Hambakdo (Korean: 함박도) or Hambaksom[1] is an island in Yonan County, South Hwanghae Province, North Korea.[2][3]
| Hambakdo | |
| Hangul | 함박도 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Hambakdo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hambakdo |
| Hambaksom | |
| Hangul | 함박섬 |
| Hanja | 咸朴섬 |
| Revised Romanization | Hambakseom |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hambaksŏm |
Background
editThe 1953 Armistice Agreement, which was signed by both North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC),[4] ended the Korean War and specified that all islands in former Hwanghae Province except the five islands including Yeonpyeong Island and Baengnyeong Island would remain under the control of the UNC and South Korea.
However, they did not agree on a maritime demarcation line, primarily because the UNC wanted to base it on 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) of territorial waters, while North Korea wanted to use 12 nautical miles (22 km).[5]
The five islands were Yeonpyeong Island, Baengnyeongdo, Daecheongdo, Socheongdo and U Island. However, U Island was actually part of Ganghwa County since 1918. Also, South Korea is not a signatory of the 1953 Armistice Agreement.
In 1965, there was a clash in this island South Korean fishermen caught clams on the island. North Korea detained and eventually returned the fishermen. South Korea claimed that Hambakdo is a part of Ganghwa County.[6][7][8][9]
South Korea registered Hambakdo to Tract index in 1978. Hambakdo was uninhabited until 2017. In 2019, South Korean newspaper noticed that there are North Korean military buildings in Hambakdo. It caused huge debates in South Korea.[10]
On September 5, 2019, Chosun Ilbo reported that the island has a radar with range of 30 to 60 kilometers.[11]
South Korean government on September 18, 2019, confirmed that no offensive weapons are on the island.[12]
Board of Audit and Inspection confirmed claims made by South Korean government that Hambakdo is north of northern limit line and is a North Korean island.[13][14]
References
edit- ^ 한국지명총람 17권 [Compendium of Korean Geographical Names, Volume 17] (PDF) (in Korean). Vol. 17. Korean Language Society. p. 111. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
- ^ Sin, Seonmin (2019-07-31). "[취재후] "'우리 땅' 함박도에 북한군 주둔"?…빌미 준 정부" [[After the coverage] "North Korean troops stationed on Hambak Island, 'our land'"?... The government gave an excuse]. KBS (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-09-02.
- ^ Gang, Jonggu (2019-09-02). "'북한 땅' 서해 함박도…행정구역상 1978년 강화군에 등록" [Hambak Island in the West Sea, 'North Korea land'… Registered in Ganghwa-gun in 1978 in terms of administrative district]. Yonhap (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-09-07.
- ^ Armistice Agreement, paragraph 13(b)."Transcript of Armistice Agreement for the Restoration of the South Korean State (1953)". Our Documents. 1953-07-27. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
- ^ Bong Ryoo, Moo (11 March 2009). The Korean Armistice and the Islands (PDF). Strategy research project (Report). U.S. Army War College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ^ "함박도에서 조개 캐던 서해 어민 집단 납북" [A group of West Sea fishermen who were digging for clams in Hambak Island were kidnapped by North Korea]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). 1965-11-01. Retrieved 2024-02-22 – via NAVER News library.
- ^ "납북 어민 송환" [Repatriation of kidnapped fishermen]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 1965-11-20. Retrieved 2024-02-22 – via NAVER News library.
- ^ "억류 어민 3명 어제 귀환…2명만은 계속 억류" [Three detained fishermen returned yesterday... Only two people remain detained]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 1965-12-28. Retrieved 2024-02-22 – via NAVER News library.
- ^ "네이버 뉴스 라이브러리" [Naver News Library]. NAVER News library (in Korean).
- ^ "'함박도'에 북한군 시설 들어가 있는 이유는?" [Why are North Korean military facilities located on Hambak Island?]. The Kookje Daily News (in Korean).
- ^ "Radar on Hambak Island 'Could Spy on Incheon Airport'". 2019-09-05.
- ^ "No attack weapons deployed on N. Korea's Hambak Island in Yellow Sea: Seoul ministry". 18 September 2019.
- ^ "감사원 "함박도는 북한 관할" 정부 주장 재확인" [Board of Audit and Inspection reaffirms government claim that "Hambak Island is under North Korean jurisdiction"]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 15 July 2020.
- ^ "감사원, '함박도는 북한 관할 영토' 정부 주장 재확인" [Board of Audit and Inspection reaffirms government claim that Hambak Island is North Korean territory] (in Korean). 31 March 2020.