Eastern Asia
What tectonic plate is North Korea on?
North Korea spans 2 tectonic plates: the Amur Plate (91%) and the Eurasian Plate (9.1%).
- Plates
- 2
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 4
- Holocene volcanoes
- 1
- Land area
- 122,494 km²
Plates under North Korea
Share of North Korea's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along North Korea: the Amur-Eurasian boundary (divergent, about 1.0 cm/yr).
Earthquakes in North Korea
Large earthquakes are uncommon in North Korea. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 4 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 km WSW of Rajin, North Korea | M7.4 | 1917 | 460 km | Amur |
| 108 km SSE of Kilju, North Korea | M6.8 | 1960 | 608 km | Amur |
| 5 km SE of Namyang, North Korea | M6.6 | 1905 | 470 km | Amur |
| 61 km SSE of Ungsang-nodongjagu, North Korea | M6.5 | 1973 | 575 km | Amur |
Volcanoes in North Korea
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 1 volcano active in the last 12,000 years in North Korea.
- Changbaishan Stratovolcano · 2,744 m Last eruption 1903
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is North Korea on?
North Korea spans 2 tectonic plates: the Amur Plate (91%) and the Eurasian Plate (9.1%).
Is North Korea on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along North Korea: the Amur-Eurasian boundary (divergent, about 1.0 cm/yr).
Does North Korea get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in North Korea. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 4 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M7.4 7 km WSW of Rajin, North Korea in 1917.
Are there volcanoes in North Korea?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 1 volcano active in the last 12,000 years in North Korea.