Hambakdo

Hambakdo or Hambaksom is an island in Yonan County, South Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

Background
The 1953 Armistice Agreement, which was signed by both North Korea and the United Nations Command (UNC), ended the Korean War and specified that all islands in former Hwanghae Province except the five islands including Yeonpyeong Island and Baengnyeong Island would remain under the control of the UNC and South Korea.

However, they did not agree on a maritime demarcation line, primarily because the UNC wanted to base it on 3 nmi of territorial waters, while North Korea wanted to use 12 nmi.

The five islands were Yeonpyeong Island, Baengnyeongdo, Daecheongdo, Socheongdo and U Island. However, U Island was actually part of Ganghwa County since 1918. Also, South Korea is not a signatory of the 1953 Armistice Agreement.

In 1965, there was a clash in this island South Korean fishermen caught clams on the island. North Korea detained and eventually returned the fishermen. South Korea claimed that Hambakdo is a part of Ganghwa County.

South Korea registered Hambakdo to Tract index in 1978. Hambakdo was uninhabited until 2017. In 2019, South Korean newspaper noticed that there are North Korean military buildings in Hambakdo. It caused huge debates in South Korea.

On September 5, 2019, Chosun Ilbo reported that the island has a radar with range of 30 to 60 kilometers.

South Korean government on September 18, 2019, confirmed that no offensive weapons are on the island.

Board of Audit and Inspection confirmed claims made by South Korean government that Hambakdo is north of northern limit line and is a North Korean island.

Links

 * Video of Hambakdo Island