• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.71-82
• /
• 2020

The objective of this study is to evaluate the instream flow in the North Han River basin according to the operation of Imnam Dam in North Korea. The water budget and instream flow satisfaction were analyzed using hourly, daily and monthly data of Water Management Information System (WAMIS) from Jan. 1991 to Dec. 2018. As a analysis result of water budget using hourly data in the North Han River basin, although inflows compared with dam release in the upstream basin of Peace Dam-Hwacheon Dam and Chuncheon Dam-Soyanggang Dam-Uiam Dam were calculated as negative values, the reasonable results using daily and monthly average data were estimated. It showed that the results of water budget analysis of dam inflow and total release may be different by time units of data. The monthly average inflow of Hwacheon Dam decreased significantly after the construction in 2003 of Imnam Dam, which confirmed that the operation of Imnam Dam had a significant effect on the dams in the North Han River basin. The operation of Imnam Dam is one of the main reasons for the lack of instream flow and total shortage amounts and shortage period increased up to +330% due to the decrease in inflow and total release of dams in the North Han River water after the operation of Imnam Dam. It is necessary to study various plans to secure instream flow including transboundary river management

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.429-438
• /
• 2023

The forest in the lower Tumen River serves as an important ecosystem spanning the territories of North Korea, Russia, and China, and it provides habitat and movement corridors for diverse mammals, including the endangered Amur tiger (Panthera tigris) and Amur leopard (Panthera pardus). This study focuses on the Mijiang area, situated as a potential ecological corridor connecting North Korea and China in the lower Tumen River, playing a crucial role in conserving and restoring the biodiversity of the Korean Peninsula. This study aimed to identify mammal species and estimate their relative abundance, occupancy, and distribution based on the 48 camera traps installed in the Mijiang area from May 2019 to May 2021. The results confirmed the presence of 18 mammal species in the Mijiang area, including large carnivores like tigers and leopards. Among the dominant mammals, four species of ungulates showed high occupancy and detection rates, particularly the Roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) and Wild boar (Sus scrofa). The roe deer was distributed across all areas with a predicted high occupancy rate of 0.97, influenced by altitude, urban residential areas, and patch density. Wild boars showed a predicted occupancy rate of 0.73 and were distributed throughout the entire area, with factors such as wetland ratio, grazing intensity, and spatial heterogeneity in aspects of the landscape influencing their occupancy and detection rates. Sika deer (Cervus nippon) exhibited a predicted occupancy rate of 0.48, confined to specific areas, influenced by slope, habitat fragmentation diversity affecting detection rates, and the ratio of open forests impacting occupancy. Water deer (Hydropotes inermis) displayed a very low occupancy rate of 0.06 along the Tumen River Basin, with higher occupancy in lower altitude areas and increased detection in locations with high spatial heterogeneity in aspects. This study confirmed that the Mijiang area serves as a habitat supporting diverse mammals in the lower Tumen River while also playing a crucial role in facilitating animal movement and habitat connectivity. Additionally, the occupancy prediction model developed in this study is expected to contribute to predicting mammal distribution within the disrupted Tumen River basin due to human interference and identifying and protecting potential ecological corridors in this transboundary region.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.63-75
• /
• 2015

Atmospheric environment in Korea is influenced by outside, especially China. The concentrations of air pollutants in China have showed decreasing trends since 2000. However, these concentration levels in China are still higher than other developed countries. The Chinese Government has tried several measures to control the air pollution. In this study, the details of the amendments and smog reduction strategies in China, especially for Beijing are reviewed and the strategies for Korean side to promote cooperation in Northeast Asia are suggested and discussed. The Chinese State Council amended the Environmental Protection Provisions and Clean Air Act and announced The Action Plan for Air Pollution Control (2013-2017), focusing on three key regions, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area (Jing-Jin-Ji), Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD). These policy actions and plan are mainly for the reducing coal usage and emissions from vehicles. It is suggested that, Korea should actively promote multi-national cooperation in the region to take an initiative role in environmental areas.