Establishment of North Korean Administrative Divisions and Local Government (1945–1960)

1. Soviet occupation begins north of the 38th parallel

   Aug 15, 1945Labels: Soviet Army, 38th Parallel

   • Britannica
   • HRNK Timeline

2. People’s Committees spread as local governing bodies

   Nov 1, 1945Labels: People s

   • People s Committees

3. Pyongyang separated as a special city-level unit

   Jan 1, 1946Labels: Pyongyang, Special City

   • Statoids
   • GlobalSecurity

4. Provisional People’s Committee formed to centralize rule

   Feb 8, 1946Labels: Provisional People, Kim Il

   • HRNK Timeline
   • Provisional PPC

5. First North Korean local people’s committee elections held

   Nov 3, 1946Labels: Local Elections

   • 1946 Elections
   • Provisional PPC

6. People’s Assembly meets and a new government is organized

   Feb 21, 1947Labels: People s

   • People s Assembly
   • People s Committee

7. DPRK proclaimed, defining a separate northern state

   Sep 9, 1948Labels: DPRK

   • Factbook
   • People s Committee

8. County boundaries adjusted as new province consolidates

   Jan 1, 1949Labels: Chagang Province

   • Jonchon
   • Changgang
   • Songwon

9. Chagang Province created from North P’yŏngan

   Dec 1, 1949Labels: Chagang Province, North P

   • Statoids
   • Chagang

10. Wartime pressures accelerate local administrative planning

    Jun 25, 1950Labels: Korean War

    • Britannica
    • HRNK Timeline

11. Major local-government reorganization introduces workers’ districts

    Dec 1, 1952Labels: Workers Districts, 1952 Reform

    • Rodongjagu
    • Hwapyong

12. New counties created during the 1952 reorganization

    Dec 1, 1952Labels: New Counties, 1952 Reform

    • Hwapyong
    • Rangrim

13. Ryanggang (Yanggang) Province formed from South Hamgyŏng

    Oct 1, 1954Labels: Ryanggang Province, South Hamgy

    • Statoids
    • Ryanggang

14. Local state power defined through people’s assemblies and committees

    Jan 1, 1955Labels: People s

    • 1955 Constitution
    • Britannica