Wonsan is a port city and naval base located in
Kangwon Province, North Korea, on the westernmost shore of the
Sea of Japan (East Korean Sea) and the provincial capital. The port was opened by occupying Japanese forces in 1880. Before the Korean War (19501953), it fell within the jurisdiction of the then
South Hamgyong province, and during that war, it was the location of the
Blockade of Wonsan. The population of the city was estimated at 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wonsan include
Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the
Korean Workers' Party. Economically, the city is home to several major factories.