Analysis of Land Use Changes in Western Region of North Korea Using Satellite Remote Sensor Data

초록

Due to the confined political situations, it is rare to obtain reliable information related to the land use practices in North Korea. The main objective of this study is to analyze the land cover changes occurred in North Korea during the last 20 years. The study area covers approximately 10,000 km2 of the provinces of Pyungan and Hwanghea in western region. Using multitemporal Landsat imagery, three land cover maps of 1973, 1984, and 1993 were produced by computer classification of the digital imagery. Major change categories, such as the conversion of forest land into cropland, were determined using the temporal pattern of each land cover class on the three cover type maps. The primary change categories were then analyzed together with digital topographic data (DEM) to define the characteristics of land use changes in mountainous forest area. Large portions of the cleared forest were found on relatively low elevation and steep slopes. The long term impacts of the conversion of forest lands in mountain area were discussed along with the recent flood disasters.