PANORAMA OF PYONGYANG Foreign Languages Publishing House Pyongyang, Korea Juche 103 (2014) Preface Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The founding of the DPRK in September Juche 37 (1948) has unfolded a new history of Pyongyang, capital of an independent and sovereign state. The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Government of the DPRK are situated here. Grand monumental structures, revolutionary sites and modern streets, such as Chollima, Munsu, Changgwang, An Sang Thaek, Kwangbok, Thongil, Chongchun, Mansudae, Changjon and Unha Scientists and Wisong Scientists Dwelling District provide the looks of thriving Pyongyang in the era of the Workers' Party of Korea. Pyongyang has been turned into the political, economic and cultural hub of the country. Its history began with the founding by Tangun, father of the Korean nation, of Ancient Joson with the city as the capital. During the period of Koguryo, a power that existed in the East for a thousand years, Pyongyang was its first or second capital. In the days of Koryo and feudal Joson dynasty, it served as a military stronghold for the northwestern area. The city, cradle of mankind and the Taedonggang Civilization, one of the world’s five civilizations, is home to multitudes of remains and relics showing the history and culture of the Korean nation. Building Materials Industry ·········································80 Light Industry ·····························································81 Contents Foodstuff and Daily Necessities Industries ····················84 Commercial and Service Facilities ·······························84 Pyongyang, Capital of the DPRK ··································· 6 Agriculture ···································································97 Physical Feature ···························································· 6 Rural Economy ···························································97 5 000-Year History ························································11 Stockbreeding ·····························································98 Capital of Tangun’s Joson ············································11 Fruit Culture ·····························································100 Pyongyang and Old States ···········································13 Fish-breeding ···························································101 History of New Pyongyang ···········································15 Traffic Services ···························································102 Liberation of Korea ·····················································15 Culture ·············································································106 Three-Year War ··························································17 Science ········································································106 Creation of Pyongyang Speed ······································20 Education ····································································110 Monumental Edifices ····················································34 Public Health ······························································138 Revolutionary Sites ·······················································59 Literature and the Arts ···············································147 Politics ················································································69 Physical Culture ·························································170 Political Parties ·····························································69 Press Organs ·······························································184 Songun Politics ·····························································71 Parks and Pleasure Grounds ······································187 State Structure ······························································73 City of Friendship ··························································204 The Economy ····································································78 Historical Sites in Pyongyang ·······································210 Industry ········································································78 Machine-building Industry ···········································78 Folklore of Pyongyang ···················································228 Electric Power Industry ···············································79 Coal-mining Industry ··················································80 Living Monuments ·························································238 2 3 Pyongyang, Capital of the DPRK Politics The Economy Culture City of Friendship Historical Sites in Pyongyang Folklore of Pyongyang Living Monuments Rungna, Panwol and Yanggak; its shores Pyongyang, Capital of the DPRK are lined by cliffs like Chongnyu and Okryu; Physical Feature beautiful pavilions nestle on top of the cliffs and Pyongyang Pyongyang lies in Pyongyang Plain on the lower reaches of the mountains. Taedong River in the northwestern region of the Korean peninsula. With such scenery The central part of the city is traversed by latitude 39° N and blending well with the sea longitude 125° 45′ E. of full-blown flowers or The city has four distinct seasons as it belongs to the temperate with red autumnal leaves monsoon climate zone. or with white snow, It is 84 m above sea level and has an average annual temperature Pyongyang is literally of 10.6°C and an average annual precipitation of 967.8 mm. the most beautiful city in The city was also called Ryugyong since 13th century for the the world. many weeping willows there. The city’s fascinating The vast swathes of undulating plain are dotted with picturesque scenery ranging from the charming hills and mountains like Mts. low hills; the Taedong River is sparsely strewn with islands like Taesong and Ryongak and Moran Hill to the meandering flow of the Taedong has been known far and wide from olden times. Summer, witnessing more than 20°C in average daily temperature, Topography starts around June 11 and ends around September 10. Pyongyang topographically consists of an alluvial plain resultant July and August are hot and wet months. from the flow of the Taedong and its tributaries, Pyongyang peneplain Autumn begins around September 11 and ends around November 30. on the shore of the river and low mountainous area resultant from The first frost comes around October 16, and the last frost around erosion that happened through a long geological period. April 22. In the northern and western suburbs there are low mountains Winter is cold and extremely dry owing to the influence of cold including Mangyong Hill and Mts. Taesong and Jang. northwestern wind. The city’s temperature in this season is much Low hills like Moran, Mansu, Jangdae and Namsan and Mts. lower than that of the eastern coastal areas. Haebang and Changgwang stand in rows along the shores of the Taedong flowing through downtown Pyongyang. Hydrology The eastern Pyongyang area encompasses an alluvial plain; the Although the larger part of it is made up of Pyongyang Ryokpho, Kangnam and Rangnang areas house a vast extense of Plain, the city has a developed river network due to the complex Pyongyang Plain, making up the city’s major granary. physiographical features. The Taedong is dotted with the islands like Rungna, Yanggak, Ssuk The city has 69 rivers and Turu, accumulation of earth and sand carried by the water current. more than 5 km long including the 200.5-km Nam. Underground Resources The Taedong, the fifth The city abounds in coal, iron, copper, lead, zinc, gold, mercury, longest river in Korea, fluorite, barite, limestone, kaolinite, etc. Of them, those of economic flows through the city. It is value are anthracite, alum shale, limestone, gold and mercury. 450.3 km long, and its basin area is 20 247 km2. Climate The rich water resource As it belongs to the temperate monsoon climate zone, the city of the Taedong is used has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. effectively in various sectors Spring begins around March 8, when the average daily temperature of the national economy. Barrages in Pyongyang rises above 0°C. The season is the windiest of the four seasons. The city has reservoirs 8 9 such as Obusan, Songmun and Rimwon. 5 000-Year History Fauna and Flora The city’s fauna is diverse and plentiful. Lots of hare inhabit Capital of Tangun’s Joson woodlands in the suburbs and wild cats live in the mountainous area The Legend of Tangun, a legend the Korean people have handed of Kangdong County. There are a large number of Korean water-deer down through generations, tells that Pyongyang is the cradle of the in Mts. Taesong and Ryongak, and squirrels, raccoon dogs and hare, Korean nation. in comparatively dense forests in the city. The city is also home to Long, long ago, Hwanung, son of Hwanin, the Heavenly God, such birds as pheasant, woodpecker, great tit, cuckoo, Korean scops lived in a heavenly kingdom and harboured an ambition to rule owl and wild goose. the underworld. His father understood him and let him go down. The Taedong and its tributaries like Nam, Pothong, Hapjang, Hwanung with his 3 000 subjects descended to a sanctuary tree on Konyang and Sunhwa teem with grey mullet, carp, etc. top of Mt. Thaebaek (or Mt. Myohyang) and named the place Sinsi The city’s climatic and soil conditions are favorable for plants (God’s Town—Tr.). He put the gods of Rain, Cloud and Wind in to grow. charge of 360 kinds of human life affairs including farming,