NGA Tearline: North Korea's Hydroelectric Power - Part 2

GEOINT analysis of hydroelectric dams along the Jangja and Taeryong Rivers

What is NGA Tearline?

NGA is partnering with expert private groups to grow public-facing, authoritative open source intelligence on various strategic and humanitarian intelligence topics that tend to be under-reported within long-form format. This authoritative open source content will be cited for internal purposes and it will grow public trust by increasing transparency around shared public-private interest in various strategic and humanitarian intelligence topics that are fit for public consumption.

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Stimson Center (38 North)

For this report NGA Tearline collaborated with researchers from the Stimson Center. Co-authors include Peter Makowsky, Jenny Town, and Samantha Pitz.

Read more on 38 North.

Read the Report

In an attempt to address the country's electrical energy needs, the DPRK is placing greater emphasis on the construction and utilization of both hydroelectric and coal-powered, thermal-electric power plants.


To date, most of that observed growth has been in the building of hydroelectric dams, principally in the northern provinces, where the terrain is more suitable for such projects.

Read more of this intelligence report on Tearline.