WThe Amrok River estuary Important Bird Area comprises the North Korean part of the Amrok, or Yalu, estuary, with an area of 7,000 ha, abutting the border with China on the north-eastern coast of the Yellow Sea. The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports up to 20,000 waterbirds. Birds for which the site is significant include swan geese, Baikal teal, black-faced spoonbills, white-naped cranes, red-crowned cranes and Far Eastern curlews. Only 1000 ha of the site is protected in a nature reserve.
WAnbyon Field is a 1000 ha wetland site in Kangwon Province of North Korea. It is one of the state's designated Natural Monuments and has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports a population of endangered red-crowned cranes.
WThe Batoggisem, Dansem and Zamori islands Important Bird Area comprises three small islands, with a collective land area of about 50 ha, in the north-eastern Yellow Sea off the western coast of North Korea. Based on surveys conducted in 1997 and 1998, the site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports small numbers of breeding endangered black-faced spoonbills.
WChilbosan is a mountain in North Hamgyong province, North Korea. The name translates as seven treasures, stemming from the legend that Chilbo-san has seven treasures buried in it. Chilbo-san is particularly noted for its views when covered in snow. The mountain is commonly divided into Inner Chilbo, Outer Chilbo, and Sea Chilbo. Amongst the main attractions apart from the views is the Kaesim Temple, dating from the 9th century.
WChongdan Field is a 1,000 ha wetland protected area in South Hwanghae Province of North Korea. It and its surrounds, including rice paddies, have been identified by BirdLife International as a 2500 ha Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of swan geese, whooper swans, black-faced spoonbills, red-crowned cranes, long-billed plovers, Far Eastern curlews and Nordmann's greenshanks.
WThe Daedong Bay Important Bird Area lies on the north-eastern coast of the Yellow Sea on the west coast of North Korea near the mouth of the Taedong River. It comprises 3,500 ha of marine, intertidal and beach wetlands, encompassing a 2,000 ha protected area. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports significant populations of various birds, including greater white-fronted geese, Oriental storks, black-faced spoonbills, Chinese egrets, great bustards, hooded cranes, red-crowned cranes, Far Eastern curlews, Nordmann's greenshanks and spoon-billed sandpipers. Threats to the site include agricultural intensification and aquacultural development.
WDok-do is a small, rocky island in the north-eastern Yellow Sea lying about 15 km off the western coast of North Korea. It rises to a height of 85 m and has an area of 18 ha. Based on surveys conducted in 1997 and 1998, the site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports small numbers of breeding endangered black-faced spoonbills and vulnerable Chinese egrets. The island has been classified as one of the Natural monuments of South Korea. The main threat to the birds is from human disturbance.
WKangryong Field is a 1200 ha wetland site in South Hwanghae Province of North Korea. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of Oriental storks, black-faced spoonbills, Chinese egrets, red-crowned cranes and spoon-billed sandpipers.
WMount Kumgang or the Kumgang Mountains are a mountain/mountain range, with a 1,638-metre-high (5,374 ft) Birobong peak, in Kangwon-do, North Korea. It is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from the South Korean city of Sokcho in Gangwon-do. It is one of the best-known mountains in North Korea. It is located on the east coast of the country, in Mount Kumgang Tourist Region, formerly part of Kangwŏn Province. Mount Kumgang is part of the Taebaek mountain range which runs along the east of the Korean Peninsula.
WThe Kumya Bay Important Bird Area lies on the eastern coast of North Korea on the Sea of Japan. It comprises 4500 ha of estuarine waters, rivers, and saltpans, encompassing a 2000 ha protected area. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports significant populations of various birds, including swan geese, bean geese, greater white-fronted geese, mute swans, whooper swans, Steller's sea-eagles, white-naped cranes, and red-crowned cranes.
WThe Ryonghung Gang estuary Important Bird Area comprises the 10,000 ha estuary of the Ryonghung River where it flows into the Sea of Japan in South Hamgyong Province on the eastern coast of North Korea. The site contains both estuarine waters and rice paddies. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports an overwintering population of red-crowned cranes.
WLake Bujon National Park lies in the Hamgyong Mountains of northern South Hamgyong Province of North Korea at an altitude of 900–1190 m above sea level. It is a 2600 ha site comprising the freshwater Lake Bujon and adjacent coniferous forest. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports a significant population of vulnerable great bustards.
WLake Kwangpo lies near the coast of South Hamgyong Province of North Korea. A 4,500 hectares site encompassing the lake, including adjacent rice paddies and the 2,000-hectare (4,900-acre) Lake Kwangpo Protected Area, has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of various water- and wetland birds. Birds for which the site is of conservation significance include swan geese, greater white-fronted geese, mute swans, whooper swans, grey herons, Swinhoe's rails, white-naped cranes and red-crowned cranes.
WThe Lake Manpo and Lake Bonpo Important Bird Area lies within the Rason Special Economic Zone on the coast of north-eastern North Korea, close to its borders with both China and Russia. The 5880 ha site comprises the freshwater lakes, which lie about 3 km apart, and encompasses the 3200 ha Lake Manpo and Lake Bonpo Protected Area. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of various water- and wetland birds including swan geese, greater white-fronted geese, whooper swans, Oriental storks, white-naped cranes and red-crowned cranes. It is threatened by planned aquacultural development.
WLake Rangrim, also known as Lake Nangnim, is an artificial lake in the Rangrim Mountains of Chagang Province in northern North Korea. It was formed by damming a river valley to produce hydroelectricity. The lake, with its adjacent temperate broadleaf and mixed forest habitats, has been identified by BirdLife International as an 8,600 hectares Important Bird Area (IBA). The IBA lies at an altitude of 700–1,700 metres (2,300–5,600 ft) above sea level.
WLake Samilpo is an 80 hectare (ha) freshwater lake in south-eastern Kangwon Province in south-eastern North Korea. It lies about 2 kilometers (km) from the coast of the Sea of Japan and 9 km north-west of the border with South Korea. It is one of North Korea's designated Natural Monuments. With its surrounds of temperate broadleaf and mixed forest, Lake Samilpo has also been identified by BirdLife International as a 160 ha Important Bird Area (IBA). The lake supports populations of wintering water and wetland birds. Species using the site include swan geese, greater white-fronted geese, mute swans, whooper swans and red-crowned cranes.
WThe Lake Tungjong and Lake Chonapo Important Bird Area is a 2100 ha site lying on the western shore of the Sea of Japan, about 30 km east of the city of Wonsan in north-eastern Kangwon Province in North Korea. Part of it is protected as one of North Korea's designated Natural Monuments. It comprises two coastal lagoons and was identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA), mainly because it supports populations of wintering water and wetland birds. Species using the site include swan geese, mute swans, whooper swans and red-crowned cranes.
WMayang Reservoir is a 376 hectares artificial lake, or reservoir, lying in the mountains of North Hamgyong Province of North Korea at an altitude of 720 metres (2,360 ft) above sea level. It is one of North Korea's designated Natural Monuments and has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports a population of endangered scaly-sided mergansers.
WThe Mount Myohyang is a mountain in North Korea. It is named after the mystic shapes and fragrances found in the area. It is a sacred site as, according to legend, it was the home of King Tangun, forefather of the Korean people.
WThe Oksem, Dongsolbatsem, Sesolbatsem and Namsolbatsem Islands Important Bird Area comprises a group of small islands, with a collective area of about 50 ha, in the north-eastern Yellow Sea, lying close to the western coast of North Korea. The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports breeding endangered black-faced spoonbills.
WOnchon Field is a 50,000 ha wetland site in South Pyongan Province of North Korea. It contains freshwater wetlands, rice paddies and salt pans. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of swan geese, greater white-fronted geese, whooper swans, black-faced spoonbills, Chinese egrets, great bustards, white-naped cranes, hooded cranes and red-crowned cranes. It is threatened by agricultural intensification, aquacultural development and human disturbance.
WThe Ongjin Bay Important Bird Area lies on the western coast of North Korea on the Yellow Sea, in Ongjin County, South Hwanghae. It comprises 3500 ha of wetlands, including rice paddies, and encompasses a 1000 ha protected area. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports significant populations of various birds, including swan geese, bean geese, greater white-fronted geese, Oriental storks, black-faced spoonbills, white-naped cranes, red-crowned cranes, long-billed plovers and Far Eastern curlews. It is threatened by aquacultural development.
WThe Orangchon River estuary Important Bird Area comprises the 2500 ha estuary of the Orangchon River where it flows into the Sea of Japan in North Hamgyong Province on the north-eastern coast of North Korea.. The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports several waterbird species. Birds for which the site is significant include swan geese, bean geese, greater white-fronted geese, scaly-sided mergansers, white-naped cranes, red-crowned cranes and dunlins. 1500 ha of the site is protected in a nature reserve.
WPaektu Mountain, also known as Baekdu Mountain and in China as Changbai Mountain, is an active stratovolcano on the Chinese–North Korean border. At 2,744 m (9,003 ft), it is the highest mountain of the Changbai and Baekdudaegan ranges. Koreans assign a mythical quality to the volcano and its caldera lake, considering it to be their country's spiritual home. It is the highest mountain in Korea and Northeast China.
WPanmun Field is an 8000 ha wetland site in southern North Hwanghae Province of North Korea, close to the city of Kaesong and the border with South Korea. It contains mainly rice paddies. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of swan geese, greater white-fronted geese, white-naped cranes, hooded cranes and red-crowned cranes. It is threatened by human disturbance.
WThe Rab-do and Muki-do Islands Important Bird Area comprises a group of two small islands, with a collective area of 40 ha, in the north-eastern Yellow Sea, lying close to the western coast of North Korea. The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports vulnerable Chinese egrets. The site has been designated one of North Korea's Natural Monuments.
WThe Sogam-do, Daegam-do, Zung-do, Ae-do and Hyengzedo Islands Important Bird Area comprises a group of small islands, with a collective area of 18 ha, in the north-eastern Yellow Sea, lying close to the western coast of North Korea. The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports breeding endangered black-faced spoonbills as well as vulnerable Chinese egrets and up to 850 Far Eastern curlews as passage migrants. The site has been designated one of North Korea's Natural Monuments.
WThe Taedong River estuary Important Bird Area is an 11,500 ha site in southern South Pyongan Province of North Korea, where the Taedong River meets the Yellow Sea. It has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of various waterbirds. These include swan geese, mute swans, whooper swans, Baikal teals, Steller's sea-eagles, red-crowned cranes and Saunders's gulls. The site comprises a range of wetlands including freshwater lakes, salt pans and rice paddies. Threats to the IBA include agricultural intensification and aquacultural development.
WUnmu-do is an 80 ha island in the north-eastern Yellow Sea lying about 19 km off the western coast of North Korea. The site has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports endangered black-faced spoonbills.
WŬllyul Kŭmsanp'o is an 800 ha wetland wildlife reserve on the north-eastern shore of the Yellow Sea, on the west coast of North Korea in Ŭllyul County, South Hwanghae Province south of the estuary of the Taedong River. The site forms the core of a 1400 ha Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by BirdLife International because, with adjacent rice paddies, it supports populations of migrating and wintering water and wetland birds. Species using the site include swan geese, whooper swans, black-faced spoonbills, Chinese egrets, red-crowned cranes and Nordmann's greenshanks. The IBA is threatened by agricultural intensification.