Jump to content

Download GPX file for this article
40.17128.46Full screen dynamic map
From Wikivoyage

Bipaseom near Rason.

The Donghae Coast (Korean: 동해 연안) is a region of North Korea stretching along the entire east coast of the North Korean part of the peninsula. It encompasses the provinces of North Hamgyong, South Hamgyong and Kangwon as well as the special Rason city region.

Cities

[edit]
Map
Map of Donghae Coast
  • 1 Chongjin
  • 2 Hamhung
  • 3 Rason - Special Economic Zone slowly opening up North Korea to capitalism
  • 4 Wonsan - Port city in the South

Other destinations

[edit]
  • 1 Kŭmgangsan (Diamond Mountain) Tourist Region
  • Hoeryong
  • Kimchaek
  • Munchon
  • Namyang
  • Sinpo
  • Tanchon

Understand

[edit]

Donghae is the Korean name for the "East Sea" (Generally known internationally as the "Sea of Japan"). The coast stretches for about 800 kilometers northwest from the border with South Korea to the Russian border at Tumangan/Khasan.

The northern part of the region contains the site of some of North Korea's nuclear tests (near Kimchaek) it should come as no surprise that traveling around here independently, or even just traveling, is not going to be easy.

Rason to north and Wonsan to the south are both possible tour group destinations, as well as the Kŭmgangsan 'diamond mountain' tourist destination.

Get in

[edit]

There are occasional flights to Wonsan (WOS IATA) and Chongjin (RGO IATA) with Air Koryo using a fleet of veteran Soviet era planes. You need to be a high-ranking North Korean official to book a spot on those flights and so you are at the mercy of the whims of your travel agent.

Slightly more possible is catching a train, there is a railway running along the entire coast connecting to the Russian railway at the border town of Khasan. From Khasan it's possible to book trips as far as Rason through Russian Tour companies, since this is a special economic zone. Through service to Pyongyang via the Donghae coast is not available to foreigners, although unauthorized journeys have been made before.

Get around

[edit]

See

[edit]
  • Chilbosan (Chilbo Mountain)
  • Kaesim Temple
  • Taeungchŏn (Tae-ung Hall).
  • Kwanŭmchŏn (Kwan-ŭm Hall).
  • Simgŏmtang (Sim-gŏm Hall).
  • Ŭmhyanggak (Ŭm-hyang Shrine).
  • Sansingak (San-sin Shrine).
  • Manseru (Man-se Pavilion).
  • Donghae Waterfall.

Do

[edit]

Eat

[edit]

Drink

[edit]

Stay safe

[edit]

Go next

[edit]
This region travel guide to Donghae Coast is an outline and may need more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow!