
| Feb record low C = -28.9
| Mar record low C = -23.9
| Apr record low C = -12.8
| May record low C = -1.1
| Jun record low C = 5.0
| Jul record low C = 10.6
| Aug record low C = 6.3
| Sep record low C = -0.8
| Oct record low C = -9.4
| Nov record low C = -25.0
| Dec record low C = -33.9
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 10.1
| Feb precipitation mm = 11.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 21.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 41.8
| May precipitation mm = 74.4
| Jun precipitation mm = 113.3
| Jul precipitation mm = 206.9
| Aug precipitation mm = 168.1
| Sep precipitation mm = 73.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 44.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 31.8
| Dec precipitation mm = 15.6
| year precipitation mm = 812.5
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 4.8
| Feb precipitation days = 4.3
| Mar precipitation days = 5.8
| Apr precipitation days = 7.6
| May precipitation days = 10.2
| Jun precipitation days = 12.6
| Jul precipitation days = 14.1
| Aug precipitation days = 12.2
| Sep precipitation days = 6.9
| Oct precipitation days = 6.9
| Nov precipitation days = 7.0
| Dec precipitation days = 6.5
| year precipitation days = 98.9
| Jan snow days = 7.8
| Feb snow days = 6.5
| Mar snow days = 6.7
| Apr snow days = 1.7
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.6
| Nov snow days = 5.9
| Dec snow days = 9.7
| year snow days = 38.9
| Jan humidity = 78.3
| Feb humidity = 73.6
| Mar humidity = 68.6
| Apr humidity = 65.3
| May humidity = 68.4
| Jun humidity = 74.7
| Jul humidity = 79.2
| Aug humidity = 80.3
| Sep humidity = 77.3
| Oct humidity = 73.8
| Nov humidity = 77.0
| Dec humidity = 78.6
| year humidity = 74.6
| source 1 = [[Korea Meteorological Administration]]<ref name= KMA>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211112/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/northkorea_pdf_0104.pdf
| archive-date = 29 January 2022
| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/northkorea_pdf_0104.pdf
| title = 30 years report of Meteorological Observations in North Korea (1991 ~ 2020)
| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration
| access-date = 23 March 2022
| language = ko
| url-status = live
| pages = 204, 276, and 343}}</ref>
| source 2 = NOAA (extremes)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=global-summary-of-the-day&stations=47020099999&startDate=1700-01-01&endDate=2023-12-31&dataTypes=MAX,MIN,PRCP
| title = Global Surface Summary of the Day - GSOD
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = January 26, 2023
}}</ref>
}}

==See also==
{{portal|North Korea}}
*[[Geography of North Korea]]
*[[List of cities in North Korea]]

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=mossman>{{cite book |last=Mossman |first=Billy |date=June 29, 2005 |title=United States Army in the Korean War: Ebb and Flow November 1950-July 1951 |publisher=University Press of the Pacific |page=51}}</ref>
<ref name=sandler>{{cite book |last=Sandler |first=Stanley |date=1999 |title=The Korean War: No Victors, No Vanquished |url=https://archive.org/details/koreanwarnovicto0000sand |url-access=registration |publisher=The University Press of Kentucky |page=[https://archive.org/details/koreanwarnovicto0000sand/page/108 108]}}</ref>
}}

==Further reading==
*Dormels, Rainer. ''North Korea's Cities: Industrial facilities, internal structures and typification''. Jimoondang, 2014. {{ISBN|978-89-6297-167-5}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://koreanologie.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_koreanologie/North_Korean_Cities/Kanggye/Kanggye.pdf City profile of Kanggye] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309053831/https://koreanologie.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_koreanologie/North_Korean_Cities/Kanggye/Kanggye.pdf |date=2016-03-09 }}

{{Chagang}}
{{Metropolitan cities of North Korea}}
{{Most populous cities in North Korea}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|40|58|N|126|36|E|region:KP_type:city|display=title}}

[[Category:Cities in Chagang Province]]