• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.439-454
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• 2013

UN-REDD (United Nations programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) is currently being emerged as one of important mechanism to reduce carbon dioxide in relation to the deforestation. Although administrative boundary has already gained world-wide recognition as a typical method of monitoring unit in the process of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reduction project, this approach did not provide a realistic evidence in the carbon sequestering monitoring in terms of UN-REDD; the meaningful comparison of land use patterns among watershed boundaries, interpretation for distribution trends of carbon density, calculation of opportunity cost, leakage management, etc. This research proposes a comparative evaluation framework in a more objective and quantitative way for carbon sequestering monitoring between administrative and watershed boundary approaches. Mt. Geumgang of North Korea was selected as a survey objective and an exhaustive and realistic comparison of carbon sequestration between the two approaches was conducted, based on change detection using TM satellite images. It was possible for drainage boundary approach to identify more detailed area-wide patterns of carbon distribution than traditional administrative one, such as estimations of state and trends, including historical trends, of land use / land cover and carbon density in the Mt. Geumgang. The distinctive changing trends in terms of carbon sequestration were specifically identified over the watershed boundary from 4.0% to 34.8% while less than 1% difference was observed in the administrative boundaries, which were resulting in almost 21-22%. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a valuable reference to support more scientific and objective decision-making in introducing watershed boundary as carbon sequestering monitoring unit.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2009

This study analyzes and compares the geomorphic characteristics and environmental changes of coastal plains such as the Anju and Hamheung Plains located in the west and east coasts of North Korea, respectively, based on topographic maps of the 1910s and satellite images of the 2000s. The Anju Plain, so called by as Yeoldusamcheonribeol, can be divided into alluvial plains, coastal plains and erosional plains. The Hamheung Plain can be regarded as alluvial plains formed by Seongcheon-river. Approximately 84.98$km^2$ tidal flats have been reclaimed to farmlands and saltpans, and the most channels of medium and small rivers have been straightened at the Anju Plain during the last one hundred years. At the Hamheung Plain, on the other hands, approximately 3.40$km^2$ land has been increased by the advances of coastal line of the Seongcheon-river delta with a maximum of 800m, and channels of Seoseongcheon-river which showed anastomosing channels have been disappeared by reclamation. Gwang-po has been decreased by artificial reclamations and river sedimentary processes.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.77-87
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• 2012

Discussion on North Korea as UN-REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in developing countries) project target continues with a view to preventing deforestation and to securing CER(certified emission reduction) for South Korea. However, due to North Korea's political shutdown, it is hard to acquire information required for the REDD project registration. This research intends to acquire objective data using satellite images in the Mt. Geumgang. More than 20% of entire forested area were disappeared during the past two decades mainly due to conversion into agricultural farming land. Further, it is expected that persistent deforestation will go on. The reduction potential of the carbon emission is estimated as approximately 617,000 tCO2/year~663.000 tCO2/year. Thus, Mt. Geumgang is considered as realistic REDD target, which is attractive to South Korea, given that the obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emission is likely to be imposed upon the country. Further, political and social benefits due to reduced military conflict make Mt. Geumgang as UN-REDD project target invaluable.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.14-30
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• 2013

Place names in North Korea has been regarded as an effective instrument of revolution since division of territory(1945) and as typical case which politcal ideology affected the place names. Especially in North Korea, self-reliance ideology(Juche Idea) and idolization of Kim Il Sung influenced the place names. With local administrative district reform in 1952, names of district and village were changed on national scale. National survey of place names were proceeded in 1964~1966 with direct support of Kim, Ilsung. After this survey, North Korea made alteration of place names in terms of idolization of Kim Il Sung family as well as socialist revolution. Encyclopedia of place names were widely published. Almost linguist were forced to produce writing and papers for the praise of the legitimacy of new place names. But it should be attended that research trend are slowly changed since 2000s. Research for idolization of Kim Il Sung has become a little importance.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.348-356
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• 2011

Someday Mt. Baekdu could erupt by records of orogeny activity until today. This study is to predict influence area of lava flow and volcanic ash by simulation of volcanic eruption in the Mt. Baekdu. Simulation for eruption applied to supposing 7 grade of volcanic explosivity index, season from fall to spring. As a simulation results, lava flewed down into slope of China and volcanic ash diffused over the North Korea. Volcanic ash spreads to Ulneung area after nine hours. It was predicted that 61 cities and villages out of 27 administrative districts of Si-Gun were affected by volcanic ash in North Korea and an immense volume of volcanic ash was blown into farm lands, city areas and forests. This results expected to utilize information for disaster preparation of North Korea and joint research with South-North Korea and China.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-170
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• 2003

The existence of coastal terraces, HH(High higher) surfaces found at Gampo of southeast coast and at Jeongdongjin of the central east coast were confirmed at Jigyeong-Ri, the areal border between Gyeongju- and Ulsan city on the southeast coast of Korea Peninsula. Especially this study reports HH JK-surface located on the 155m a.s.l., which is the highest altitude among the ancient shorelines of the coastal terraces in Korea. The HH surfaces on the study area are classified into HH JK at 155m, HH-I at 140m and HH-II at 115m, and each formation stage is related to MIS 17(720∼690ka BP), MIS 15(630∼560ka BP) and MIS 13(510∼480ka BP) respectively. The HH-surfaces remain to be larger than those of H- and L-surfaces. The reason is caused by the unique factors of the coastal geology and morphology on the study area during the formation stage. And also the areal difference by the magnitude of upheaval doesn't exist from north to south because the altitude system of ancient shoreline on each coastal terrace is same along the east coast. The upheaval rate of the eastern coastal areas was measured in the relation to the ancient shoreline and formation stage among the coastal terraces such as HH JK-, HH-I, HH-II, H-III and H-IY surface, and was almost same as 0.23mm/y.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.29-39
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• 2020

This study estimated influences of the Ulsan Fault on tectonic movement and uplift characteristics in the Eastern Block of the Ulsan Fault. The averaged uplift rate in the Northern Coast of the Eastern Block was 0.202 m/ka, while the site in Seokbyeong-ri, Guryongpo-eup, Pohang-si, showed relatively high rate of 0.249 m/ka, attributable to influences of small fault movement, called the Gangsa Fault. Higher averaged rate of 0.270 m/ka than in the Northern Coast was calculated in the Southern Coast of the Eastern Block. The site in north of Haseo-ri, Yangnam-myeon, Gyeongju-si, showed the highest rate, suggesting influences of the Eupcheon Fault. The Western Block of the Ulsan Fault indicated the averaged rate of 0.208 m/ka, similar to that of the Northern Coast. The sites approximately 10 km apart from the Ulsan Fault showed 1.3 times higher rate in the Eastern Block than in the Western Block, while similar rates were calculated in the sites >20 km apart from the Ulsan Fault. These distributions of the rate suggest that the Ulsan Fault has significantly influenced development of marine terrace and tectonic movement in the study area, while local fault movements have also played a role.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2019

This study tries to reveal and compare uplift rates in the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, based on absolute ages from coastal terrace on the coast. The uplift rate in the East Coast from previous study ranges from 0.258 to 0.357 m/ka with a median rate of 0.262 m/ka and shows an increase trend from north to south. Median uplift rate of 0.082 m/ka with minimum and maximum rates of 0.053 m/ka and 0.127 m/ka, respectively, is calculated in the South Coast from previous and this studies. The uplift rate in the West Coast from 3 absolute ages in this study is 0.082~0.112 m/ka with a median rate of 0.090 m/ka. Based on these uplift rates in the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, it can be concluded that since MIS 5, the East Coast has experienced 3 to 4 times faster uplift rate than the West and South Coasts. However, this study suggests that more discussion on whether these uplift rates are long-term tectonic movement associated with tilted warping movement since the Tertiary or short-term tectonic movement associated with isostatic rebound due to sea level change since the Last Interglacial is needed.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.11-20
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• 2015

Abstract Monitoring is the most critical element in implementing "forest carbon offset project" to enhance the visibility of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in North Korea. This study is intended to explore monitoring potential in terms of forest carbon offset project using satellite image for Baekdu mountain of North Korea. The permanent record of standard satellite remote sensing system demonstrated its capability of presenting area-wide visual evidences of monitoring conditions in Mt. Baekdu mountain of North Korea (site suitability, carbon stock by forest biomass growth, carbon emission by forest biomass loss, deforestation and degradation, environmental, social and economic impact specified in the Carbon Sequestration Law). It doesn't seem very difficult to comply with monitoring requirements for "the forest carbon offset project" due to the probative value of satellite data. Therefore, it could be considerable or realistic approach to utilize CSR based forest carbon offset project as a point of reform and open-door in North Korea. It is anticipated that this research output could be used as a valuable reference for Korea-based enterprises to ensure monitoring potentials using satellite image in exploring forest carbon offset project sites in North Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.16-38
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• 1994

The spatial structure of Korea has been changed drastically during the second half of this century. The events such as the Korean War and the resultant division of the Korean Peninsular into two Koreas, rapid industrialization and urbanization are the major causes among others for the spatial changes of the nation. The changes in turn have spawned a number of spatial problems. It is time, we argue, to diagnose how much the nation is now ill-structured, and to discuss of which directions the long-term spatial management be reoriented. A delphi survey was conducted during the early 1993 to fulfill such research needs. Questionnaires were distributed among geographers, planners, and high governmental officials throughout the nation. These 'experts of spatial problems' were requested to evaluate the past spatial policies and strategies, and to identify spatial and environmental problems at the national, regional and local levels. The survey included questions with regard to the spatial problems in North Korea too. A complementary literature survey in the fields of spatial sciences was accomplished as well in order to identify the major research interests and issues with regard to the nations's spatial structure. The delphi survey results indicatee that the present spatial structure: in relation to consumption, housing and economic activities is satisfactory in overall, while rather poor in terms of education, leisure and community activities. Most of the experts consider infrastructural improvements are urgent in the areas of roads, waste disposal facilitles, railroads, harbors, water supply and drainage systems. The over-concentration of economic, social and political function in the Seoul Metropolitan Region is perceived to be the most serious spatial problem in Korea. The long-term solutions suggested are strategies toward a more balanced regional development as well as toward a cleaner environment. The concensus among the experts for the short-term solution is the redistribution of population and industries from the Seoul Metropolitan Region to the intermediate and small cities. The land use policies and concurrent large-scale infrastructural projects are evaluated largely pertinent and desirable in general. It is, however, suggested that development projects be conducted in a more harmonious way with environment. The survey respondents suggest that the present environmental management policies should be reexamined critically. With regard to regional and local problems, transportation and pollutions are thought to be most serious in the Seoul Metropolitan Region, while employment opportunities, and information, education and health care services are most deprived in small cities and rural areas. The majority of the experts consider a city size of 250, 000-500, 000 population is desirable to live within. Respondents beileve that North Korea's physical environment is still not aggravated much whereas its infrastructural provisions are largely pool. The co-authors of this research figure a "environmentaly sound and spatially balanced Korean Penninsular" as the ideal type of spatial structure in Korea. The basic guidelines toward this ideal prototype are suggested: the recovery of spetial integrity, progressive restructuring of the nation, land uses geared to public welfare rather than private interests, and eco-humanistic approach in spatial policies.