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This article is about the capital of North Korea. For other uses, see Pyongyang (disambiguation).
P'yŏngyang Directly Governed City
0322 Pyongyang Turm der Juche Idee Aussicht.jpg
P'yŏngyang.
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl 평양 직할시
Hancha 平壤直轄市
McCune-Reischauer P'yŏngyang Chikhalsi
Revised Romanization Pyeongyang Jikhalsi
Short name
Chosŏn'gŭl 평양
McCune-Reischauer P'yŏngyang
Revised Romanization Pyeongyang
Statistics
Elevation 27 m (89 ft)
Population (1993) 2,741,260
Government Directly Governed City
Administrative divisions 19 wards (kuyŏk), 4 counties (kun)
Region Kwansŏ
Location map
Map of North Korea highlighting the city.
Map of North Korea highlighting the city. Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language Romanization system in South Korea. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The administrative divisions of North Korea are organized into three hierarchical levels Korea has traditionally been divided into a number of unofficial regions that reflect historical geographical and dialect boundaries within the peninsula. P'yŏngan ( P'yŏngan-do) was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty.
Notes
Founded in 2333 BC as Wanggŏmsŏng.

Pyongyang (IPA: /pʰjʌŋjaŋ/) is the capital and largest city of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at 39.031859° N 125.753765° E. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, The Taedong River is a large river in North Korea. It rises in the Rangrim Mountains of the country's north The official population of the city is not disclosed; given as 2,741,260 in 1993, it was reported as 2. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology 5 and 3. 8 million in 2002 and 2003 by Chongryon, a pro-North Korean organization in Japan. The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan ( Chae Ilbon Chosŏnin Ch'ongryŏnhaphoe in Korean or Zai-Nihon Chōsenjin Sōrengōkai in

The city was split from the South P'yŏngan province in 1946. South P'yŏngan ( P'yŏngan-namdo) is a province of North Korea. It is administered as a Directly Governed City (Chikhalsi), on the same level as provincial governments, not a Special City (Teukbyeolsi) as Seoul is in South Korea. In North and South Korea, Special Cities Metropolitan Cities and Directly Governed Cities are cities that have a status equivalent to that of Provinces In North and South Korea, Special Cities Metropolitan Cities and Directly Governed Cities are cities that have a status equivalent to that of Provinces Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Some sources, mostly older and South Korean, refer to P'yŏngyang as a Special City, but it has been reported that even the South Korean government adopted the Directly Governed City terminology in 1994.

Contents

History

Satellite view of P'yŏngyang.
Satellite view of P'yŏngyang.

A large ancient village in the P'yŏngyang area called Kǔmtan-ni was excavated in 1955 by archaeologists who found prehistoric occupation from the Chǔlmun and Mumun pottery periods. The Jeulmun Pottery Period is an archaeological era in Korean prehistory that dates to approximately 8000-1500 B The Mumun pottery period is an Archaeological era in Korean prehistory that dates to approximately 1500-300 BC [1]

According to legend, the city was founded in 2333 BC as Wanggŏmsŏng (왕검성; 王儉城). A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to It became a major city under Gojoseon. Gojoseon was an ancient Korean kingdom considered the first proper nation of the Korean people.

In 108 BC Han Dynasty China conquered Gojoseon and the capital of the Lelang Commandery was put near Pyongyang. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Lelang was one of the Chinese Commanderies which was kept in the Korean Peninsula over 400 years until Goguryeo conquered it in 313 A Lelang remained an important commercial and cultural outpost until it was destroyed by the expanding Goguryeo in 313. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and

Goguryeo moved its capital here in 427. Goguryeo or Koguryo was an ancient Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean peninsula, southern Manchuria, and Tang Dynasty China and Silla allied and defeated Goguryeo in 668. The Tang Dynasty ( Middle Chinese: dhɑng (June 18 618&ndashJune 4 907 was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Silla (57 BC – 935 AD was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In 676, it was taken by Silla but left in the border between Silla and Balhae until the Goryeo dynasty, when the city was revived as Sŏgyŏng (서경; 西京; "Western Capital") although never actually a capital of Goryeo. Alternate meaning Bohai Sea Balhae (698 - 926 ( Bohai in Chinese, Пархэ in Russian) was an The Goryeo Dynasty ( 918 - 1392) (also spelled Koryŏ was a Sovereign state established in 918 by Taejo Wang Kon. It was the provincial capital of the P'yŏngan Province during the Joseon dynasty, becoming provincial capital of South P'yŏngan Province from 1896 and through the period of Japanese rule. P'yŏngan ( P'yŏngan-do) was one of the Eight Provinces of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. South P'yŏngan ( P'yŏngan-namdo) is a province of North Korea. Korea under Japanese rule refers to the period between 1910 and 1945 when Korea was forcibly annexed by the Japanese Empire.

In 1945, Japanese rule ended and it was occupied by Soviet forces, and became the temporary capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at its establishment in 1948 while it aimed to recapture its official capital at that time of Seoul. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. It was severely damaged in the Korean War, during which it was briefly occupied by South Korean forces. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the After the war, the city was quickly rebuilt with Soviet help, with many buildings built in Stalinist architecture. Stalinist architecture (also referred to as Stalin 's Empire style Stalinist Gothic, or Socialist Classicism

Historic names

One of its many historic names is Ryugyŏng (류경; 柳京), or "capital of willows", as willow trees have always been numerous throughout the city's history, and many poems written about these willows. Willows, sallows and osiers form the Genus Salix, around 400 species of Deciduous Trees and Shrubs found primarily Even today, Pyongyang has numerous willow trees planted everywhere, and many buildings and places have "Ryugyŏng" in their names, the most notable of all being its uncompleted Ryugyŏng Hotel. The Ryugyong Hotel (류경호텔(or Ryu-Gyong Hotel or Yu-Kyung Hotel) is an unfinished Concrete Skyscraper. Its other historic names include Kisŏng, Hwangsŏng, Rangrang, Sŏgyŏng, Sŏdo, Hogyŏng, Changan, etc. Lelang was one of the Chinese Commanderies which was kept in the Korean Peninsula over 400 years until Goguryeo conquered it in 313 A During the Japanese occupation, and in the Japanese language, it is also known as Heijō, which is simply the Japanese reading of the Chinese characters 平壌 the name Pyongyang consists of.

Administrative divisions

P'yŏngyang is divided into 19 wards (ku- or guyŏk) (the city proper) and 4 counties (kun or gun). [2]

Landmarks

The capital has been completely redone since the Korean War (1950–1953). The Chung-guyŏk is the Central District of Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Phyongchon District (P'yŏngch'ŏn-guyŏk is one of the 19 guyŏk (political districts or wards of Pyongyang, North Korea. Pot'onggang-guyŏk or the Pothong District is one of the 19 guyok of Pyongyang, North Korea. Moranbong-guyŏk, or the Moranbong District is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Sŏsŏng-guyŏk, Oesong or Sosong District, is one of the 19 guyŏk of Pyongyang, North Korea. Sŏn'gyo-guyŏk or Songyo District is one of the 19 guyŏk of Pyongyang, North Korea. Tongdaewŏn-guyŏk or Tongdaewon District is one of the 19 guyŏk and one of the six that constitute East Pyongyang, North Korea. Taedonggang-guyŏk, or Taedonggang District is one of the 19 guyŏk and one of the six that constitute East Pyongyang, North Korea. Sadong-guyŏk, or Sadong District is one of the 19 guyŏk and one of the six that constitute East Pyongyang, North Korea. Taesŏng-guyŏk, or Taesŏng District (대성구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Man'gyŏngdae-guyŏk, or Man'gyŏngdae District (만경대구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Hyŏngjesan-guyŏk, or Hyŏngjesan District (형제산구역 is is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Ryongsŏng-guyŏk, or Ryongsŏng District (룡성구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Samsŏk-guyŏk, or Samsŏk District (삼석구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Sŭngho-guyŏk, or Sŭngho District (승호구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Ryŏkp'o-guyŏk, or Ryŏkp'o District (력포구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Rakrang-guyŏk (락랑구역 or Rakrang District is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Sunan-guyŏk, or Sunan District (순안구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Ŭnjŏng-guyŏk, or Ŭnjŏng District (은정구역 is one of the 19 guyŏk that constitute Pyongyang, North Korea. Kangnam-gun (Kangnam County is one of the four suburban counties of Pyongyang, North Korea Chunghwa-gun (Chunghwa County is one of the four suburban counties of East Pyongyang, North Korea Sangwŏn-gun is one of the four suburban counties located in east Pyongyang, North Korea. Kangdong-gun, or Kangdong County is one of Pyongyang 's four suburban counties The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the It is designed with wide avenues, imposing monuments, and monolithic buildings. The tallest structure in the city is the uncompleted 330-metre (1,083 ft) Ryugyŏng Hotel. The Ryugyong Hotel (류경호텔(or Ryu-Gyong Hotel or Yu-Kyung Hotel) is an unfinished Concrete Skyscraper. This hotel has 105 floors, encloses 361,000 square metres (3,885,772 sq ft) of floor space, and was planned to be topped by seven revolving restaurants. A revolving restaurant is a Restaurant on a revolving Floorplate. However, construction has been stalled since the early 1990s and the building stands as an empty shell.

Some notable landmarks in the city include the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the Arch of Triumph (heavily inspired by Paris's Arc de Triomphe but of a larger size), the reputed birthplace of Kim Il-sung at Mangyongdae Hill, Juche Tower, and two of the world's largest stadiums (Kim Il Sung Stadium and Rungnado May Day Stadium). The Kumsusan Memorial Palace, sometimes referred to as the Kim Il-sung Mausoleum, is a large building located northeast of downtown Pyongyang, the capital city of The Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang (개선문 was built to commemorate the Korean resistance to Japan from 1925 to 1945 Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris, France that stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle also known as the Place de l'Étoile. Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early The Juche Tower (officially the Tower of Juche Idea) is a Monument in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim Il-sung Stadium is a very large Stadium located in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Rŭngrado May First Stadium, or May Day Stadium, is a multi-use Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, completed on May 1 Pyongyang TV Tower is a minor landmark. Pyongyang TV Tower is a free standing concrete TV tower with an observation deck in a height of 150 metres in Pyongyang, North Korea. Other visitor attractions include the Korea Central Zoo and the large golden statues of North Korea's two leaders. The Korea Central Zoo, also referred to as the Pyongyang Central Zoo, is the national Zoo of North Korea. The Arch of Reunification has a map of a united Korea supported by two concrete Korean women dressed in traditional dress straddling the multi-laned Reunification Highway that stretches from Pyongyang to the DMZ.

Juche Tower, a reminder to the North Korean people of Kim Il-sung's philosophy of Juche (self-reliance). The Juche Tower (officially the Tower of Juche Idea) is a Monument in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it

The Ryugyong Hotel. The Ryugyong Hotel (류경호텔(or Ryu-Gyong Hotel or Yu-Kyung Hotel) is an unfinished Concrete Skyscraper.

View of the P'yŏngyang Ice Rink in 1989, Ryugyong Hotel in background.

Arch of Reunification, a symbolisation of the goal of a united Korea.

A typical street in Pyongyang.

Transportation

Metro system

Pyongyang metro system.
Pyongyang metro system.
Pyongyang Tram car - Tatra T6B5.
Pyongyang Tram car - Tatra T6B5. P'yŏngyang Tram is a Tram system in P'yŏngyang, North Korea.

Pyŏngyang has a two-line underground metro system which has a length of 22. The Pyongyang Metro is a metro system in Pyongyang, North Korea, consisting of two lines 5 kilometers (14 mi). The Hyoksin line serves Kwangbok, Konguk, Hwanggumbol, Konsol, Hyoksin, Jonu, Jonsung, Samhung and Rakwon station. The Chollima line serves Puhung, Yonggwang, Ponghwa, Sungni, Tongil, Kaeson, Jonu and Pulgunbyol station. There is also a 53 km (33 mi) long tram and 150 km (93 mi) trolleybus service, but tourists have heard that few locals use them due to the high and frequent hazard of electrocution. P'yŏngyang Tram is a Tram system in P'yŏngyang, North Korea. [3] There are not as many private automobiles as in Western cities, although the state government operates a sizeable fleet of Mercedes-Benz limousines for Party bureaucrats. Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of luxury Automobiles Buses coaches and Trucks It is currently a division of the A limousine (or limo) is a longer than normal Luxury car. The chassis may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coach builder traditionally Many residents walk, cycle, or use the subway.

Air transportation

Sunan International Airport
Sunan International Airport

State-owned Air Koryo has scheduled flights from Sunan Capital International Airport to Beijing (PEK), Shenyang (SHE), Vladivostok (VVO), Macau (MFM), Bangkok (BKK),(KHV) and (SZX. Sunan International Airport is the main Airport serving Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, located 24 km from the city's center Air Koryo Korean Airways (formerly Chosŏn Minhang (조선민항, short form Air Koryo) is the state-owned national Airline of the Sunan International Airport is the main Airport serving Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, located 24 km from the city's center Beijing Capital International Airport, ( is the main international Airport that serves the capital city of Beijing, People's Republic of China. Shenyang ( Ch: 沈阳 pinyin Shěnyáng, or Mukden ( in Manchu) is a Sub-provincial city and capital of Liaoning Shenyang Taoxian International Airport ( is an airport in Shenyang, China. Vladivostok ( is Russia 's largest port city on the Pacific Ocean and the administrative center of Primorsky Krai. Vladivostok International Airport (Международный аэропорт «Владивосток» is located near Artyom, Primorsky Krai, For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Macau topics. Macau International Airport ( Aeroporto Internacional de Macau situated at the eastern end of Taipa island and neighbouring waters is the only airport in Macau Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (krūŋtʰêːp máhǎːnákʰɔn) or Krung Thep ( for short is the Capital, largest Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport ( formerly named Shenzhen Huangtian Airport) is located near Huangtian and Fuyong villages in Bao'an District, Shenzhen There are occasional chartered flights to Incheon (ICN), Yangyang County (YNY) and several Japanese cities. Incheon is a metropolitan city and a major seaport on the west coast of South Korea, near Seoul. Incheon International Airport (IIA (인천국제공항 is the largest Airport in South Korea, and one of the largest and busiest in Asia. Yangyang County ( Yangyang-gun) is a county in Gangwon Province South Korea. Yangyang International Airport ( Hangul: 양양 국제 공항, Hanja: 襄陽國際空港, Revised Romanization: Yangyang Air Koryo also claims scheduled service on a few domestic routes, although the accuracy of this is not known the only domestic routes are Hamhung,Wonsan,Chongjin,Hyesan and Samjiyon. Intermittent service to Pyongyang is also provided by a few foreign carriers, most notably Chinese. In April 2008, Air China launched regular, 3-days-per-week, service between Beijing and Pyongyang.

Intercity trains

The city also has regular international train services to Beijing and Moscow. Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of A journey to Beijing takes about 25 hours and 25 minutes (K27 from Beijing / K28 from Pyŏngyang, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays); a journey to Moscow takes 6 days.

Climate

Climate diagram of Pyŏngyang.
Climate diagram of Pyŏngyang

Weather averages for Pyongyang, North Korea
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 29 (-1) 35 (1) 47 (8) 61 (16) 71 (21) 78 (25) 82 (27) 83 (28) 75 (23) 63 (17) 47 (8) 34 (1) 59 (15)
Average low °F (°C) 14 (-10) 19 (-7) 30 (-1) 41 (5) 52 (11) 62 (16) 69 (20) 69 (20) 58 (14) 45 (7) 33 (0) 20 (-6) 43 (6)
Precipitation inches (cm) 0. In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric 6 (1) 0. 5 (1) 1. 1 (2) 1. 9 (4) 2. 7 (6) 3. 1 (7) 9. 9 (25) 9. 1 (23) 4. 5 (11) 1. 7 (4) 1. 7 (4) 0. 8 (2) 36. 9 (93)
Source: Weatherbase[4] Feb 2007

Sister cities

People from Pyongyang

Notes

  1. ^ National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Kathmandu (काठमांडौ येँ is the Capital and the largest city of Nepal. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Ahn Eak-tai (안익태 (1906 – 1965 was a Korean classical composer and conductor Hwang Jang-yop (born 17 February, 1923, Kangdong, South Pyongan) is a former major politician in North Korea who defected Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early George McAfee "Mac" McCune ( June 16, 1908 - November 5, 1948) was co-developer with Edwin O Edwin Oldfather Reischauer ( Tokyo, October 15, 1910 – September 1, 1990) was the leading U McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language Romanization systems along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which This article is mainly about the spoken Korean language See Hangul for details on the native Korean writing system Pak Doo-Ik (born 17 March 1942) is a former North Korean footballer. Youn Shim-deok (also written as Yoon or Yun and Sim-dok or Shimdok) (1897-1926 was the first woman Soprano to achieve fame throughout 2001. Geumtan-ri. Hanguk Gogohak Sajeon [Dictionary of Korean Archaeology], pp. 148-149. NRICH, Seoul. ISBN 89-5508-025-5
  2. ^ 행정구역현황 (Haengjeong Guyeok Hyeonhwang). NK Chosun. Retrieved on 2006-01-10. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Also Administrative divisions of North Korea (used as reference for hanja)
  3. ^ http://next.atnext.com//template/next/art_main.cfm?iss_id=867&sec_id=1000853&art_id=6414570
  4. ^ Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Pyongyang, North Korea (English). Weatherbase (2007). Retrieved on 2007-02-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons
  5. ^ International relations. Kathmandu City website. Retrieved on 2006-01-10. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war.

See also

External links

Further reading

Pictorials

Dictionary

Pyongyang

-proper noun

  1. The capital of North Korea.
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