Nampho

Nampho, also spelled Nampo, is a coastal port city in South Pyongan Province, North Korea. It lies at the mouth of the Taedong River on the Yellow Sea, roughly 50 kilometers southwest of Pyongyang. The city serves as an important port and industrial center for the country, handling maritime traffic and hosting various manufacturing facilities.

Historically known as Heungnam, the city was a key port in the Korean War. In December 1950, the Hungnam Evacuation carried tens of thousands of refugees and military dependents by sea from the port, marking a major humanitarian and logistical operation during the conflict.

The economy centers on shipping, fishing, and state-run industries such as fertilizer, cement, and chemical production, with port facilities that have undergone modernization over time. The West Sea Barrage, a large coastal engineering project completed in the 1980s near Nampho, diverts water and creates arable land while preserving a channel for ships to reach the port.

Transportation in and out of Nampho is supported by road and rail connections to Pyongyang and other parts of the country; the city is linked by the P’yŏngnam Line of the North Korean railway system. The port and related industries contribute to the regional economy and provide employment for residents of the city and surrounding areas.

Nampho also hosts various educational and cultural institutions that serve the region, reinforcing its role as a regional economic and logistic hub on North Korea’s west coast.