Kaesŏng: region in North Korea
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View Kaesŏng, North Korea on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Kaesŏng as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 5.6, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 5.93, 5.61, nan and 1.9. Data was not available in 1991-2000.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Kaesŏng spans a total of 573 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed prior to 1975. These roads have an SNDi of 5.93, which is highly disconnected.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 5.93, 5.8, 5.82 and 5.6. Disconnectivity in Kaesŏng's street network follows a zig-zag trend. In 2001-2014, the region was most disconnected; while it was most connected in 1975.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kaesŏng followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Kaesŏng, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Kaesong and P'yŏnghwa-ri. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Kaesong followed a zig-zag trend. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in P'yŏnghwa-ri followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease.
How do development practices in Kaesŏng fare in comparison to others in North Korea? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Kaesŏng was the 13th-most disconnected out of the 13 regions in North Korea. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in North Korea, street construction in Kaesŏng has become more connected. Kaesŏng ranked 2nd in 1975, 11th in 1976-1990, 10th in 1991-2000 and 13th in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Kaesŏng is Kaesong with an SNDi of 6.45, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is P'yŏnghwa-ri with an SNDi of 2.05, which is relatively well-connected. See trends for these cities: P'yŏnghwa-ri, Kaesong
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kaesŏng followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Kaesŏng, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Kaesong and P'yŏnghwa-ri. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Kaesong fell steadily. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in P'yŏnghwa-ri fell steadily.
To date, Kaesŏng is the 7th-most disconnected out of the 13 regions in North Korea. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in North Korea, the street network in Kaesŏng has become more connected. Kaesŏng ranked 2nd in 1975, 6th in 1976-1990, 6th in 1991-2000 and 7th in 2001-2014.