Jo May 11, 2025
Chongbaek Juniper growing in Chongbaek-ri, Kumya County, South Hamgyong Province was planted around 1550. It is 10 meters tall, with the root collar of 5.4 meters round and the canopy of 18 meters from east to west and 21 meters from north to south.
At the height of 50 centimeters, it spreads in three big branches that are 2.6 meters, 2.1 meters and 2.2 meters round, respectively.
It looks like a collection of small clouds from a short distance and like a large furled umbrella from a long distance.
The oldest and largest tree on the eastern coast is a natural monument that is significant for studying the size and age of juniper trees and adds beauty to this area.
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Jo May 7, 2025
The Ancestral Apple Tree is in Ryongjon-ri, Pukchong County of North Hamgyong Province, a place famous for apples.
In October, 1959, President
In June, 2002, Chairman
This long-lived apple tree over the age of 100 is still growing healthily.
Its root collar is 1.2 meters round and the canopy is as wide as 6 meters. It blossoms in May with long and deep green leaves.
This oldest tree in our country is a precious natural monument of significance for judging the maximum age of apples and studying the characteristics of their varieties.
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Jo May 5, 2025
Among the precious and beautiful natural monuments in the DPRK is Kimhwa Elm Tree.
Kimhwa Elm Tree, growing on the shore of the Kumsong River about one kilometer south-east of the seat of Kimhwa County of Kangwon Province, is 500-odd years old.
It is 21 meters tall, with the root collar of 5.7 meters round, the chest-height of 5.2 meters round and the canopy of about 22 meters.
The first branches stretch southwards at the height of 4.5 meters while the second and the third ones stretch westwards and southwards at the heights of 7 and 10 meters, respectively.
It has a total of 12 big branches.
This large old tree adds natural beauty to the surroundings and it is of great significance in the academic research.
The natural monument, Kimhwa Elm Tree, is still growing vigorously, further enriching the treasure house of the natural cultural heritage.
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Jo Apr 9, 2025
Kwimyon Rock is beside the Samson Rock in the Manmulsang District of Outer Kumgang of Mt. Kumgang.
President
Kwimyon Rock is one of the rocks of fantastic shape standing together with Samson Rock and Tokson Rock. The curious stone on the top of the rock pillar looks like it is on the verge of falling down, which is so eye-catching.
The plants with their roots fastened deep into the cracks in the rock flower in spring and are tinged with red in autumn, which adds beauty to this area.
Kwimyon Rock is a natural monument of great academic significance, which enhances the beauty of the surrounding scenery.
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Jo Apr 5, 2025
Maktae Rock is about 700 meters away in the direction of Pangung-ri from the seat of Namap-ri, Yomju County, North Phyongan Province.
There is a low hill in the east and a vast paddy field in the west of the rock, and several kilometers away from the field is the West Sea of Korea.
It is a mysterious standing rock whose covering layer was washed and cut by rain and wind during the long geological period to expose the red felsic dyke in its interior by abrasion and weathering.
The rock is ten meters tall and sixteen meters round at the bottom.
Although it looks as if it was going to fall down, it is well balanced. This old rock has many cracks.
It is well known from long ago as it is seen even several kilometers away.
It is a natural monument of great significance in studying the weathering of red felsite, and abrasion and coastal sedimentation constantly happening at the boundary between the sea and the land.
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Jo Apr 1, 2025
From olden times, the Korean ancestors have created and carried forward several customs suited to the warm seasonal features of April.
The seasonal divisions of April include chongmyong and kogu.
Chongmyong literally means the beginning of clear bright spring weather.
When chongmyong was approaching, our people cleared out all the traces of winter, and sowed various kinds of flower seeds in the garden and planted fruit trees around the house. In the countryside, they soaked rice seeds in water to sow them in the seedbed before chongmyong. They usually started spring sowing that day.
On the occasion of chongmyong, our people visited or moved the tombs of their ancestors.
Typical dishes for the day are steamed wheat flour cake, shredded green gram paste and seasoned edible herbs such as bracken, fern, aralia shoots and anise.
Chongmyong usually falls between April 4 and 6.
Kogu means the time when the rain useful for the growth of crops falls.
Our people were busy with farming at this time since it was an important period governing the successful farming of the year. On the day of kogu they sowed seeds of rice, foxtail millet, sweet potato, sesame, etc.
In the period around chongmyong and kogu, our people played several folk games and did fishing in rivers and seas.
Kogu falls around April 20 according to the solar calendar.
As mentioned above, the Korean people have created and carried forward several customs suited to the seasonal features of April from long ago.
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