NORTH KOREA

NORTH KOREA / 북조선 - 북한 - 北朝

Mountain landscapes.
Waterfall on Mount Myohyang.
Third stamp in a set of 4, issued 09.09.1973.
Face value: 10 North Korean chon.
Printing: Offset lithography.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 1191.
- Scott No. 1138.
- StampWorld No. 1218.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1167.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1110.

The Mount Myohyang (Hangul: 묘향산 ["Mysterious Fragrant Mountain"]), 1,909 m (6,263 ft) high, 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 Dangun, forefather of the Korean people. Much of the mountain is covered by mixed broadleaf and coniferous forest and protected in a 16,000 hectares (62 sq mi) national park. Some 7,000 hectares (27 sq mi) have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA). In 2009 UNESCO designated this mountain a world biosphere reserve, citing its cultural significance as well as the spectacular cliffs providing habitat for 30 endemic plant species, 16 plant species that are globally threatened and 12 endangered animal species.

NORTH KOREA

NORTH KOREA / 북조선 - 북한 - 北朝鮮.

Kŭmgangsan ('Diamond Mountains).
Ch'ilchŏng Rock.
Last stamp in a set of 5, issued on 01.11.1973.
Face value: 40 chon.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Size: 45 x 32 mm.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 1205.
- Scott No. 1155.
- StampWorld No. 1232.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1184.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1114.

Kŭmgangsan (Korean: 금강산, 'Diamond Mountains) is a mountainous massif that is part of the Taebaek mountain range, which crosses the Korean peninsula from north to south. Its highest peak is the Birobong at 1,638 m (5,374 ft). It is located in the extreme southeast of North Korea, just a few kilometers from the border with South Korea. It has different names for each season: in summer it is called Pongraesan (봉래산, "the place where a spirit lives"); in autumn, Phung'aksan (풍악산, "great mountain of colored leaves"); in winter, Kaegolsan (개골산, "stone bone mountain"). Kŭmgangsan has been known for its scenic beauty since ancient times and is the subject of many literary and art works.

NORTH KOREA

NORTH KOREA / 북조선 - 북한 - 北朝鮮

Mount Chitbo (Ch'itbo-san / 칠보산), North Hamgyŏng, province.
1103 m / 3,619 ft.
Last stamp in a set of 5, issued on 30.11.1975.
Face value: 30 chon.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 1446.
- StampWorld No. 1497.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1307.