# Kimchaek

Kimch'aek (Korean pronunciation:), formerly Sŏngjin (Chosŏn'gŭl: 성진, Hancha: 城津), is a city in North Hamgyong Province, North Korea. It was an open port in 1899. It has a population of 207,699.

## Etymology

The city received its current name in 1951 during the Korean War, in honor of the Korean People's Army (KPA) general, Kim Chaek. It was known as Jōshin during Japanese rule between 1910 and 1945.

## Climate

Kimchaek has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfb).
Climate data for Kimchaek (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1906–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.0 (57.2) | 16.7 (62.1) | 27.8 (82.0) | 35.2 (95.4) | 34.0 (93.2) | 34.3 (93.7) | 37.0 (98.6) | 36.6 (97.9) | 32.9 (91.2) | 30.2 (86.4) | 23.7 (74.7) | 17.8 (64.0) | 37.0 (98.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) | 3.2 (37.8) | 8.0 (46.4) | 14.2 (57.6) | 18.0 (64.4) | 21.0 (69.8) | 24.7 (76.5) | 26.5 (79.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.2 (64.8) | 10.6 (51.1) | 4.1 (39.4) | 14.5 (58.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −3.3 (26.1) | −1.7 (28.9) | 2.9 (37.2) | 8.4 (47.1) | 12.6 (54.7) | 16.9 (62.4) | 21.0 (69.8) | 22.6 (72.7) | 18.8 (65.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 5.3 (41.5) | −1.1 (30.0) | 9.6 (49.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) | −6.5 (20.3) | −1.5 (29.3) | 3.8 (38.8) | 8.8 (47.8) | 14.1 (57.4) | 18.6 (65.5) | 19.6 (67.3) | 14.5 (58.1) | 7.5 (45.5) | 0.5 (32.9) | −5.7 (21.7) | 5.5 (41.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −26.0 (−14.8) | −20.0 (−4.0) | −15.0 (5.0) | −7.1 (19.2) | −0.5 (31.1) | 1.0 (33.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 10.6 (51.1) | 2.8 (37.0) | −4.0 (24.8) | −16.6 (2.1) | −25.1 (−13.2) | −26.0 (−14.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 16.7 (0.66) | 12.7 (0.50) | 16.1 (0.63) | 33.0 (1.30) | 60.5 (2.38) | 61.5 (2.42) | 147.4 (5.80) | 136.7 (5.38) | 81.8 (3.22) | 41.5 (1.63) | 36.0 (1.42) | 20.8 (0.82) | 664.7 (26.17) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 5.5 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 5.0 | 6.9 | 7.8 | 9.9 | 8.8 | 5.4 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 70.3 |
| Average snowy days | 7.2 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 5.6 | 24.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 65.4 | 67.3 | 69.2 | 69.9 | 78.7 | 85.7 | 88.2 | 85.8 | 79.0 | 71.7 | 66.5 | 63.3 | 74.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 173 | 197 | 231 | 225 | 222 | 141 | 141 | 173 | 207 | 218 | 172 | 161 | 2,261 |
| Source 1: Korea Meteorological Administration ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (sun, 1961–1990), Meteo Climat (extremes) ||||||||||||||

## Administrative divisions

Kimch'aek-si is divided into 22 tong (neighbourhoods) and 22 ri (villages):
| Changhyŏn-dong Chegang 1-dong Chegang 2-dong Chegang 3-dong Ch'ŏnghak-tong Haean-dong Haksŏng-dong Hanch'ŏn-dong Kŭmch'ŏn-dong Ŏb'ŏk-tong Ryŏnho-dong Sinp'yŏng-dong Sŏngnam-dong Songryŏng 1-dong Songryŏng 2-dong Song'am-dong Ssangryong-dong Suwŏn-dong Taedong 1-dong Taedong 2-dong T'anso-dong Yŏkchŏn-dong | Ch'undong-ri Haktong-ri Hodong-ri Hŭngp'yŏng-ri Manch'ul-li Okch'ŏl-li Panghang-ri P'ungnyŏl-li Rimmyŏng-ri Ryongho-ri Sangp'yŏng-ri Sech'ŏl-li Sŏkho-ri Songhŭng-ri Songjung-ri Sŏngsang-ri Sudong-ri Tŏg'il-li Tonghŭng-ri T'apha-ri Ŭnho-ri Wŏnp'yŏng-ri |

## Economy

Kimchaek is an important port on the Sea of Japan (East Sea of Korea), and is home to an ironworks and the Kimch’aek Polytechnic Institute.

## Transport

Kimchaek is on the Pyongra Line railway.
The city has one trolleybus line, with a length of 9.1 km, running from Songnam-dong to Haksong-dong with the depot located in Sinpyong-dong.

## Sport

Wolmido Sports Club, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of North Korea, play at the Kimchaek Municipal Stadium, which has a capacity of 30,000. The men's team plays in the DPR Korea Premier Football League, whilst the women's team plays in the DPR Korea Women's League.