Kujang County is a kun, or county, in southeastern North P'yŏngan province, North Korea. It was created in 1952 from part of Nyŏngbyŏn county, as part of a nationwide reorganization of local government. It borders Nyŏngbyŏn on the west, Hyangsan and Unsan counties on the north, Nyŏngwŏn on the east, and Kaech'ŏn and Tŏkch'ŏn cities to the south.

History

Kujang County was formed in 1952 from the split of Nyongbyon County.

Geography

The Myohyang Mountains stretch across the eastern part of Kujang. The highest point is Kalbong (칼봉, 1530 m) in the north. The Ch'ŏngch'ŏn River flows through the centre of the county, and the Kuryong River flows along its western flank. Due to the mountainous terrain, only 17% of the county's land is cultivated, while 74% is occupied by forestland.

Administrative divisions

Kujang county is divided into 1 ŭp (town), 5 rodongjagu (workers' districts) and 22 ri (villages):

Climate

The average annual temperature is 8.4 °C, with a January mean of -10.4 °C and an August mean of 24.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1300 mm, making for a comparatively cool and wet climate.

Caverns

The caves in the Kujang area are karstic grottoes formed during the Quaternary of the Cenozoic Era in limestone formations. Despite similar origins, they vary in size, scope, and aesthetic features due to karstic evolution. Ryongmun Cavern, located 370 meters above sea level, stretches 7 km with stalagmites and stalactites. Paekryong Cavern, 470 meters above sea level, features animal-shaped formations and stone columns. Kaechon Flower Cave is known for its "sea of flowers" made of mineral-rich stone.

Economy

Zinc, coal, and mica are mined in the district. Factories produce cement and rail cars. There are agricultural areas along the Chongchon and Kuryong rivers. In 2019, the Kujang Youth No.1 Hydropower station opened. Prior to opening, the generator room was flooded in a storm, although the generators were not yet installed at that time. Kujang Youth No.2 Hydropower station is under construction.

Transportation

The Manp'o, P'yŏngdŏk and Ch'ŏngnyŏn P'arwŏn lines of the Korean State Railway intersect in Kujang, along with various branch lines serving the county's mines. The Pyongyang-Hyangsan tourist road and several other first-class roads pass through the county. A former trolleybus system existed in Ryongdung-rodongjagu from the 1970s, connecting the workers' village to the nearby mine. Two trolleybuses serviced the route.