Node centrality of North Korean Railways

Abstract

This study explored the node centrality of North Korean railways. The analysis was conducted based on the weighted network using the number of routes as the weight. Two node types, stations and municipalities, were considered, and three modified centrality measures, strength, betweenness, and closeness centrality, were applied. The municipality-based analysis supplied more reliable outcomes than the station-based approach, and identified Pyongyang, Gowon, and Manpo as the critical nodes. Node centrality just slightly changed when weights were differently assigned to passenger and freight services because most stations, except 17 passenger-only stations, handle passenger and goods services. The findings have two policy implications for unified Korean railways. First, the Donghae line is not less important than the Gyeongui line because the East Sea rail corridor passes through Gowon and can support international trade between Russia and reunified Korea. Second, Manpo should be the primary border station to China, being a more influential node than existing Sinuiju station.