Natural monument – Riwon ballstones
June 14, 2026Riwon ballstones are distributed on the seashore of the Rahung Workers’ District in Riwon County, South Hamgyong Province.
Along the coast on both sides of the mouth of the Phohang River there are cliffs which were formed with the hard quartzite layer belonging to the Jikhyon group from the Mesoproterozoic. And at the foot of the cliffs there is the abrasion platform which was formed by coastal erosion.
Lumps of quartzite, which originally fell into the sea due to weathering, wore due to the incessant action of waves to become large and small oval and smooth ballstones.
Riwon ballstones are white or yellowish white in colour and oval in shape.
The stones became known as they were used as balls for grinding mills or crushers and are also used for decoration of structures.
The natural ballstones rare to be found not only in the country but on earth are a natural monument of great significance in both scenery and scientific study.
THE PYONGYANG TIMES