Introduction
Nampo (Namp’o or Nampho) is an industrial port city in North Korea on the west coast of the Korean Peninsula. Designated as a ‘special city’, Nampo sits on the northern banks of the Taedong River estuary and serves as the primary foreign trade gateway and satellite city to North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang. It’s North Korea’s second-largest city by population with 1 million people. Once a humble fishing village, Nampo has developed into a modern hub of commercial shipbuilding, steel production, and commodities manufacture. Beyond the docks, Nampo spans a wide rural area of 5 districts and 2 counties which are highlighted by cooperative farms, World Heritage Listed archeological relics, and even North Korea’s only golf course.
What's Nampo famous for?
The jewel of Nampo is the West Sea Barrage, an 8km wide tidal wall closing off the Taedong River from the West Sea of Korea. The dam’s construction was a nationwide effort, taking 5 years and at great cost, and is a revered achievement of North Korea that’s often depicted in state media. The barrage was built for three purposes; to prevent saltwater intrusion into the fresh water supply, to improve irrigation of farmland in the area, and to regulate water levels to combat flooding.
The Chollima Steel Complex, North Korea’s most distinguished factory, and the acclaimed Chongsanri Cooperative Farm are both in Nampo. They are renowned for creating the ‘Chollima Movement’ and the ‘Chongsanri Method’, two revolutionary principles credited as major contributors to socialist construction.
Seafood remains key to Nampo identity and its locally famous grey mullet soup and unique petrol clambake are a must-try on a visit to the city!
What's the history of Nampo?
Nampo (then Chinnampo) was established as a port by the Japanese Empire during the Sino-Japanese War, and opened to foreign shipping in 1897, making it an attractive base for industry. Rapid urbanization followed, and by 1934, under Japanese colonization, Chinnampo had become the third-largest port on the Korean peninsula and a foundation to Japan’s imperialist ambition.
After liberation in 1945, the name was reverted to Nampo to shed colonial influences, and significant state investment turned Nampo into a major seaport facilitating foreign trade. Nampo was heavily bombed in the Korean War and subsequent nation-building efforts transformed Nampo into North Korea’s largest international cargo port and a contemporary industrial and agricultural center.
Due to its economic importance, Nampo was reassigned as a province-independent ‘special’ city in 2010. This expanded city bounds which boosted its population from roughly 400,000 to 1 million people.
How do you get to Nampo?
By Road:
From Pyongyang – Nampo is located 55km from Pyongyang and is connected by the Youth Hero Motorway, the widest road in North Korea spanning 10 lanes. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes.
The Youth Hero Highway is a venerated project in North Korea having been constructed by youth volunteers in less than two years without any machinery, the name commemorates their efforts. The highway opened to traffic on October 11, 2000 to mark the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and is reported to be 42.216km long, representing Chairman Kim Jong Il’s birthday, February 16, 1942
From Mt. Kuwol – Nampo can be approached from the south by crossing the West Sea Barrage from Mt. Kuwol. This option is uncommon, as you’re required to cross the barrage either before 10am, or after 6pm.
What’s the weather like in Nampo?
Nampo is situated on the flat cultivated plains of the Taedong River basin; a coastal, southern position providing a relatively mild climate. The average annual temperature is 10℃. Average winter lows range from -7℃ in January/February when severe cold spells have historically lead to Nampo’s port freezing over, to average summer highs of 27℃ in July/August when Nampo becomes ideal for beach getaways and a dip in the marginally warmer waters than on the east coast. Nampo sees relatively low rainfall with 900mm annual precipitation, of which roughly 50% falls in July/August.
How do I include Nampo in my itinerary?
Most sights in Nampo are not within the metropolitan or port area but scattered across the rural and industrial reaches of the city.
Day trip: Nampo’s proximity to Pyongyang makes it ideal for day trips. Depart in the morning onto the Youth Hero Motorway and take detours to sights such as the Chongsanri Cooperative Farm, Chollima Steel Complex, Kangso Mineral Water Factory, Taean Glass Factory, or Kangso Three Tombs. Enjoy a seafood lunch in Nampo city and visit the West Sea Barrage before returning to the capital.
Overnight trip: If time permits, Nampo is best visited as an overnight trip as it’s time-efficient and opens flexibility to continued itineraries into the southwest. After the day trip outlined above, retire to either the lodging at Pyongyang Golf Course, or continue to Onchon County for overnight at the Ryonggang Spa House. Visit the West Sea Barrage early the next morning and cross the barrage en route to southwest destinations such as Mt. Kuwol, Sinchon, Sariwon, and Haeju. Alternatively, return to Pyongyang.
Multi-night trip: All tourist sights in Nampo can be covered with an overnight excursion. Beyond leisure stays at Pyongyang Golf Course (located en route), there’s little reason to stay multiple nights at Nampo for tourism.