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112-596: Soongsil University was founded on October 10, 1897, in Pyongyang as a private school by William M. Baird , a missionary of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Board of Foreign Missions . In 1900 the school was developed into an official 4-year junior high school. In October 1901 the school was named Soongsil Hakdang ( 숭실학당 , Soongsil Academy). The name Soongsil roughly means "Revering [God] ( 숭 soong ) with Truth and Integrity ( 실 sil )". In 1905

224-546: A haejangguk , which is any type of food eaten as a hangover cure, usually a warm soup. Another representative Pyongyang dish, Taedonggang sungeoguk , translates as "flathead grey mullet soup from the Taedong River ". The soup features flathead grey mullet (abundant in the Taedong River) along with black peppercorns and salt. Traditionally, it has been served to guests visiting Pyongyang. Therefore, there

336-486: A Siberian city during winter snowfall, although edifices of traditional Korean design somewhat soften this perception. In summer, it is notable for its rivers, willow trees, flowers and parkland. Since the end of the Korean War the city was planned strictly according to Socialist principles. According to the 1953 masterplan designed Kim Jung-hee the city was planned to reach one-million residents stretching from

448-400: A hot-summer continental monsoon climate ( Köppen : Dwa ), featuring warm to hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Cold, dry winds can blow from Siberia in winter, making conditions very cold; the low temperature is usually below freezing between November and early March, although the average daytime high is at least a few degrees above freezing in every month except January. The winter

560-456: A Bronze Age material culture with influences from Manchuria, eastern Mongolia, as well as Siberia and Scythian bronze styles, flourished on the peninsula. Korean bronzes contain a higher percentage of zinc than those of the neighboring bronze cultures. Bronze artifacts, found most frequently in burial sites, consist mainly of swords, spears, daggers, small bells, and mirrors decorated with geometric patterns. Gojoseon's development seems linked to

672-566: A bear-woman, founded Gojoseon in 2333 BC, and was succeeded by Gija (Qizi) after King Wu of Zhou had placed him onto the throne in 1122 BC. A similar account is found in Jewang Ungi . According to the legend, the Lord of Heaven, Hwanin had a son, Hwanung , who descended to Baekdu Mountain and founded the city of Shinsi. Then a bear and a tiger came to Hwanung and said that they wanted to become people. Hwanung said to them that if they went in

784-609: A capacity of 500 MW, East Pyongyang TPS with a capacity of 50 MW, and Kangdong TPS which is under construction. Pyongyang is home to several large department stores including the Pothonggang Department Store , Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 , Pyongyang Department Store No. 2, Kwangbok Department Store, Ragwon Department Store, Pyongyang Station Department Store, and the Pyongyang Children's Department Store. The city also has Hwanggumbol Shop,

896-464: A cave and lived there for 100 days while only eating mugwort and garlic he would change them into human beings. However, about halfway through the 100 days the tiger gave up and ran out of the cave. The bear, in contrast, successfully restrained herself and became a beautiful woman named Ungnyeo . Hwanung later married Ungnyeo, and she gave birth to Dangun . While the Dangun story is considered to be

1008-562: A chain of state-owned convenience stores supplying goods at prices cheaper than those in the jangmadang markets. Hwanggumbol Shops are specifically designed to control North Korea's expanding markets by attracting consumers and guaranteeing the circulation of money in government-operated stores. Gojoseon Gojoseon ( Korean :  고조선 ; Hanja :  古朝鮮 ; RR :  Gojoseon ; Korean pronunciation: [ko.dʑo.sʌn] ), contemporary name Joseon ( 조선 ; 朝鮮 ; Joseon ; [tɕo.sʌn] ),

1120-466: A cortege procession when his corpse moved through the streets with a hearse as people cried out in hysteria while watching the funeral. In 2001, North Korean authorities began a long-term modernisation programme. The Ministry of Capital City Construction Development was included in the Cabinet in that year. In 2006, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law Jang Song Thaek took charge of the ministry. Throughout

1232-484: A major city in old Joseon. Pyongyang was founded in 1122 BC on the site of the capital of the legendary king Dangun . Wanggeom-seong , which was in the location of Pyongyang, became the capital of Gojoseon from 194 to 108 BC. It fell in the Han conquest of Gojoseon in 108 BC. Emperor Wu of Han ordered four commanderies be set up, with Lelang Commandery in the center and its capital established as "Joseon" (朝鮮縣, 조선현) at

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1344-448: A myth, it is believed it is a mythical synthesis of a series of historical events relating to the founding of Gojoseon. There are various theories on the origin of this myth. Seo and Kang (2002) believe the Dangun myth is based on integration of two different tribes, an invasive sky-worshipping Bronze Age tribe and a native bear-worshipping neolithic tribe, that led to the foundation of Gojoseon. Lee K. B. (1984) believes 'Dangun-wanggeom'

1456-708: A mythological god which founded a "sacred race" ( shinsŏng chongjok ), Korean nationalist historiography aims to portray ancient Korea as a golden age of "gods and heroes" where Korea's cultural achievements rivaled those of China and Japan. Accordingly, Shin Chaeho elevated Dangun to play a similar role as did the Yellow Emperor in China and which Amaterasu does in Japan. Choe Nam-seon , according to his Purham culture theory  [ ko ] , places Dangun even above

1568-648: A population of 235,000. On 25 August 1945, the Soviet 25th Army entered Pyongyang and it became the temporary capital of the Provisional People's Committee for North Korea . A People's Committee was already established there, led by veteran Christian nationalist Cho Man-sik . Pyongyang became the de facto capital of North Korea upon its establishment in 1948. At the time, the Pyongyang government aimed to recapture Korea's official capital, Seoul. Pyongyang

1680-567: A population of 3,255,288. Pyongyang is a directly administered city ( 직할시 ; 直轄市 ; chikhalsi ) with a status equal to that of the North Korean provinces . Pyongyang is one of the oldest cities in Korea. It was the capital of two ancient Korean kingdoms, Gojoseon and Goguryeo , and served as the secondary capital of Goryeo . Following the establishment of North Korea in 1948, Pyongyang became its de facto capital. The city

1792-462: A principality with Wanggeom-seong as its capital, which is thought to be in the region of present-day Pyongyang. The 3rd-century Chinese text Weilüe of the Sanguozhi recorded that Wi Man usurped King Jun and thus took over the kingship of Gojoseon. Gojoseon mythology and history can be divided into three phases, Dangun, Gija Joseon, and Wi Man Joseon. Around the mid- Joseon dynasty ,

1904-399: A ranking made by JoongAng Ilbo , a Korean newspaper, it regularly ranks within the top 20 best universities. Soongsil University is home to a large community of foreign students, partly due to its "Vision 2020" plan, which aims to substantially increase its foreign clientele. The university is surrounded by bars, karaoke, and restaurants, the gathering place of the international community

2016-403: A result of the influence of new populations migrating to Korea from Manchuria and Siberia. This type of pottery typically has thicker walls and displays a wider variety of shapes, indicating improvements in kiln technology. This period is sometimes called the "Korean Bronze Age", but bronze artifacts are relatively rare and regionalized until the 7th century BCE. Rice cultivation was extensive in

2128-538: A vigorous vetting process. Pyongyang Pyongyang ( Korean :  평양 ; Hancha :  平壤 ) is the capital and largest city of North Korea , where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" ( 혁명의 수도 ). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about 109 km (68 mi) upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea . According to the 2008 population census, it has

2240-468: A war with the Yan state, but this indicates Gojoseon was already a large enough state that it could wage war against the Yan and survive the loss of 2000 li (800 kilometers) of territory. Gojoseon is thought to have relocated its capital to the Pyongyang region around this time. In 195 BCE, King Jun appointed a refugee from Yan, Wi Man , to guard the frontier. Wi Man later rebelled in 194 BC and usurped

2352-699: Is a common saying, "How good was the trout soup?", which is used to greet people returning from Pyongyang. Another local specialty, Pyongyang onban (literally "warm rice of Pyongyang") comprises freshly cooked rice topped with sliced mushrooms, chicken, and a couple of bindaetteok (pancakes made from ground mung beans and vegetables). In 2018, there were many high-quality restaurants in Pyongyang with Korean and international food, and imported alcoholic beverages. Famous restaurants include Okryu-gwan and Ch'ongryugwan. Some street foods exist in Pyongyang, where vendors operate food stalls . Foreign foods like hamburgers, fries, pizza, and coffee are easily found. There

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2464-526: Is a private Christian University located in the heart of Seoul. It has a low acceptance rate and a high admission barrier. Students must reach within 5~7% in the Korean SAT to be accepted into the most competitive majors such as business and global commerce. Soongsil's IT, economics, business, and social welfare majors are considered especially strong. Its business school has the 10th biggest number of alumni with CPAs. Its computer science field, which Soongsil

2576-611: Is an active nightlife with late-night restaurants and karaoke. The city has water parks, amusement parks , skating rinks, health clubs, a shooting range, and a dolphinarium. Pyongyang has a number of sports clubs, including the April 25 Sports Club and the Pyongyang City Sports Club . Pyongyang is North Korea's industrial center. Thanks to the abundance of natural resources like coal , iron and limestone , as well as good land and water transport systems, it

2688-1031: Is constitutionally designated as the country's capital. The seat of the Workers' Party Central Committee and the Pyongyang People's Committee are located in Haebangsan-dong, Chung-guyok . The Cabinet of North Korea is located in Jongro-dong, Chung-guyok . Pyongyang is also the seat of all major North Korean security institutions. The largest of them, the Ministry of Social Security , has 130,000 employees working in 12 bureaus. These oversee activities including: police services, security of party officials, classified documents, census, civil registrations, large-scale public construction, traffic control , fire safety, civil defence , public health and customs . Another significant structure based in

2800-410: Is divided into 19 wards ( ku- or guyŏk ) (the city proper) , 2 counties ( kun or gun ), and 1 neighborhood ( dong ). Foreign media reports in 2010 stated that Kangnam-gun , Chunghwa-gun , Sangwŏn-gun , and Sŭngho-guyŏk had been transferred to the administration of neighboring North Hwanghae Province . However, Kangnam-gun was returned to Pyongyang in 2011. Panghyŏn-dong, a missile base,

2912-466: Is generally much drier than summer, with snow falling for 37 days on average. The transition from the cold, dry winter to the warm, wet summer occurs rather quickly between April and early May, and there is a similarly abrupt return to winter conditions in late October and November. Summers are generally hot and humid, with the East Asian monsoon taking place from June until September; these are also

3024-754: Is in the west-central part of North Korea; the city lies on a flat plain about 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of the Korea Bay , an arm of the Yellow Sea . The Taedong River flows southwestward through the city toward the Korea Bay. The Pyongyang plain, where the city is situated, is one of the two large plains on the Western coast of the Korean peninsula, the other being the Chaeryong plain. Both have an area of approximately 500 square kilometers. Pyongyang has

3136-453: Is known about this state except that it was the apparent predecessor to the Samhan confederacies. Around 300 BCE, iron technology was introduced into Korea from Yan state. Iron was produced locally in the southern part of the peninsula by the 2nd century BCE. According to Chinese accounts, iron from the lower Nakdong River in the southeast was valued throughout the peninsula and Japan. In

3248-477: Is located at the "C-Bomb" bar. An alcoholic beverage, the Taximansi (contraction of "taxi" and "calamansi") created by a foreign student is now a symbol of Soongsil's student culture. Foreign students are welcomed by "SISO" (Soongsil International Student Organization) a student organization aimed at helping foreigners throughout their stay. Soongsil students who volunteer as members of SISO are selected through

3360-566: Is put on the production and supply of fresh produce and subsidiary crops in farms on the city's outskirts. Other crops include rice , sweetcorn and soybeans . Pyongyang aims to achieve self-sufficiency in meat production. High-density facilities raise pigs, chicken and other livestock. Until the late 2010s Pyongyang still experienced frequent shortages of electricity. To solve this problem, two power stations – Huichon Power Stations 1 and 2 – were built in Chagang Province and supply

3472-479: Is the de facto mayor . The supreme standing state organ is the Pyongyang People's Committee, responsible for everyday events in support of the city. This includes following local Party guidance as channeled through the Pyongyang Party Committee, the distribution of resources prioritised to Pyongyang, and providing support to KWP and internal security agency personnel and families. P'yŏngyang

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3584-599: The Analects of Confucius, which were among the first works to mention Gija, but do not mention his migration to Gojoseon. Gija Joseon might have just existed as a symbol of the pre- Qin dynasty migrants who escaped the chaos of the Warring States period . Wi Man was a military officer of the Yan of northeastern China who fled to the northern Korean peninsula in 195 BCE from the encroaching Han dynasty . He founded

3696-838: The 105th birthday of the founder and first leader, Kim Il Sung , 4,804 units were built in the new Ryomyong Street complex . The second decade of the 2000s saw the construction of residential projects in Songhwa Street near the Taedonggang Brewing Company in Sadong District (2022), in Taephyong area in Mangyongdae district, and in the Pothong Riverside Terraced Residential District located at

3808-593: The Arch of Triumph and the Mansu Hill Grand Monument . The first of them is a 170-meter (560 ft) granite spire symbolizing the Juche ideology. It was completed in 1982 and contains 25,550 granite blocks, one for each day of Kim Il Sung's life up to that point. The most prominent building on Pyongyang's skyline is Ryugyong Hotel , the seventh highest building in the world terms of floor count,

3920-698: The Changbai Mountains on the Sino-Korean border as a part of Korean heritage, by virtue of connection with the mythical Dangun. The mountain, however, was also claimed by the Manchus of the Qing dynasty as part of their origin myth at least since the 17th century, and the mountain range is considered sacred in Han Chinese culture as well. This nationalist identification of Baekdu with Koreans

4032-589: The Forbidden City as well as various monuments and memorials, which together form an important axis of symbolic places which promotes the Ideology of the Workers' Party of Korea and North Korean cult of personality around Kim family with the epicentre and Kilometre zero of the central district located at Kim Il Sung Square . The 1953 masterplan set the basic layout from which the city's development

4144-546: The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Pyongyang served as the provincial capital of South Pyongan Province until 1946, and Pyongyang cuisine shares the general culinary tradition of the Pyongan province. The most famous local food is Pyongyang raengmyŏn , or also called mul raengmyŏn or just simply raengmyŏn . Raengmyŏn literally means "cold noodles", while the affix mul refers to water because

4256-729: The Mansudae People's Theatre opened in 2012, the Munsu Water Park opened in 2013, and the renovated and expanded Sunan International Airport and Pyongyang Sci-Tech Complex , both completed in 2015, the Samjiyon Orchestra Theater, which was fitted out of the domed Korean People's Army Circus built in 1964, and the Pyongyang General Hospital , of which construction started in 2020. Additional re-development projects occurred in

4368-710: The March First Movement in 1919 and severe anti-Japanese socialist movement in 1920s due to economic exploitation. It was called Heijō (with the same Chinese characters 平壤 but read as へいじょう ) in Japanese. In July 1931, the city experienced anti-Chinese riots as a result of the Wanpaoshan Incident and the sensationalized media reports about it which appeared in Imperial Japanese and Korean newspapers. By 1938, Pyongyang had

4480-431: The Qing invasion of Joseon until peace arrangements were made between Korea and Qing China. While the invasions made Koreans suspicious of foreigners, the influence of Christianity began to grow after the country opened itself up to foreigners in the 16th century. Pyongyang became the base of Christian expansion in Korea. By 1880 it had more than 100 churches and more Protestant missionaries than any other Asian city, and

4592-494: The Taedong River to the Pothong River . The city center was planned as the main administrative district with main landscape structures constructed in between districts and are used as buffer zones so that they cannot expand freely. The city center was planned with wide avenues and streets and monumental structures and forms the central administrative district where many government and public buildings are located including

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4704-619: The Xiongnu against the Han . In response, Emperor Wu commissioned a two-pronged attack, one by land and one by sea, against Gojoseon. The two forces attacking Gojoseon were unable to coordinate well with each other and suffered large losses. Eventually, the commands were merged, and Wanggeom fell in 108 BCE. Han took over the Gojoseon lands and established Four Commanderies of Han in the western part of former Gojoseon. Gojoseon disintegrated by

4816-425: The diversion of resources to the army . The 2010s and 2020s saw renewed efforts in urbanization and increasing density with the reconstruction of streets and avenues located further from the center and transformation of former rural parts of the city into high density residential districts. The streets are laid out in a north–south, east–west grid, giving the city an orderly appearance. North Korean designers applied

4928-501: The idu system , was the pronunciation of the Chinese characters of "Pyongyang". "Buru" ( 부루 ) means "field" whereas "na" ( 나 ) means "land", therefore the meaning of Pyongyang in native Korean would be "Land of the field". The city's other historic names include Ryugyong , Kisong , Hwangsong , Rakrang , Sŏgyong , Sodo , Hogyong , Changan , and Heijō (during Japanese rule in Korea ). There are several variants. During

5040-434: The sadaejuui followers, and the big-power chauvinists". The first mentions of Gojoseon are found in historical records of Guanzi . It locates Gojoseon around Bohai Bay and mentions the state trading with Qi (齊) of China. The Zhanguoce , Shanhaijing , and Shiji —containing some of its earliest records—refers to Joseon as a region, until the text Shiji began referring it as a country from 195 BC onwards. By

5152-477: The 12th century CE, Koreans commonly believed that Dangun bestowed upon Korea its people and basic culture, while Gija gave Korea its high culture, and presumably, standing as a legitimate civilisation. Many modern experts have denied Gija Joseon's existence for various reasons, mainly due to contradicting archaeological evidence and anachronistic historical evidence. They point to the Bamboo Annals and

5264-595: The 13th-century Samguk yusa . Historians deny this claim because earlier Chinese historiographical works such as the Guanzi , Classic of Mountains and Seas , Records of the Grand Historian , and Records of the Three Kingdoms , mention a much later "Joseon". The connection between the two therefore may have been asserted by North Korea for the use of propaganda. Nevertheless, Pyongyang became

5376-440: The 1953 master plan, it diverted from it in some aspects, such as the construction of high-rises along the central avenues, a step conflicted with the 1953 plan which called for more even distribution of the residential construction throughout the city in several multi-cores. The 90s saw a relative slowdown in the development of the urban structure due to the deep economic crisis and famine which swept through North Korea and led to

5488-486: The 1st century BCE as it gradually lost the control of its former fiefs. Many successor states sprang from its former territory, such as Buyeo , Okjeo , Dongye . Goguryeo and Baekje arose out from Buyeo. Around 2000 BCE, a new pottery culture of painted and chiseled design was developed. These people practiced agriculture in a settled communal life, probably organized into familial clans. Rectangular huts and increasingly larger dolmen burial sites were found throughout

5600-530: The 2nd century BCE. In the southern region of the Korean Peninsula, the Jin state arose by the 3rd century BCE. There are three different main founding myths concerning Gojoseon, which revolve around Dangun, Gija, or Wi Man. The myths revolving around Dangun were recorded in the later Korean work Samguk yusa of the 13th century. This work states that Dangun , the offspring of a heavenly prince and

5712-489: The 4th century BCE, other states with defined political structures developed in the areas of the earlier Bronze Age "walled-town states"; Gojoseon was the most advanced of them in the peninsular region. The city-state expanded by incorporating other neighboring city-states by alliance or military conquest. Thus, a vast confederation of political entities between the Taedong and Liao rivers was formed. As Gojoseon evolved, so did

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5824-450: The Chinese and Japanese emperors, because those rulers were supposedly Shamanistic rulers of the ancient Korean "Părk" tradition. The Dangun story also lends credence to claims that Korean heritage is over 5000 years old. According to Hyung Il Pai, the popularity of Dangun studies can be said to "reflect the progressively ultra-nationalistic trend in Korean historical and archaeological scholarship today". Shin Chaeho named Mount Paektu in

5936-522: The College was merged with Daejun College ( 대전대학, 大田大學 , not to be confused with present-day Daejeon University ) into Soongjun College ( 숭전대학, 崇田大學 ). In December 1971 the College acquired a university status. In December 1982, the Daejeon Campus of Soongjun University was separated and renamed Hannam University . In November 1986, Soongjun University was renamed Soongsil University. Soongsil

6048-479: The Han dynasty, under Emperor Wu , invaded and conquered Wiman Joseon. The Han established four commanderies to administer the former Gojoseon territory. After the fragmentation of the Han Empire during the 3rd century and the subsequent chaotic 4th century , the area escaped Chinese control and was conquered by Goguryeo in 313 CE. The capital of Gojoseon was Wanggeom (modern Pyongyang ) from at least

6160-714: The Lelang Commandery was destroyed by an expanding Goguryeo in 313. Goguryeo moved its capital there in 427. According to Christopher Beckwith , Pyongyang is the Sino-Korean reading of the name they gave it in their language: Piarna , or "level land". In 668, Pyongyang became the capital of the Protectorate General to Pacify the East established by the Tang dynasty of China. However, by 676, it

6272-554: The Swedish experience of self-sufficient urban neighbourhoods throughout the entire country, and Pyongyang is no exception. Its inhabitants are mostly divided into administrative units of 5,000 to 6,000 people ( dong ). These units all have similar sets of amenities including a food store, a barber shop, a tailor , a public bathhouse, a post office , a clinic, a library and others. Many residents occupy high-rise apartment buildings. One of Kim Il Sung's priorities while designing Pyongyang

6384-460: The WPK which has its headquarters in the so-called Forbidden City . The name Pyongyang is borrowed from Korean "평양" (literally "flat land"), from McCune–Reischauer (MR) romanisation P'yŏngyang, a Sino-Korean word from 平壤. It indicates the geographical feature of the location to have a smooth terrain. In native Korean, the city was called "Buruna" ( 부루나 ) or less commonly "Barana" ( 바라나 ) which, using

6496-590: The Yan in the 4th century BCE. Gija , a man from the period of the Shang dynasty , allegedly fled to the Korean peninsula in 1122 BC during the fall of the Shang to the Zhou dynasty and founded Gija Joseon . Gija Joseon is recognized and mentioned in the earliest surviving Chinese record, Records of the Three Kingdoms . Gija's story was further developed in later Korean texts such as Samguk yusa and Jewang ungi . By

6608-536: The academy established courses for students. In 1906 the academy again was permitted by Presbyterian and Methodist missionary bodies to establish a university department. The academy was called Union Christian College (합성숭실대학), which was later authorized as a university by the Korean government in 1907. In 1925 the school was forcibly reduced to a 4-year technical school of humanities named 숭실전문학교 (崇實專門學校, pronounced Sūjitsu Senmon Gakkō in Japanese). On March 4, 1938

6720-436: The adoption of bronze technology. Its singularity finds its most notable expression in the idiosyncratic type of bronze swords, or "mandolin-shaped daggers" ( 비파형동검 ; 琵琶形銅劍 ). The mandolin-shape dagger is found in the regions of Liaoning , Hebei , and Manchuria down to the Korean Peninsula. It suggests the existence of Gojoseon dominions. Remarkably, the shape of the "mandolin" dagger of Gojoseon differs significantly from

6832-474: The ambassador assassinated Wi Jang (長降) and claimed to Emperor Wu that he had defeated Joseon in battle. Emperor Wu, unaware of this deception, made him the military commander of the Commandery of Liaodong. The outraged King Ugeo made a raid on Liaodong and killed She He. Scholars also hypothesize that the initiation of war may also have been because the Han dynasty was concerned that Gojoseon would ally with

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6944-402: The area around the Arch of Triumph where the Pyongyang People's Hospital no. 1 was demolished. Apartment blocks in the area of Inhŭng-dong, in Moranbong-guyok district and in the area of Sinwon-dong in Pothonggang district were demolished in 2018–2019 for the construction of new apartment buildings. Also in 2018 the Youth Park Open-Air Theatre in Sungri Street, used to host political rallies,

7056-473: The book of Gogeumju ( 古今注 ) written by Cui Bao (崔豹) of the Western Jin period, poetry called Gonghuyin (箜篌引) or Gongmudohaga  [ ko ] ( 공무도하가 ; 公無渡河歌 ) is said to be of Gojoseon origin. The poetry is as follows: 公無渡河 "Don't cross the river, my love." 公竟渡河 "My love eventually crossed the river.' 墮河而死 "Now that my love is drowned," 當奈公何 "There's nothing that I can do." Numerous small states and confederations arose from

7168-406: The city center next to the Pothong River on land previously used by the headquarters of the International Taekwon-Do Federation . Kim Jong Un ordered that the residential district be renamed "Kyongru-dong" meaning "beautiful bead terrace". From the 50s to the 70s the area was the location of the residence of Kim Il Sung and was known as "Mansion No. 5". Other recent public building projects include

7280-403: The city is the Ministry of State Security , whose 30,000 personnel manage intelligence, political prison systems, military industrial security and entry and exit management. The politics and management of the city is dominated by the Workers' Party of Korea , as they are in the national level. The city is managed by the Pyongyang Party Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and its chairman

7392-474: The city through direct transmission lines. A second phase of the power expansion project was launched in January 2013, consisting of a series of small dams along the Chongchon River . The first two power stations have a maximum generating capacity of 300 megawatts (MW), while the 10 dams to be built under second phase are expected to generate about 120 MW. In addition, the city has several existing or planned thermal power stations . These include Pyongyang TPS with

7504-427: The decline and eventual downfall of Gojoseon, described in Yan records as "arrogant" and "cruel". But the ancient kingdom also appears as a prosperous Bronze Age civilization with a complex social structure, including a class of horse-riding warriors who contributed to the development of Gojoseon and its northern expansion into most of the Liaodong basin. Around 300 BCE, Gojoseon lost significant western territory after

7616-442: The dish is served in a cold broth. Raengmyŏn consists of thin and chewy buckwheat noodles in a cold meat-broth with dongchimi (watery kimchi) and topped with a slice of sweet Korean pear . Pyongyang raengmyŏn was originally eaten in homes built with ondol (traditional underfloor heating ) during the cold winter, so it is also called "Pyongyang deoldeori" (shivering in Pyongyang). Pyongyang locals sometimes enjoyed it as

7728-566: The early 20th century, Pyongyang came to be known among missionaries as being the " Jerusalem of the East", due to its historical status as a stronghold of Christianity , namely Protestantism , especially during the Pyongyang Revival of 1907. After Kim Il Sung's death in 1994, some members of Kim Jong Il 's faction proposed changing the name of Pyongyang to "Kim Il Sung City" ( Korean :  김일성시 ; Hanja :  金日成市 ), but others suggested that North Korea should begin calling Seoul "Kim Il Sung City" instead and grant Pyongyang

7840-403: The elite class. Around the 6th century BCE, burnished red wares, made of a fine iron-rich clay and characterized by a smooth, lustrous surface, appear in dolmen tombs, as well as in domestic bowls and cups. In 1964, through a joint excavation by China and North Korea, Gangsang tomb ( 강상무덤 ; 崗上墓 ) and Nusang tomb ( 누상무덤 ; 樓上墓 ) were found in 1964 at the Liaodong peninsula. Nusang

7952-400: The entire war, involving 1,400 UN aircraft. Already during the war, plans were made to reconstruct the city. On 27 July 1953 – the day the armistice between North Korea and South Korea was signed – The Pyongyang Review wrote: "While streets were in flames, an exhibition showing the general plan of restoration of Pyongyang was held at the Moranbong Underground Theater", the air raid shelter of

8064-464: The established view among historians traced Korean origins to Chinese refugees, considering Korean history that of a long series of kingdoms connected with China. As such, the Gija Joseon and Silla states were valorized, while the Gojoseon and Goguryeo states were not considered as important. According to this view, the first state in Korea, Gija Joseon , was founded by Jizi in 1122 BCE, who

8176-465: The government under Moranbong . "On the way of victory... fireworks which streamed high into the night sky of the capital in a gun salute briefly illuminated the construction plan of the city which would rise soon with a new look". After the war, the city was quickly rebuilt with assistance from the Soviet Union , and many buildings were built in the style of Stalinist architecture . The plans for

8288-602: The hottest months, with average temperatures of 21 to 25 °C (70 to 77 °F), and daytime highs often above 30 °C (86 °F). Although largely transitional seasons, spring and autumn experience more pleasant weather, with average high temperatures ranging from 20 to 26 °C (68 to 79 °F) in May and 22 to 27 °C (72 to 81 °F) in September, coupled with relatively clear, sunny skies. Major government and other public offices are located in Pyongyang, which

8400-540: The kingdom from the Joseon dynasty , founded in 1392 CE. According to the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms , Gojoseon was established in 2333 BCE by Dangun, who was said to be born from the heavenly prince Hwanung and a bear-woman, Ungnyeo . While Dangun is a mythological figure of whose existence no concrete evidence has been found, some interpret his legend as reflections of the sociocultural situations involving

8512-454: The kingdom's early development. Regardless, the account of Dangun has played an important role in the development of Korean identity. Today, the founding date of Gojoseon is officially celebrated as National Foundation Day in North and South Korea . Some sources claim that in the 12th century BCE, following the establishment of Gojoseon, Jizi (also known as Gija), a sage who belonged to

8624-423: The location of Pyongyang. Several archaeological findings from the later, Eastern Han (20–220 AD) period in the Pyongyang area seems to suggest that Han forces later launched brief incursions around these parts. The area around the city was called Nanglang during the early Three Kingdoms period . As the capital of Nanglang ( 낙랑국 ; 樂浪國 ), Pyongyang remained an important commercial and cultural outpost after

8736-589: The lower parts of South Korea and Manchuria in the periods between 1900 BCE to 200 CE. The beginning of the Bronze Age on the peninsula is usually said to be 1000 BCE, but estimates range from the 13th to 8th centuries BCE. Although the Korean Bronze Age culture derives from the Liaoning and Manchuria, it exhibits unique typology and styles, especially in ritual objects. By the 7th century BCE,

8848-405: The masterplan, the 60s and 70s saw new wave of development which included expansion of the central boulevards, construction of high-density apartment buildings along the central boulevards, grandiose civic and cultural buildings and monumental statues and squares. This tendency included also the inclusion of traditional Korean architecture for some buildings. While the development generally followed

8960-506: The middle of Goryeo dynasty, a state cult had developed around Gija. The Dongsa Gangmok of 1778 described Gija's activities and contributions in Gojoseon. The records of Gija refer to Eight Prohibitions ( 범금팔조 ; 犯禁八條 ), that are recorded by the Book of Han and evidence a hierarchical society with legal protections of private property. In pre-modern Korea, Gija represented the authenticating presence of Chinese civilization. Until

9072-489: The modern city of Pyongyang were first displayed for public viewing in a theatre building. Kim Jung-hee, one of the founding members of the Korean Architects Alliance, who had studied architecture in prewar Japan , was appointed by Kim Il Sung to design the city's master plan. Moscow Architectural Institute designed the "Pyongyang City Reconstruction and Construction Comprehensive Plan" in 1951, and it

9184-545: The moniker "Kim Jong Il City". In the end, neither proposal was implemented. In 1955, archaeologists excavated evidence of prehistoric dwellings in a large ancient village in the Pyongyang area, called Kŭmtan-ni, dating to the Jeulmun and Mumun pottery periods. North Koreans associate Pyongyang with the mythological city of " Asadal ", or Wanggeom-seong , the first second millennium BC capital of Gojoseon ("Old Joseon") according to Korean historiographies beginning with

9296-589: The old apartments of the 1970s and '80s replaced by taller high rise buildings and leisure parks like the Kaesong Youth Park , as well as renovations of older buildings. In 2018, the city was described as unrecognizable compared to five years before. Notable landmarks in the city include: Pyongyang TV Tower is a minor landmark. Other visitor attractions include the Korea Central Zoo . The Reunification Highway stretches from Pyongyang to

9408-538: The peninsula. Bronze daggers and mirrors have been excavated, and there is archaeological evidence of small walled-town states in this period. Dolmens and bronze daggers found in the area are uniquely Korean and cannot be found in China. A few dolmens are found in China, mostly in the Shandong province. In the Mumun pottery period (1500 – 300 BCE), plain coarse pottery replaced earlier comb-pattern wares, possibly as

9520-480: The remnants of Gojoseon, including Goguryeo , the Buyeo kingdom , Okjeo , and Dongye . Three of the Chinese commanderies fell to local resistance within a few decades, but the last, Nakrang, remained an important commercial and cultural outpost until it was destroyed by the expanding Goguryeo in 313 CE. Jun of Gojoseon is said to have fled to the state of Jin in the southern Korean Peninsula. Jin developed into

9632-504: The royal family from the Shang dynasty , immigrated to the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and became the founder of Gija Joseon . There are many interpretations of Gojoseon and Gija Joseon as well as debates regarding Gija Joseon's existence. In 194 BCE, the ruling dynasty of Gojoseon was overthrown by Wi Man (Wei Man in Chinese), a refugee from the Han vassal state of Yan , who then established Wiman Joseon . In 108 BCE,

9744-625: The rule of Kim Jong Un a number of residential projects were constructed. In 2012, Changjon Street, a residential project with 2,784 units, was inaugurated in the heart of Pyongyang. 2013 and 2014 residential projects dedicated to scientists were completed in Unha Scientists Street and Wisong Scientists Street with more than 1,000 units each while in 2015 work took place on a residential project in Mirae Scientists Street with 2,584 units. In 2017, in dedication to

9856-579: The school closed itself in order to protest against the enforcement of Shinto shrine worship. In August 1945 Korea was liberated from Japanese colonialism, but the effort to restore the Soongsil College did not succeed until after the end of the Korean War . In April 1954 Soongsil College was reestablished in South Korea and in June 1957 it moved to the present-day Sangdo-dong Campus. In 1971

9968-473: The son of a tiger and a bear – the latter being common in Japanese folklore – who brought civilization to the Korean peninsula. Shin and the other historians who promulgated this myth had been influenced by Daejonggyo , a new religious movement which worshipped Dangun, but attacked pre-annexation textbook narratives of Dangun which portrayed him as the brother of the Japanese god Susanoo . To Shin, Dangun

10080-652: The sword artifacts found in China. Megalithic dolmens appear in Korean peninsula and Manchuria around 2000 BCE to 400 BCE. Around 900 BCE, burial practices become more elaborate, a reflection of increasing social stratification. Goindol, the dolmen tombs in Korea and Manchuria, comprising upright stones supporting a horizontal slab, are more numerous in Korea than in other parts of East Asia. Other new forms of burial are stone cists (underground burial chambers lined with stone) and earthenware jar coffins. The bronze objects, pottery, and jade ornaments recovered from dolmens and stone cists indicate that such tombs were reserved for

10192-703: The tallest unoccupied building in the world, and one of the tallest hotels in the world . It has yet to open. Pyongyang has a rapidly evolving skyline, dominated by high-rise apartment buildings. A construction boom began with the Changjon Street Apartment Complex, which was completed in 2012. Construction of the complex began after late leader Kim Jong Il described Changjon Street as "pitiful". Other housing complexes are being upgraded as well, but most are still poorly insulated, and lacking elevators and central heating. An urban renewal program continued under Kim Jong Un's leadership, with

10304-541: The throne in the 50th year of the legendary Yao's reign, Annals of the King Sejong says the first year, and Tongguk t'onggam says the 25th year. In the 7th century BCE, the Yan pioneered the Northeast regions. According to The Growth of Yan and The Context of Guanzi , it can be presumed that Gojoseon grew through trade in this era. It is estimated that Gojoseon developed so far as to be able to war against

10416-595: The throne of Gojoseon. King Jun fled to Jin in the south of the Korean Peninsula . In 109 BCE, Emperor Wu of Han invaded near the Liao River . A conflict would erupt in 109 BCE, when Wi Man's grandson King Ugeo ( 우거왕 ; 右渠王 ) refused to let Jin's ambassadors through his territory in order to reach the Han dynasty. King Ugeo refused and had his son, Prince Wi Jang (長降) escort the ambassador back home. However, when they got close to Han's borders,

10528-526: The title and function of its leader, who came to be designated as "king" ( Han ), in the tradition of the Zhou dynasty , around the same time as the Yan (燕) leader. Records of that time mention the hostility between the feudal state in Northern China and the "confederated" kingdom of Gojoseon. Notably, a plan to attack the Yan beyond the Liao River frontier is recorded. This confrontation led to

10640-512: Was a disgruntled Chinese advisor to the Shang dynasty . The story of how he brought poetry, music, medicine, trade, and a political system to the Korean peninsula was conceived similarly to the proposed Founding of Rome by the Trojan refugee Aeneas . But by the 1930s, under the influence of Shin Chaeho 's histories, the Jizi Korean founding story became less popular than that of Dangun ,

10752-436: Was a pioneer in Korea, is currently ranked second after Seoul National University. This gives the graduates a much better opportunity to land a job at the biggest IT giants such as Samsung, Google, and LG. The social welfare program at Soongsil University has a high reputation in Korea as a leading institution of social work education, retaining an unchanged high ranking in social work education evaluation for decades. According to

10864-601: Was a title borne by successive leaders of Gojoseon. Dangun is said to have founded Gojoseon around 2333 BC, based on the descriptions of the Samguk yusa , Jewang Ungi , Tongguk t'onggam and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty . The date differs among historical sources, although all of them put it during the mythical Emperor Yao 's reign (traditional dates: 2357 BC? – 2256 BC?). Samguk yusa says Dangun ascended to

10976-583: Was administrated by Kusong , North Pyongan Province . It had been transferred to the administration of P'yŏngyang on February 10, 2018. After being destroyed during the Korean War, Pyongyang was entirely rebuilt according to Kim Il Sung's vision, which was to create a capital that would boost morale in the post-war years. The result was a city with wide, tree-lined boulevards and public buildings with terraced landscaping, mosaics and decorated ceilings. Its Soviet-style architecture makes it reminiscent of

11088-418: Was again devastated during the Korean War , but was quickly rebuilt after the war with Soviet assistance. Pyongyang is the political, industrial and transport center of North Korea. It is estimated that 99% of those living in Pyongyang are members, candidate members, or dependents of members of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). It is home to North Korea's major government institutions , as well as

11200-456: Was again severely damaged in the Korean War , during which it was briefly occupied by South Korean forces from 19 October to 6 December 1950. The city saw many refugees evacuate when advancing Chinese forces pushed southward towards Pyongyang. UN forces oversaw the evacuation of refugees as they retreated from Pyongyang in December 1950. In 1952, it was the target of the largest aerial raid of

11312-416: Was both the founder of the Korean minjok and the first Korean state ( kuk ), and thus the necessary starting point for Korean history. In response to a challenge by the Japanese scholars Shiratori Kurakichi and Imanishi Ryū of Dangun as a fabrication by the author of the Samguk yusa , nationalist historian Choe Nam-seon attacked Japanese mythology as being built upon fabrications. By focusing on

11424-601: Was called "the Jerusalem of the East". In 1890, the city had 40,000 inhabitants. It was the site of the Battle of Pyongyang during the First Sino-Japanese War , which led to the destruction and depopulation of much of the city. It was the provincial capital of South Pyeongan Province beginning in 1896. During the Japanese colonial rule , Japan tried to develop the city as an industrial center, but faced

11536-400: Was cemented by the operation of Korean independence movement partisans operating from the Chinese border and legitimized with associations to the history of the Gojoseon and Balhae states. The Chinese civilizational connection to ancient Korea continues to be attacked by North Korean historians, who allege that the history of Gija Joseon was "viciously distorted by the feudal ruling class,

11648-409: Was derived in the next decades with a unit district system which mixes residential and industrial zoning. Those districts are spread around the central administrative district and together with it they form the key axis of directionality for the city expansion. While in the 50s the major emphasis was placed on the reconstruction of Pyongyang from its ruins as carefully a socialist city in strict line with

11760-428: Was found earlier prior to the excavation in 1958 Gangsang and Nusang tombs are considered to be burial cairn tombs of local nobilities of Gojoseon. Some consider the tombs as the evidences of the slavery that could have existed, but others find that the evidences are inadequate and lacking to deduce such conclusion. Around this time, the state of Jin occupied the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Very little

11872-523: Was initiated on the former territory of Kangdong Airfield which was demolished in 2019. In April 2024 the second stage of construction in the Hwasong area was completed in Rimhung Street with 10,000 apartments was marked with an extravagant ceremony. Pyongyang, alongside Seoul , launched a bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics , but failed to make the joint city candidate list. Pyongyang

11984-452: Was officially adopted in 1953. The transformation into a modern, propaganda-designed city featuring Stalin-style architecture with a Korean-style arrangement (and other modernist architecture that was said to have been greatly influenced by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer ) began. The 1972 Constitution officially declared Pyongyang the capital. The funeral of Kim Il Sung was held in Pyongyang in 1994. Then on 19 July, it concluded with

12096-614: Was rebuilt. In 2021–2022 a major housing project was executed along Songhwa Street in southeast part of the city Hwasong Street in Hwasong District in northern Pyongyang with high-rises. In 2023 phase two of construction of housing in Hwasong district was launched, on the former territory of the Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute. In addition, a complex of greenhouse farm and housing

12208-661: Was taken by Silla , but left on the border between Silla and Balhae . Pyongyang was left abandoned during the Later Silla period, until it was recovered by Wang Geon and decreed as the Western Capital of Goryeo . During the Imjin War , Pyongyang was captured by the Japanese and held the city wall until they were defeated in the Siege of Pyongyang . Later in the 17th century, it became temporarily occupied during

12320-466: Was the first industrial city to emerge in North Korea after the Korean War. Light and heavy industries are both present and have developed in parallel. Heavy manufactures include cement , industrial ceramics, munitions and weapons, but mechanical engineering remains the core industry. Light industries in Pyongyang and its vicinity include textiles , footwear and food, among others. Special emphasis

12432-424: Was the first kingdom on the Korean Peninsula . According to Korean mythology , the kingdom was established by the legendary king Dangun . Gojoseon possessed the most advanced culture in the Korean Peninsula at the time and was an important marker in the progression towards the more centralized states of later periods. The addition of Go ( 고 ; 古 ), meaning "ancient", is used in historiography to distinguish

12544-472: Was to limit the population. Authorities maintain a restrictive regime of movement into the city, making it atypical of East Asia as it is silent, uncrowded and spacious. Structures in Pyongyang are divided into three major architectural categories: monuments, buildings with traditional Korean motifs and high-rises. Some of North Korea's most recognisable landmarks are monuments, like the Juche Tower ,

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