Since its completion in June Juche 75 (1986), the barrage has contributed to supplying enough industrial and domestic water to industrial establishments and residents in the Taedong River basin and irrigating the farm fields in the west coastal area. It has also played a big role in controlling water level of the Taedong River to prevent flood damage.

The West Sea Barrage was built as a monumental edifice in the era of the Workers' Party.

President Kim Il Sung went round the spot to select a site for the barrage in May Juche 70 (1981). And he visited it under construction to indicate the ways for hastening the construction, including a new method for cofferdam project.

True to the grand nature-remaking plan of the President, Chairman Kim Jong Il visited the barrage under construction in April 1983 and other several occasions, guiding the project to be completed on the highest level in a short period.

The people and servicepersons of the DPRK finished this unprecedented and huge project by their own efforts with domestic design, technology and materials in a matter of five years.

A large number of foreign viewers appraised the barrage as a miraculous creation and a world edifice in the 20th century, stressing that it shows how tremendous the might of human being is.