Tanch'ŏn (Korean pronunciation: [tan.tsʰʌn]) is a port city in northeastern South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea. It has a population of approximately 360,000. Tanch'ŏn borders the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea), into which the Namdae River flows.

Administrative divisions

Tanch'ŏn is divided into 39 tong (neighbourhoods) and 39 ri (villages):

Chich'o-dong Chikchŏl-dong Chŏnjin-dong Haean 1-dong Haean 2-dong Hanggu 1-dong Hanggu 2-dong Hanggu 3-dong Kŭmbong-dong Kŭmgol 1-dong Kŭmgol 2-dong Kŭmgol 3-dong Kŭmsan-dong Kwangch'ŏn-dong Muhak-tong Munhwa-dong Naemun-dong Namp'ung-dong Paeg'am-dong Paekkŭmsan-dong Ponsan-dong Pukch'ŏn-dong Puktu-dong P'ugŏ-dong Ryongdae-dong San'gwang-dong Sao-dong Sindanch'ŏn 1-dong Sindanch'ŏn 2-dong Taehŭng 1-dong Taehŭng 2-dong Taesin-dong T'amsi-dong Tŏkhŭng-dong Tong'am-dong Tonsan-dong Yangch'ŏn-dong Yangsan-dong Yŏng'ung-dongChangnae-ri Chŏngdong-ri Chŭngsal-li Hwajang-ri Kaŭng-ri Kawŏl-li Mun'am-ri Munho-ri O'mong-ri Paeksal-li Pokp'yŏng-ri Ponghwa-ri Rip'a-ri Ryŏngdae-ri Ryongjam-ri Ryŏngsal-li Ryongdŏng-ri Ryonghŭng-ri Ryongyŏl-li Samgŏ-ri Sindong-ri Sinho-ri Sinp'ung-ri Sinp'yŏng-ri Sŏk'u-ri Songjŏng-ri Songp'a-ri Ssangryong-ri Talch'ŏl-li Taptong-ri Tŏkchu-ri Tolsal-li Tuyŏl-li Unch'ŏl-li Wadong-ri Wŏnsal-li Yangp'yŏng-ri Yŏngp'yŏng-ri

Economy

There are extensive mineral resources in the area, including cobalt, magnesite, and iron ore. The city is known for its chemical production, textiles, metal ware, machinery and smelting. The Komdok mine is located in Kumgol-1 dong. The Taehung mine is located in South Hamgyong Province.

The area is also home to the large Tanchon Power Station (under construction as of November 2025), consisting of over 100 kilometres of waterway tunnels and a planned six power stations, that has been under construction since 2017.

Technology

The City of Tanch'ŏn is featured in the PC game Tradewinds.

Transport

Tanch'ŏn is situated on the P'yŏngra Line and the Hŏch'ŏn Line of the Korean State Railway. In 2012 the city's port was renovated and upgraded. Tanch'ŏn port was reconstructed, and a ceremony marking the completion was taken place in December 2012. In the ceremony, a joint congratulatory message sent by the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Cabinet was read to the officials and members of shock brigades who performed labor feats in the construction of the port.

A trolleybus line runs within Tanchon from next to Kumgol station in Kumgol 1-dong to Kumgol 3-dong with a length of over 6 km. The line was opened in 1986 to serve the Komdok mining region though there have been no trolleybuses seen on satellite imagery since 2011.

Wildlife

The population of Chinese gorals in Tanch'ŏn has been designated North Korean natural monument #293.

Climate

Tanchon has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfa).

Climate data for Tanchon
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)1.1 (34.0)2.4 (36.3)6.9 (44.4)13.5 (56.3)18.2 (64.8)20.9 (69.6)24.8 (76.6)26.0 (78.8)22.9 (73.2)17.7 (63.9)10.1 (50.2)3.4 (38.1)14.0 (57.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)−4.4 (24.1)−3.0 (26.6)−1.8 (28.8)7.6 (45.7)12.4 (54.3)16.1 (61.0)20.6 (69.1)22.0 (71.6)17.9 (64.2)11.9 (53.4)4.9 (40.8)−1.7 (28.9)8.5 (47.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−9.8 (14.4)−8.3 (17.1)−3.2 (26.2)1.7 (35.1)6.7 (44.1)11.4 (52.5)16.5 (61.7)18.1 (64.6)13.0 (55.4)6.2 (43.2)−0.3 (31.5)−6.8 (19.8)3.8 (38.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)23 (0.9)18 (0.7)24 (0.9)37 (1.5)53 (2.1)83 (3.3)129 (5.1)156 (6.1)108 (4.3)45 (1.8)47 (1.9)27 (1.1)750 (29.7)
Source: Climate-Data.org

See also

Further reading

  • Dormels, Rainer. North Korea's Cities: Industrial facilities, internal structures and typification. Jimoondang, 2014. ISBN 978-89-6297-167-5

External links