• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.344-359
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• 2004

This geographical study is to identify the reality of Nokdun island which was once settled and farmed by our ancestor, but currently the island is do facto under Russia's control. Various historical documents including old maps, current large scale maps and satellite images besides field work were used for full analysis. According to historical records, up until Chosun Dynasty, Nokdun island in the lower Tuman river was one of the frontier fortified base crossed the river for the northern defense as well as seasonal farming for the farmer of Kyounghung border area. Even though the island was unjustly lost to Russia by the Beijing Treaty in the late Chosun period, the whole area of Nokdun was occupied and farmed by sole Koreans until the deportation by Stalin was forcibly measured. In these days due to the change of Tumn river channel and new deposition by river it became very difficult to find the original shape of Nokdun island. However, through intensive field works based on historical records, the research team found out the existence of the old wet-dry fields, old rural farmhouse remnants, and small and medium size of millstones that are supporting the reality of the island. Especially, the team traced a mud fortress presumedly built in the early Chosun period. We believe it might allow to allocate the exact location of Nokdun island in near future.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.259-281
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• 2013

This research aims to analyze Baekdu mountain are with it's the east flowing streams which are the issues on the old maps. Also, it will analyze the eastern flows, Tomoon river; Boongye river; Dooman river, from Baekdu mountain which have been the border settlement issues since Josun dynasty. Also, it will analyze the north-eastern flows, Heukryong river; Songhwa river; Sockpyung river; Tomoon river; Boongye river; Dooman river, from Baekdu mountain which have been the border settlement issues since Josun dynasty. The mainly issued Baekdu mountain's north-eastern flows can be classified into six different flows by the classifications, it proves that there are various Baekdu mountain north-eastern flows on the old maps. the two streams theory of Tomoon and Doman river explains the perspective of the northern expansion, and the one stream theory expresses it by stating Boongye and Sockpyung river as the same one. However, in the case of the meaning of Boongye river is Haeran river on the middle of one stream theory map, there is no region expanding perspective but the same border perspective that Korean peninsula and China match. Boongye river is expressed into four different meanings. (1) It is the same river with Sockpyung and shows the regional expanding perception. (2) It is the same river with Tomoon and the down stream of Tomoon river.(3) It expresses the current name, Haeran river. (4) It simply means the river shows the boundary.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.38 no.4 s.153
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• pp.323-332
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• 2005

The Tumen River basin is relatively small(${\approx}33,000km^2$), it has many potential conflicts between the riparian countries. Especially, until recently, it could have not drawn the socio-potitical attention from its central governments because of the geopolitical unique characteristics as edges of mainlands. since 1990's the various plans have been suggested for resolving the problems in this area as an international attention from, e.g UNDP, began to be given. However, the international cooperative structure has not been established in systematic way which has paramount importance. In the research, based on the problems identified in the previous paper, the necessities for independent unit, so called 'Tumen River Watershed Management Commission' were suggested for holistic and hierarchical resolution in accordance with integrated management and international river based on 'limited territory sovereignty' which is a general principle in international river management. For this purposes, hierarchical problem solving approach which consists of 3 phases were developed. They include major objectives and behavioral guidelines for achieving equity between riparian countries based on international cooperation and integrated watershed management as fundamental concept. In conclusion, rational plan for future water use, management and primary framework of Tumen River for international cooperation were composed and strategic approach for the North-East Asian community foundation was suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.630-639
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• 2003

This study aims to analysis the distribution and change of cropland and forest, the Onseong, Saebyeol, and Eundeok counties on the lower reach of Duman(Tumen) river, northeast Korea, using 1992 year Landsat TM data, 2000 year Landsat ETM data, and digital terrain elevation data(DTED). Land cover and land use of the study areas are classified into cropland, forest, village, and water body, using the supervised classification method including 1:50,000 DTED analysis, image band composition, and principal component analysis(PCA). Results of quantitative analysis present that each growth rate of cropland of Onseong and Eundeok are 22.8% and 14.7% corresponding to decreasing rates of forest, 8% and 13.6% during 8 years from 1992 to 2000. In Onseong, Saebyeol, and Eundeok, each values of mean elevations and slope gradients increased to 192m, 95m, and 91m from 157m, 85m, and 78m, and to 6.6$^{\circ}$, 3.0$^{\circ}$, and 4.4$^{\circ}$ from 5.2$^{\circ}$, 2.5$^{\circ}$, and 3.0$^{\circ}$. Especially, in case of newly developed cropland, the values of mean elevation and mean gradient have 225m, 122m, and 127m, and 9.4$^{\circ}$, 5.1$^{\circ}$, and 8.0$^{\circ}$, in above three regions. These new croplands were developing along to deeper valleys and toward lower hill and mountain slope up to knickpoint zone of gradient change. Deforested lands for cropland have formed irregular pattern of patch-type, and become sources for the sheet erosion, rilling and gulleying in mountain slope and sedimentation in local river channel. Though there were no field checking, analysis using landsat images and GIS mapping can help understand actual environmental problems relating to cropland development of mountain slope in North Korea.