• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.293-316
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• 2002

This study aims to identify changes that have occurred in the regional structure and locational characteristics of the Najin-Seonbong Economic and Trade Zone established in North Korea in 1991. In order to analyze land use patterns as variables of change in the regional structure, an field trip data, satellite imagery and other materials about the region are examined. In terms of its location as a major regional transit hub, the Najin-seonbong Economic and Trade Zone has not been supported by the required infrastructural developments and the establishment of the export processing zones has exposed the lack of vital links with local networks and industry. Thus, despite the fact that the local government has made a lot of effort in attracting foreign investment over the past decade, little progress has been made and the region has not changed. By and large, its operational efficiency and potential for development as a major export processing zone has been relatively limited. In the long w, prospects for the region's emergence as a major economic player will depend on the North Korean Govemment's policy in tackling the various infrastructural deficiencies.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.713-737
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• 2016

This study is to review research issues on North Korea and unified territory in terms of topics and approach method in Korean human geography. The conclusion of this paper is as follows. Before 1980's, topics on political geography, such as geopolitics or unified land, were the main stream in research. In 1990's with the end of the cold war and the access to material which was published in North Korea, scope of research was widened especially in geography education. After 2000's with the expansion of cooperation between South and North Korea, the scope of topics were more expanded in all field of human geography, for example, critical geopolitic in political geography, Gaeseong Industrial Complex, Najin-Seonbong region in economic geography, place names, Geumgangsan, North Korean defectors in social and cultural geography. The approach method of toward North Korea is fall into two categories. One is regional geography and the other is the unified land. In the latter approach, topics on the regional structure after reunification or on the life adaptation of defectors in South Korea etc. were studied. After unification of land, new Korean Studiea will be established and human geographers should make ready for this. Before unification, research on the land in north Korea should be proceeded in terms of historical geography.