Taedong

The Taedong River, also transliterated as Daedong River, is a major river in western North Korea. It flows generally southwest from its headwaters in the western mountains, through the capital city of Pyongyang, and empties into the Yellow Sea near the port town of Nampo. The name derives from the Korean characters 大東, meaning "great east."

As Pyongyang's primary watercourse, the Taedong River has long supported the city’s water supply, irrigation, and industry. The river basin drains portions of several western provinces and collects rainfall across the region, with seasonal variations in flow and water level.

Hydroelectric facilities and reservoirs along the river help regulate discharge, provide power, and support agriculture. The river also supports fisheries and local tourism along its banks, including parks and promenades that are well known to residents and visitors.

Historically, the Taedong has been a strategic and economic lifeline for western Korea. It has shaped settlement patterns around Pyongyang and played a role in regional defense and logistics, including during periods of conflict in the 20th century.

Environmental concerns along the river include pollution from urban runoff and industrial activity, and flood risk in the lower reaches. Management efforts focus on water quality, flood control, and sustainable use of the river’s resources.