The Pothong River (Pot'ong River, Potonggang or Potong) is a river in North Korea. It flows through the capital Pyongyang and is a tributary of the Taedong River.
There are several bridges across the river in Pyongyang, including one at its mouth called the "Pothong Bridge"; however, the largest is the one known as "Ansan Bridge", , which supports the main east–west divided highway.The Ansan Bridge appears on a 1990 stamp, Scott #2891, label in that catalogue as "Pothong Bridge" - Scott (2008) "Korea, Democratic People’s Republic" Scott 2009 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Volume 4 (165th edition) Scott Publishing Co., Sidney, Ohio, page 303. See map at http://www.pyongyang-metro.com/pystrtmp.jpeg
Prior to 1946, the arable land west of Pyongyang alongside the river (the flood plain), down to where it entered the Taedong River was subject to annual flooding. This area was known as Tosongrang. The farmers there annually rebuilt their homes after the floods subsided, so the construction was, perforce, of a temporary nature, huts and even pit-houses.Some authors referred to it as a slum. ; In 1946 the river was channelized through Tosongrang as the "Pothong River Improvement Project". Tosongrang is now part of Pyongyang.
In 1971, in a park on Mount Bonghwa,The park is sometimes known as "Potong River Pleasure Ground". a hill on the left (east) bank of the river, the government erected a monument for the "Pothong River Improvement Project", . It commemorates Kim Il Sung's 1945 visit to Tosongrang and the 1946 channelization.
In 1976 the North Korean postal service (DPRK) issued a stamp commemorating Kim Il Sung's 1945 visit to Tosongrang.Scott #1533 - Scott (2008), page 276. In 1998, they issued a stamp souvenir sheet showing Kim Il Sung breaking ground for the construction of the channelization project.Scott #3790 - Scott (2008), page 326.
Notes and references
External links Photo of monument with downtown Pyongyang in the background