Chongchon River

The Ch'ŏngch'ŏn is a river of North Korea having its source in the Rangrim Mountains of Chagang Province and emptying into the Yellow Sea at Sinanju. The river flows past Myohyang-san and through the city of Anju, South P'yŏngan Province. Its total length is 217 km (135 mi), and it drains a basin of 9,553 km² (3,688 sq mi).

Important Bird Area

The river’s estuary has been identified by BirdLife International as an 8000 ha (19,768 acre) Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports significant numbers of the populations of various bird species. These include swan geese, bean geese, whooper swans, Oriental storks, black-faced spoonbills, Chinese egrets, great bustards, white-naped cranes, hooded cranes, red-crowned cranes, Far Eastern curlews and spotted greenshanks. The site includes the 800 ha (1,977 acre) Mundok Nature Reserve.^[1]

North Korea is building 10 new hydroelectric dams on the Chongchon River to spur rapid development,.^[2]

In 612, Goguryeo defeated the Sui army at the Battle of Salsu (Ch'ongch'on) River in the Goguryeo-Sui Wars.
In late November 1950, the Chinese army decisively defeated the UNC forces at the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River, ensuring the existence of North Korea during the Korean War.
U.S. Army defector Joseph T. White was reported to have drowned in this North Korean river according to a letter dated 22 August 1985 which had been sent to his family.

Map of North Korea showing the Ch'ŏngch'ŏn River.
Up to the Chongchon, Ch. 32 of South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu by Roy E. Appleman (Korean War history).
Appearance of Chongchon River basin changes beyond recognition. KCNA, May 29, 2002.

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