Introduction
Photograph:The skyline of Pyongyang, North Korea.
* The skyline of Pyongyang, North Korea.
The capital and largest city of North Korea is Pyongyang. It is also one of the country's oldest cities. It lies along the Taedong River in the southwestern part of the country. It is about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Yellow Sea.
Places of interest
Pyongyang's notable sights include a huge bronze statue of a winged horse, Ch'ollima. It is a symbol of the way that North Korea grew and developed after the end of the Korean War (1950–53). Modern landmarks include the Grand Theater, the Okryoo Hall, and the Moran-bong Stadium. The Okryoo contains a large banquet hall for official functions and recreation facilities for workers. Other attractions include the Central Historical Museum and a huge underground theater.
Pyongyang has several temples and pavilions that were built during the Koguryo kingdom, which ended in the 7th century. The buildings have been repaired and rebuilt so that they resemble the original buildings as closely as possible. The grave of the ancient Chinese philosopher Kija, the legendary founder of Pyongyang, is to the north of the city.
Pyongyang is the seat of Kim Il-sung University. As the headquarters of the country's Communist party, the city also has a Communist university to train party leaders.
Economy
Pyongyang is central to North Korea's agricultural and manufacturing economy. Wheat, millet, rice, cotton, soybeans, cabbage, corn, and apples are grown in the area. Pyongyang is a major textile and food-processing center. The city also has sugar refineries; rubber, chemical, and ceramic factories; machine-building and railroad workshops; and brickyards. Most workers have jobs in government offices and government-owned companies.
History
According to legend, the modern city of Pyongyang was founded in 1122 BC on the site of an ancient capital that dated back to at least 2300 BC. The first historical records of the city date from 108 BC, when the Chinese established a trading colony there. In AD 427 Pyongyang became the capital of the Koguryo kingdom, but in 668 it was captured by Chinese invaders.
The kings of the Koryo dynasty (918–1392) made Pyongyang their secondary capital. The city was taken over by the Japanese in 1592 and destroyed by the Manchus in the early 17th century. The Manchus lived for many centuries in Manchuria, northeastern China, and nearby areas. The many invasions of the city made Koreans suspicious of all foreigners. When Korea finally opened its doors to foreigners, Pyongyang became the base for people who wanted to bring Christianity to Korea. More than 100 churches were built in the city in the 19th century.
Much of Pyongyang was again destroyed during a war between China and Japan in 1894–95. The city was controlled by the Japanese from 1910 to 1945. During this period it became an industrial center. In 1948, when Korea was divided into two nations, Pyongyang became the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).
In the Korean War (1950–53) Pyongyang was severely damaged once again. United Nations forces captured the city in 1950, but later Chinese Communist forces helped North Korea take back the city. After the war the Soviet Union and China helped rebuild the city. Population (1996 estimate), city, 2,500,000; (1999 estimate), urban area, 3,136,000.
