Tokchon
Encyclopedia
Tokchon is a si
, or city, in northern South Pyongan province, North Korea
. It is bordered by Yongwon and Maengsan
to the east, Kujang
to the north, Kaechon
to the west and Pukchang
to the south. It is home to the Sungri Motor Plant
, established in 1950, and various other small factories.
The Sungri Motor Plant
(and associated workshops) have been one of the few domestic sources of both low-cost replicas of foreign passenger cars and military-service trucks in North Korea; developed through the massive militarization campaigns of Kim-Il Sung in the 1970s and 80s.
However, the total depletion of foreign credit by the end of the 1980s caused the manufacturing industry to rapidly implode; the supply of steel for metalworking at Sungri slowed to a trickle, and even when available, the production lines suffered from regular power outages. The severe famine in the countryside had also caused a mass exodus of starving peasants to the cities, further straining food supplies and worker productivity. 20,000 cars and trucks were made in Tokchon in 1980, by 1996 the number was just 150, all of which were Army trucks, some later modified as rocket artillery
launchers.
Administrative divisions of North Korea
The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels. Many of the units have equivalents in the system of South Korea. At the highest level are nine provinces, two directly governed cities, and three special administrative divisions. The second-level divisions...
, or city, in northern South Pyongan province, North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. It is bordered by Yongwon and Maengsan
Maengsan
Maengsan is a county of the province of South Pyongan in North Korea.-Administrative districts:The district is split into one ŭp and 24 ri .-External links:...
to the east, Kujang
Kujang
Kujang is a kun, or county, in southeastern North Pyongan province, North Korea. It was created in 1952 from part of Nyongbyon county, as part of a nationwide reorganization of local government...
to the north, Kaechon
Kaechon
Kaech'ŏn is a city in South Pyongan Province, North Korea. Kaechon's coordinates are .-Geography:The Myohyangsan, Changansan, Ch'ŏnsŏngsan, and Ch'ŏngryongsan mountain ranges come together in Kaechon. The highest peak is Paekt'apsan. The most important rivers are the Ch'ŏngch'ŏn River and the...
to the west and Pukchang
Pukchang
Pukchang is a county of the province of South Pyongan in North Korea.In this county is the country's largest power station- Pukchang coal power station - with a production capacity of up to 1600 MW.-Administrative districts:...
to the south. It is home to the Sungri Motor Plant
Sungri Motor Plant
Sungri Motor Plant is a 600,000m2 vehicle factory opened in November 1950 as the Tokchon Motor Plant in the city of Tokchon , North Korea. In 1975, it was renamed Sungri Motor Plant . It is most powerful plant of North Korean automotive industry...
, established in 1950, and various other small factories.
The Sungri Motor Plant
Sungri Motor Plant
Sungri Motor Plant is a 600,000m2 vehicle factory opened in November 1950 as the Tokchon Motor Plant in the city of Tokchon , North Korea. In 1975, it was renamed Sungri Motor Plant . It is most powerful plant of North Korean automotive industry...
(and associated workshops) have been one of the few domestic sources of both low-cost replicas of foreign passenger cars and military-service trucks in North Korea; developed through the massive militarization campaigns of Kim-Il Sung in the 1970s and 80s.
However, the total depletion of foreign credit by the end of the 1980s caused the manufacturing industry to rapidly implode; the supply of steel for metalworking at Sungri slowed to a trickle, and even when available, the production lines suffered from regular power outages. The severe famine in the countryside had also caused a mass exodus of starving peasants to the cities, further straining food supplies and worker productivity. 20,000 cars and trucks were made in Tokchon in 1980, by 1996 the number was just 150, all of which were Army trucks, some later modified as rocket artillery
Rocket artillery
Rocket artillery is a type of artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortars.Types of rocket artillery pieces include multiple rocket launchers.-History:...
launchers.
See also
- List of secondary subdivisions of North Korea
- Geography of North KoreaGeography of North KoreaNorth Korea is located in east Asia on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea shares a border with three states, including China along the Amnok River, Russia along the Duman River, and South Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone...
- South Pyongan