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P'yŏngsŏng-si, situated in the heart of South Pyongan Province, North Korea, occupies a strategic position approximately 30 kilometers north of the capital Pyongyang, forming part of the densely populated and industrialized Pyongyang-P'yŏngsŏng corridor. The city lies within the Taedong River basin, characterized by relatively flat plains interspersed with low hills, with an average elevation around 50 meters above sea level, which influences local air circulation patterns. This urban center is surrounded by agricultural lands to the west and south, where rice paddies and farmland dominate, while to the north and east, the terrain gradually rises toward the Ch'ŏngnyong Mountains, creating a partial topographic basin effect that can trap pollutants under certain meteorological conditions. Proximity to the Taedong River provides some moderating influence on local climate but minimal cleansing effect on air quality due to the river's modest flow. The city functions as a major administrative, educational, and light industrial hub within North Korea's central industrial belt, with manufacturing facilities concentrated in its eastern sectors, contributing to urban emissions. The urban-rural gradient is sharply defined, with dense residential and institutional districts giving way abruptly to cultivated fields, creating distinct microenvironments for pollution dispersion. This geographic setting, combined with its position downwind from Pyongyang's larger industrial complexes during prevailing northwesterly winds, makes P'yŏngsŏng-si particularly susceptible to accumulated particulate matter and gaseous pollutants, especially during stagnant atmospheric conditions common in the region's continental climate.

In P'yŏngsŏng-si, air quality follows distinct seasonal patterns shaped by East Asian monsoonal circulation and temperature variations. Winter, from December through February, brings the poorest air quality as cold, stable atmospheric conditions frequently establish temperature inversions that trap emissions from residential heating—often reliant on coal and biomass—and industrial operations near ground level. Calm winds and persistent fog exacerbate pollution accumulation, making these months particularly challenging for respiratory health. Spring, March to May, sees gradual improvement as increasing solar radiation breaks up inversions and more frequent winds from the northwest help disperse pollutants, though occasional dust storms from the Gobi Desert can temporarily degrade air quality in April. Summer, June through August, offers the cleanest air despite high humidity, as the East Asian summer monsoon brings southerly and easterly winds from the Yellow Sea, providing natural ventilation while convective rainfall effectively scrubs particulate matter from the atmosphere. Autumn, September to November, begins with relatively good conditions but deteriorates toward late November as heating demands rise and stagnant conditions return. Sensitive groups—including children, elderly residents, and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions—should minimize outdoor exertion during winter mornings when inversion layers are strongest and limit exposure during spring dust events. The most favorable months for outdoor activities are typically June through September, when maritime airflows dominate.