The Musan mine(무산광산연합기업소) is a large iron mine located in north-east North Korea in North Hamgyong Province.
Musan represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in North Korea and in the world having estimated reserves of 3 billion tonnes of ore grading 41% iron metal.
The Korean War brought mining operations to a halt but by 1989, national iron ore production had risen to 9.8 million tonnes, with Musan producing upwards of two-thirds of the total.
[2] The mining industry once again collapsed as a result of the fall of the Soviet Union and the 1994-99 North Korean famine.
Production levels at Musan have yet to rebound to pre-famine highs.