• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Since forest is an important part of ecological system, the deforestation is one of global substantive issues. It is generally accepted that the climate change is related to the deforestation. The issue is worse in developing countries because the forest is one of important natural resources. In the case of North Korea, the deforestation is on the rise from forest reclamation for firewood collection and food production. Moreover, a secondary effect from flood intensifies the damage. Also, the political situation in North Korea presents difficulty to have in-situ measurements. It means that the accurate information of North Korea is nearly impossible to obtain. Thus, assessing the current situation of the forest in North Korea by indirect method is required. The objective of this study is to monitor the forest status of North Korea using multitemporal Landsat images, from 1980s to 2010s. Since the deforestation in North Korea is caused by local residents, we selected two study areas of high population density: Pyeongyang and Hyesan. In North Korea, most of clean Landsat images are acquired in fall season. The fall images have an advantage that we can easily distinguish agriculture areas from forest areas, also have an disadvantage that the forests cannot be easily identified because some of trees have turned red. To identify the forests exactly, we proposed a modified Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (mNDVI) value. The deforestation in Pyeongyang and Hyesan was analyzed by using mNDVI. The dimension of forest has decreased approximately 36% in Pyeongyang for 27 years and approximately 25% in Hyesan for 16 years. The results show that the forest areas in Pyeongyang and Hyesan have been steadily reduced.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2010

The study deals with classification of drought-flood intensity using Z index based on the precipitation data in Hyesan of the past 50 years(1957~2006). The frequencies of years and four seasons of flood drought and their change features have also been analyzed based on tendency analysis and MESA and wavelet methods. Results show that the annual and seasonal frequencies of flood-drought exceed 24% in Hyesan and flood-drought disasters have been high frequency. Inter-decadal variability seems to be clear in autumn but those of inter-annual variability are obvious in other three seasons and years. Recently the probability of drought disaster become higher in autumn. The flood disaster in other three seasons and years are estimated to become higher in the future.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2020

During the Japanese colonial period, Japanese brewing companies established 2 breweries in Korea, and brought in malting barley seeds, began trial cultivation in near Daejeon area and Jeju Island, and cultivated hops in Hyesan, Hamgyeong-do. In 1933, Chosun Brewery Co. Ltd. and Showa-Kirin Brewery Co. were established in Yeongdeungpo by Japan and these 2 breweries became the birthplace of today's Hite Brewery and Oriental Brewery. Oriental Brewery tried to cultivate hops and malting barley in Korea, and once self-sufficient but now hops depend on imports, and production of domestic malting barley is about 5% of demand. Beer was only about 5% of domestic alcohol consumption in the early 1970s, but now occupies more than 50% and became the most popular alcoholic drink in Korea. Recently various beers are imported from the world, and many craft breweries serving variety of beers to consumers, thus Korean enjoy heyday of the beer culture.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.284-295
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• 2018

The safe and late marginal heading dates (SMHD, LMHD), cropping probability, and growth duration of rice were assessed using temperature data in the 27 regions of North Korea. The medians of SMHD and LMHD ranged Jul. 16 and Jul. 27 in Hyesan to Aug. 18 and Aug. 28 in Haeju, respectively, except Changjin, Pungsan, and Samjiyon that did not show any of the SMHD and LMHD. The medians of the days from early marginal transplanting date (EMTD) to heading date ranged 51 days in Hyesan to 109 days in Pyongyang for SMHD and those were delayed by 9~15 days for LMHD, compared to SMHD. Nineteen regions (Kaesong, Haeju, Yongyon, Singye, Sariwon, Nampo, Pyongyang, Anju, Kusong, Sinuiju, Changjon, Wonsan, Hamhung, Pyonggang, Yangdok, Huichon, Supung, Sinpo, Kanggye) and additional four regions (Kimchaek, Chongjin, Sonbong, Chunggang) had the rice cropping probability higher than 80% when analyzed based on the SMHD and LMHD, respectively. The representative SMHD ranged Jul. 24 for Pyonggang to Aug. 12 for Haeju. Compared to the days from EMTD to SMHD, those from EMTD to LMHD were delayed by 9~17 days. When applied SMHD, thirteen regions (Yangdok, Kanggye, Huichon, Supung, Yongyon, Kusong, Anju, Sinuiju, Singye, Pyongyang, Kaesong, Nampo, Sariwon) had the appropriate range of cumulative temperature during grain filling (CT) for grain yield and quality. Sinpo, Hamhung, Pyonggang, Wonsan, Changjon, and Haeju had the CT higher than $1,300^{\circ}C$. It is supposed that rice cropping could be extended to the regions where LMHD-applied cropping probability was higher than 80%. Delaying the heading date than SMHD could be also considered in the regions where the days to SMHD is small but CT is large.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.3
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• pp.418-428
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze and clarify the forest information shown in the Korean Peninsula Forest Distribution Map (KPFDM) printed in 1910. First, the background, process, results, and reliability of the Forest Survey Project (1910), which is the basis of the KPFDM, were evaluated. Next, the information of the KPFDM, preserved as a paper map, was digitized to show forest status and forest type. The results of the analysis can be summarized as follows: Analyzing the Korean peninsula of the 1910 period in terms of the present South and North Korean regions, stocked forests were found to be more widely distributed (73%) in the northern region. The southern region largely consisted of deforested areas, with young-growth trees and unstocked forests making up 80% of all forests there. The northern region had abundant natural forests, with 80% of the forests in Yanggang-do, which currently includes Mt. Baekdu and the Hyesan area, composed of stocked forests. Pinus densiflora was found about 2.7 times more often in the southern region than in the northern region. Large numbers of coniferous trees excluding Pinus densiflora were found in the northern region. In particular, 53% of the forests and 72% of the stocking land in the southern region were composed of Pinus densiflora.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.4
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• pp.459-471
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• 2023

This study identified the characteristics of changes in forest areas of North Korea's major regions (Gaesong, Goseong, Pyongyang, and Hyesan·Samsu) using data on degraded lands collected via monitoring by the National Institute of Forest Science. The data, spanning 1999 to 2018, were cross-analyzed to determine trends in land cover change, and hotspot analysis was conducted to confirm evident changes in the forest areas. The results showed that the areas of interest substantially transitioned to other land use types from 1999 to 2008. Contrastingly, the range of changes decreased from 2008 to 2018, with some areas regenerating into forests. Nevertheless, the hotspot analysis indicated that hotspots occurred more intensively in the outskirts of cities and forest edges from 2008 to 2018 than from 1999 to 2008. The analysis also showed that the aforementioned changes were caused by various aspects, depending on regional characteristics and social factors. This study can be used as a basic reference for decision-making on the selection of basic forest restoration targets and restoration methods in inter-Korean forest cooperation initiatives.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.190-204
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• 2018

The probability of safe cropping and the major phenological stages in rice were assessed using daily mean temperature data from 1981 to 2016 at 27 sites in North Korea. The threshold temperatures for early marginal transplanting date (EMTD), marginal harvesting date (MHVD), safe marginal heading date (SMHD), and cumulative temperature-based heading date (CTHD) were set to be $14^{\circ}C$, $13^{\circ}C$, $22^{\circ}C$ for 40 days after heading, and cumulative temperature of $1200^{\circ}C$ to MHVD, respectively. The safe heading date (SHD) was assumed to be either SMHD or CTHD whichever was earlier. It was also assumed that the minimum requirement for the suitability of safe rice cropping was met when both SMHD and CTHD appeared along with the time period of 60 days or more from EMTD to SHD. It was analyzed that 17 sites (Kaesong, Haeju, Yongyon, Singye, Sariwon, Nampo, Pyongyang, Anju, Kusong, Sinuiju, Changjon, Wonsan, Hamhung, Pyonggang, Huichon, Supung, Kanggye) had 90% or higher probability, two sites (Yangdok, Sinpo) had 80-90% probability, and eight sites (Kimchaek, Chunggang, Chongjin, Sonbong, Changjin, Pungsan, Hyesan, Samjiyon) had less than 80% probability of the safe rice cropping. For each region, the representative EMTD, SHD, and MHVD were analyzed using the 80 percentile of total years tested. The ranges for EMTD, SHD, and MHVD were May 4 in Sariwon~May 24 in Sinpo, June 21 in Kanggye~August 11 in Haeju, and September 17 in Kanggye~October 16 in Haeju and Changjon, respectively. Time durations from EMTD to SHD and from SHD to MHVD were 67~97 days and 57~72 days, respectively, depending on the regions. This study would facilitate modeling efforts for rice yield simulation in future studies. Our results would also provide basic information for practical researches on the rice cropping system in North Korea.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.107-120
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• 2021

The Komdok Pb-Zn deposit, which is the largest Pb-Zn deposit in Korea, is located at the Hyesan-Riwon metallogenic zone in Jiao Liao Ji belt included Paleoproterozoic Macheolryeong group. The geology of this deposit consists of Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks, Jurassic Mantapsan intrusive rocks and Cenozoic basalt. The Komdok deposit which is a SEDEX type deposit occurs as layer ore and vein ore in the Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks. Based on mineral petrography and paragenesis, dolomites from this deposit are classified four types (1. dolomite (D₀) as hostrock, 2. early dolomite (D₁) associated with tremolite, actinolite, diopside, sphalerite and galena from amphibolite facies, 3. late dolomite (D₂) associated with talc, calcite, quartz, sphalerite and galena from amphibolite facies, 4. dolomite (D₃) associated with white mica, chlorite, sphalerite and galena from quartz vein). The structural formulars of dolomites are determined to be Ca_1.00-1.20Mg_0.80-0.99Fe_0.00-0.01Zn_0.00-0.02(CO₃)₂(D₀), Ca_1.00-1.02M_0.97-0.99Fe_0.00-0.01Zn_0.00-0.02(CO₃)₂(D₁), Ca_0.99-1.03Mg_0.93-0.98Fe_0.01-0.05Mn_0.00-0.01As_0.00-0.01(CO₃)₂(D₂) and Ca_0.95-1.04Mg_0.59-0.68Fe_0.30-0.36Mn_0.00-0.01 (CO₃)₂(D₃), respectively. It means that dolomites from Komdok deposit have higher content of trace elements (FeO, MnO, HfO₂, ZnO, PbO, Sb₂O₅ and As₂O₅) compared to the theoretical composition of dolomite. These trace elements (FeO, MnO, ZnO, Sb₂O₅ and As₂O₅) show increase and decrease trend according to paragenetic sequence, but HfO₂ and PbO elements no show increase and decrease trend according to paragenetic sequence. Dolomites correspond to Ferroan dolomite (D₀, D₁ and D₂), and Ferroan dolomite and ankerite (D₃), respectively. Therefore, 1) dolomite (D₀) as hostrock was formed by subsequent diagenesis after sedimentation of Paleoproterozoic (2012~1700 Ma) silica-bearing dolomite in the marine evaporative environment. 2) Early dolomite (D₁) was formed by hydrothermal metasomatism origined metamorphism (amphibolite facies) associated with intrusion (1890~1680 Ma) of Paleoproterozoic Riwon complex. 3) Late dolomte (D₂) was formed from residual fluid by a decrease of temperature and pressure. and dolomite (D₃) in quartz vein was formed by intrusion (213~181 Ma) of Jurassic Mantapsan intrusive rocks.