Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Kwanmo-bong

A "confession" by a senior North official published in January 2002 suggested that Kwanmo-bong, the second highest mountain in the North, had been "hollowed out at night, sandbag by sandbag, for a secret nuclear plant."

Nearly a third of north Korea's famous hot springs are located in North Hamgyong Province. Popular sightseeing spots include Kwanmo Peak, Mt. Wangjae, Mt. Tonghung and Mt. Chilbo.

The land around Paektu-san near the China border is volcanic in origin and includes a basalt lava plateau with elevations of between 1,400 and 2,000 meters above sea level. The Hamgyng Range, located in the extreme northeastern part of the peninsula, has many high peaks including Kwanmo-san at approximately 1,756 meters.

Brown bears can be found in the alpine forests thousands of hectares wide around Kwanmo Peak (2,540 metres above sea level) that towers on the border between Maehyang-ri in Kyongsong county and Sampho-ri in Yonsa county, North Hamgyong Province. They are under international protection.

Special plants are being continuously discovered in Korea. More than 600 species of special plants have been found in Korea. Among them, grasses are of some 500 species and trees about 100 species. These plants are growing on high mountains, islets and other places including Mt. Paektu, Kwanmo Peak and Mts. Myohyang, Kumgang and Kuwol. Rheum coreanum nak is a perennial grass of the smartweed family that grow in the alpine areas at least 2,000 meters above sea level, including Kwanmo and Chail peaks. It is nicknamed "king grass" for its height of two meters (2.5 meters at most) and magnificent appearance.