Hamhung

Hamhung (Korean: 함흥시; Hanja: 咸興市) is a city in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). It is the capital of South Hamgyong Province and the second biggest city in DPRK, with a population of approximately 800,000. The city serves as an important industrial center and port on the east coast of Korea.

Hamhung is home to the Hamhung Grand Theatre, Hamhung Central Square, the South Hamgyong History Museum, Tongbong Cooperative farm, the Ancient Home of Ri Song Gye (first king of the Ri Dynasty), and Hungnam Fertilizer Factory. In addition, the Pujon Highlands are located about 3 hours northeast of the city, location of the scenic Pujon stone river as well as being an area used as a base for anti-Japanese guerrilla fighters during the colonial occupation by Imperial Japan. Other nearby features are Mt. Tonghung and Majon Beach.

The bomb squad that covers Hamhung (and South Hamgyong Province overall) reported handling 2,900 leftover explosives in the year of 2016, leftover from the United States's bomb attacks on DPRK during the Fatherland Liberation War. The Hamhung area and the nearby port of Hungnam were hit particularly hard by U.S. bombers because they were an industrial center and home to the largest nitrogen fertilizer plant in Asia. Later rebuilt, the fertilizer plant is still functioning today and remains one of Hamhung’s most famous landmarks. Hungnam Fertilizer Factory produces various kinds of industrial-grade fertilizers for use within in the DPRK. The plant also features a monument to Chinese premier Zhou Enlai to commemorate his contributions to the plant. Zhou had visited the museum in the 1970s and sent sizeable Chinese aid to rebuild the fertilizer industry and his widow visited the factory again after he passed away.