The hyphen is used sparingly, but is applied in geographic terms when the specific name is to be separated from the generic term, i.e., Amnok-kang (Amnok River) and Paektu-san (Paektu Mountain).
Thirteenth in population (30,000,000) among the world’s nations, but only 42nd in area, Korea is washed on three sides by salt water—the Japan Sea, the Korea Strait, and the Yellow Sea (see map). It can be said to begin with a mountain, the far northern peak of Paektu (White Head), coated with glistening pumice and sheltering in its ancient crater the deep Dragon Prince’s Pool. Ever White. Southwest from Paektu along the Manchurian border flows the Yalu River, blue-green with melted snow and ice from its mountain source, and known to Koreans as the Am Nok (Green Duck). Springing northeast from Paektu, the cold Tumen River separates Korea from eastern Manchuria and Siberia.
I now live in Ryanggang Province lying in the northern region of Korea, adjacent to northeast China with the Amrok and Dooman Rivers forming the border line; it is an alpine area with mountains over 2,000 metres above sea level, among which is Mt. Baikdoo, 2,744 metres above sea level, the highest in Korea.]
In this large-scale operation of advance into the homeland we plan to dispatch the KPRA in three directions: The main unit will cross the Amnok River and push towards Hyesan, a strongpoint of frontier guards of the Japanese imperialists; another unit is to skirt Mt. Paektu and push on, by way of Antu and Helong, to the northern border area adjoining the Tuman River; and the third unit is to advance as far as the Linjiang and Changbai areas on the shore of the Amnok River.
[1985, H. Edward Kim, “Land and People”, in Facts about Korea[5], 18th Revised edition, Seoul: Hollym Corporation, →OCLC, page 22:
A few species such as bat, shrew, striped hamster and muskrat are found only in North Korea. Also only in North Korea are tiger, lynx, two species of deer, Manchurian weasel and northern pika in the plateau regions of Paektusan.]
2000, Donald N. Clark, “The Story of the Korean People”, in Culture and Customs of Korea[6], →ISBN, →ISSN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 6:
The land border is 636 miles long (1,025 km), most of it with China but the last 11 miles of it at the eastern end, with Russia. The border follows two rivers, the westward-flowing Yalu and the east-flowing Tumen, both of which arise from springs on the slopes of Mount Paektu, the sacred peak that is part of the "Ever-white Mountains" on the northeastern border.
The Tuman and Yalu rivers dividing Korea and China source from one mountain, Mt Paektu. This volcanic mass of frozen lava smashed out from the wide, elevated planes of dense forest and bogs surrounding it over a million years ago, and has a powerful spiritual symbolism for the Korean people, as indicated in the local tourist literature:[...]Paektu is the backdrop for many of the almighty mosaics and paintings seen across Korea, and its significance for all Koreans is evinced by the dominance of South Koreans in the thriving tourist industry on the Chinese side of the mountain.
Article 169. The national emblem of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea bears the design of a grand hydroelectric power station under Mt. Paektu, the sacred mountain of the revolution, and the beaming light of a five-pointed red star, with ears of rice forming an oval frame, bound with a red ribbon bearing the inscription “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
2018 September 20, “Leaders of two Koreas visit sacred mountain together”, in EFE[9], archived from the original on 28 June 2022:
The highest mountain on the peninsula, Mt. Paektu is believed to be the place where the Korean people were born, according to traditional folklore.
2022 February 16, Hyung-jin Kim, “N. Korea celebrates late leader’s birthday, pushes for unity”, in AP News[10], archived from the original on 16 February 2022:
It’s rare for North Korea to hold a high-profile state event in the city at the foot of Mount Paektu, the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula which is the heart of North Korea’s foundation myth revolving around the Kim family.
