Baengnyeongdo

The Baengnyeong Island ( also Baekryeong Island ) is the westernmost island of Korea. It is located in the Yellow Sea, approximately 15 kilometers off the coast of North Korea's Hwanghae Province. The Armistice Agreement of 1953 Baengnyeong -do South Korea has been assigned and heard since then as part of the circle Ongjin the city of Incheon. The island has an area of 45.8 km ². The Northern Limit Line, the maritime demarcation line between North and South Korea, is located about 7 km north of it. The island has a population of 4329 inhabitants ( 1999). Capital is Jinchon ( 진촌 ). The highest point of the island, Yonggiwŏn - san, is located near the eastern end and reaches a height of 136 meters.

The island's name means " White-winged island ', since there is a Ibispopulation on the island.

Because of its proximity to North Korea has repeatedly served as a basis for intelligence activities of South Korea and the U.S. Army. A number of North Korean refugees landed here to escape the economic and political conditions in their home country. In the recent past there have been several incidents in the maritime area of ​​the island, last on 26 March 2010, the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan, were killed during the 46 soldiers.