Until the year 1945, when the country was liberated from the Japanese colonial rule, it was not unusual that the river was flooded even by small rainfall.

The river's flood caused by heavy rainfall in 1942 left some 50 000 people dead and inundated about 2 000 hectares of farmland and more than 1 000 houses.

President Kim Il Sung initiated the Pothong River Improvement Project and broke the ground for this grand nature-remaking project on May 21, Juche 35 (1946). The project was finished in only 55 days.

After the project, the river has been free from flood.

Now on the banks of the river there stand Chollima, Rakwon and Mansudae streets, the People's Palace of Culture, Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, Changgwang Health Complex, Ice Rink, Chongnyu Restaurant, Pothonggang Department Store, etc.

The river was improved last year by servicepersons. Roller skating, basketball, volleyball, tennis and other sports facilities have been built alongside the river.