north
北 centers on the cardinal direction north.
北 originally depicted two people back-to-back, meaning 'back' or 'to turn one's back.' The direction 'north' likely arose from the ancient Chinese custom of facing south, making north the direction behind one's back.
Picture two people sitting back-to-back, one facing south and the other facing north. The person facing north shows the direction: 北 is north.
For ホク, imagine a hawk flying north: hawk -> ホク, and the bird heads straight toward the cold northern sky.
north
Hokkaido (island, prefectural-level administrative unit)
North Korea
north-east
northern part; the north (of a region)
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
Beijing (China); Peking
Kitakyushu (city)
Northern Europe; Nordic countries; Scandinavia
North America
Hokuriku region (of Honshu; incl. Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures)
northwest
north and south; north to south
northeast
north side; north bank
going north
the north; northward; northern direction
north entrance; north exit
North Pole
north latitude
northern sea
north wind; northerly wind
northern country
Northern Ireland