Hwanggumpyong Island

Hwanggumpyong
Interactive map of Hwanggumpyong
Geography
LocationYalu River
Coordinates39°58′N 124°19′E / 39.96°N 124.31°E / 39.96; 124.31
Area11.45 km2 (4.42 sq mi)
Administration
North P'yŏngan
Sindo County
 Republic of Korea (claimed)
North Pyeongan
County-level division
Yongcheon
Myeon
Sindo
Demographics
Ethnic groupsKoreans

Hwanggumpyong (Korean: 황금평, simplified Chinese: 黄金坪; traditional Chinese: 黃金坪; pinyin: Huángjīnpíng), formerly called Hwanggumpyong Island (Korean: 황금평도, simplified Chinese: 黄金坪岛; traditional Chinese: 黃金坪島; pinyin: Huángjīnpíng Dǎo), is a North Korean free-trade zone bordering China. The area used to be a tidal island in the Yalu River. However, due to continuous deposition of river-borne sediments, the northern portion of the former island is now permanently connected with the Chinese city of Dandong. A steel mesh fence has been built to mark the land border between North Korea and China.

Due to ethnic Koreans living on the island at the time of a 1962 border treaty, both China and North Korea agreed that the sovereignty of the island belongs to North Korea. The former river island is now a North Korean exclave on the otherwise Chinese side of the river. The agreement is not recognized by South Korea, who continues to claim this island in accordance with its constitution[citation needed].

History

In June 2011, an agreement, negotiated by Gao Jingde, of Sunbase International Holdings Ltd, with China was made to establish a joint free-trade area on Hwanggumpyong and Wihwa Islands, as well as the Chinese border area near Dandong. By 2013, the site had been prepared, and a free-trade area of over 300 acres (120 ha) may be ready for operation in about two years.

References

  1. ↑ 韩媒体称朝鲜将两个岛租给中国 拟打造朝版香港 (in Chinese)
  2. ↑ Jeong Woo-sang (10 June 2011). "What Is Hwanggumpyong Island?". Digital Chosun. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  3. ↑ Kim, Young-gyo (20 June 2011). "Hong Kong conglomerate likely to be tapped as developer of N. Korean island: report". Yonhap News Agency.
  4. ↑ Robert Kelley; Michael Zagurek; Bradley O. Babson (19 February 2012). "PRC's Embrace of North Korea: The Curious Case of the Hwanggumpyong Island Economic Zone". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  5. ↑ Nick Hansen; Jeffrey Lewis (17 June 2013). "New Construction Activity at the Hwanggumpyong Economic Zone". 38 North. U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Retrieved 22 June 2013.