It is bordered by Ryongch'ŏn and P'ihyŏn to the north, Tongrim to the east, and Ch'ŏlsan to the south; to the west lies the ocean.

Yŏmju county is divided into 1 ŭp (town), 1 rodongjagu (workers' district) and 22 ri (villages): Although warmed somewhat by the sea, the local climate remains basically continental, with an average annual temperature of 8.4 °C reflecting the fluctuation between January's -8.7 °C and August's 24 °C.

The county is North P'yŏngan's second-largest producer of rice; other local crops include soybeans, maize, tobacco, and fruit.

A large aquaculture installation also operates in the county, dating from the early 1980s; it is reported to cover more than 1 km², with more than 80 separate ponds.

[2] Yŏmju county is served by the P'yŏngŭi, Tasado and Paengma lines of the Korean State Railway.