Pyongyang

Prehistory

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.^[33] North Koreans associate Pyongyang with the mythological city of "Asadal", or Wanggeom-seong, the first capital of Gojoseon ("Old Joseon") in the second millennium BC, according to Korean historiographies beginning with the 13th-century Samguk yusa.

Historians^[who?] 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".^{[citation needed]} The connection between the two therefore may have been asserted by North Korea for the use of propaganda.^{[citation needed]} Nevertheless, Pyongyang became a major city in old Joseon.

Historical period

According to legend, Pyongyang was founded in 1122 BC on the site of the capital of the legendary king Tan'gun.^[34] Wanggeom-seong, which was located in the same place as modern-day Pyongyang, served as 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 the location of Pyongyang. Several archaeological findings in the Pyongyang area dated to the later Eastern Han (20–220 AD) period seem to suggest that Han forces later launched brief incursions nearby.

The area around the city was called Nanglang during the early Three Kingdoms period. As the capital of Nanglang (낙랑국; 樂浪國),^[c] Pyongyang remained an important commercial and cultural outpost after the Lelang Commandery was destroyed by an expanding Goguryeo in 313.

Goguryeo moved its capital there in 427. According to Christopher I. Beckwith, Pyongyang is the Sino-Korean reading of the name they gave it in the Goguryeo language: *Piarna, or "level land".^[35] He also writes that the Goguryeo term *Piarna has never been documented, but has been reconstructed based on the individual terms for flat and land in the language.^[36]

In 668, Pyongyang became the capital of the Protectorate General to Pacify the East established by the Tang dynasty of China. By 676, it was conquered by Silla, but was 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, who held the city wall until they were defeated in the Siege of Pyongyang.^[34] Later in the 17th century, it was temporarily occupied during 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,^[34] and was called "the Jerusalem of the East".^[37]

In 1890, the city had 40,000 inhabitants.^[38] 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.^[39] It was the provincial capital of South Pyongan Province beginning in 1896. During the Japanese colonial rule, Japan tried to develop the city as an industrial center, but faced the March First Movement in 1919 and severe anti-Japanese socialist movements in 1920s due to economic exploitation.^{[39][40][41][42]} It was called Heijō (composed of 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.^[43] By 1938, Pyongyang had a population of 235,000.^[38]

After 1945

On 25 August 1945, the Soviet 25th Army entered Pyongyang and it became the temporary capital of the Provisional People's Committee of North Korea. A People's Committee was already established there, led by veteran Christian nationalist Cho Man-sik.^[44] 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 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.^[45] In 1952, it was the target of the largest aerial raid of the entire war, involving 1,400 UN aircraft.

Already during the war, plans were made to reconstruct the city. The plans for the modern city of Pyongyang were first displayed for public viewing in a theatre building. 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 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".^[46] 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. 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 was officially adopted in 1953. The transformation into a modern, propaganda-designed city featuring Stalinist architecture with Korean arrangement (and other modernist architecture said to have been greatly influenced by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer) began.^[47] The 1972 Constitution officially declared Pyongyang the capital.^[48] During Kim Il Sung's 1956 diplomatic tour of the USSR, he was heavily inspired by Proto-Krushchyovka mass housing concepts introduced to him, which were urgently replicated in the fast-expanding region south of the Taedong. Soviet architectural influence re-emerged in the 1980s; the newly-built Kwangbok and Tongil Street apartments were of near-identical design to Brezhnevka.^[49]

The funeral of Kim Il Sung was held in Pyongyang in 1994. On 19 July, it concluded with a procession in which his corpse moved through the streets in a hearse as people cried out in hysteria.^[50]

In 2001, North Korean authorities began a long-term modernisation programme. The Ministry of Capital City Construction Development was included in the Cabinet that year. In 2006, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law Jang Song Thaek took charge of the ministry.

Throughout the rule of Kim Jong Un, a number of residential projects were constructed. In 2012, a residential project with 2,784 units was inaugurated on Changjon Street^[51] in the heart of Pyongyang. In 2013 and 2014, residential projects dedicated to scientists were completed on Unha Scientists Street and Wisong Scientists Street, with more than 1,000 units each, while in 2015 work took place on a residential project on Mirae Scientists Street with 2,584 units. In 2017, in dedication to the 105th birthday of the founder and first leader, Kim Il Sung, 4,804 units were built in the new Ryomyong Street complex.

Other recent public building projects include 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,^[52] the Samjiyon Orchestra Theater,^[53] 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 redevelopment projects occurred in 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 District and in the area of Sinwon-dong in Potonggang District were demolished^[54] in 2018–2019 for the construction of new apartment buildings.^[55] Also in 2018, the Youth Park Open-Air Theatre on Sungri Street, used to host political rallies, was rebuilt.^[56]

In 2021, Kim Jong Un during the 8th Congress of the WPK set forth a major 5 year plan for the construction of 50,000 new flats, with 10,000 flats to be completed each year. The first phase of construction began in March 2021 with Songhwa Street in Songhwa and Songsin areas of Sadong District in the eastern part of the city which included the 80 story Songhwa Street Main Tower.^[57] It also saw the construction of the Pothong Riverside Terraced Residential District located at the city center on land previously used by the headquarters of the International Taekwon-Do Federation.^[58] Kim Jong Un ordered that the residential district be renamed "Kyongru-dong" meaning "beautiful bead terrace".^[59] 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".^[60] In 2022, construction shifted into the Hwasong area of Hwasong District in the northwest of the city, where 40,000 flats would be built in 4 years to create a model district. Construction of Hwasong Street with 10,000 flats serves as the first stage out of four stages of construction in the district.^[61] In April 2023, the first stage of the Hwasong area was completed, and stage two the Hwasong area was launched on the former land of the Pyongyang Vegetable Science Institute. This stage also saw construction of new high-rises in Sopho area of Hyongjesan District. In addition, a complex of greenhouse farms and housing was initiated on the former territory of Kangdong Airfield, which was demolished in 2019.^[62][63]

In April 2024, Rimhung Street was inaugurated as stage two of the Hwasong area; completion was celebrated with an extravagant ceremony.^[64] In May 2024, Jonwi Street in Hyongjesan District was inaugurated, completing the quota of 10,000 apartments that year.^[65] Stage three saw new residential zones built in Hwasong District and was completed in April 2025.^[66] In February 2025, the 4th stage of the Hwasong area and final stage of the 50,000 flats project broke ground for a new street and new residential zones including in Taesong District, next to the Korea Central Zoo.^[67][68] The inauguration of Saebyol Street in February 2026 saw the completion of 10,000 more apartments, marking the completion of the 50,000 flats initiative, with nearly a total of 60,000 flats completed reportedly by state media. A 5th stage of the Hwasong area broke ground immediately after.^[69]

In 2026 the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations opened in Hwasong District alongside with some residential projects.^[70]

Pyongyang, alongside Seoul, launched a bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics, but failed to make the joint city candidate list.

Climate

Pyongyang has a hot-summer continental monsoon climate (Köppen: Dwa), featuring warm to hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters.^[72][73] 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 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 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,^[74][75] coupled with relatively clear, sunny skies.^[76][77]

Landmarks

Notable landmarks in the city include:

• The Ryugyong Hotel
• The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
• The Arch of Triumph (heavily inspired by, but larger than, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris)
• The birthplace of Kim Il Sung at Mangyongdae Hill at the city outskirts
• Juche Tower, a monument to the philosophy of Juche (self-reliance)
• Two large stadiums:
  • Rungrado 1st of May Stadium (the second largest stadium in the world by seating capacity)
  • Kim Il Sung Stadium
• The Mansu Hill complex, including the Korean Revolution Museum
• Kim Il Sung Square
• Yanggakdo International Hotel

Pyongyang TV Tower is a minor landmark. Other visitor attractions include the Korea Central Zoo. The Pyongyang–Kaesong Motorway stretches from Pyongyang to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

• Monuments and sights of Pyongyang
• 
  Juche Tower
• 
  Arch of Triumph
• 
  Monument to Party Founding
• 
  Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
• 
  Tomb of King Tongmyeong
• 
  Ryugyong Hotel
• 
  Ryomyong New Town
• 
  Mirae Scientists Street
• 
  Rungrado 1st of May Stadium

Cuisine

Pyongyang served as the provincial capital of South Pyongan Province until 1946,^[105] and Pyongyang cuisine is part of 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 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 enjoy it as a haejangguk, which is any type of food eaten as a hangover cure, usually a warm soup.^[106]

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.^[107] Traditionally, it has been served to guests visiting Pyongyang. Therefore, there 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).^[106]

Social life

In 2018, there were many high-quality restaurants in Pyongyang with Korean and international food, and imported alcoholic beverages.^[104] Famous restaurants include Okryu-gwan and Ch'ongryugwan.^[108] Some street food exists in Pyongyang, where vendors operate food stalls.^[109] Foreign foods like hamburgers, fries, pizza, and coffee are easily found.^[104] There is an active nightlife with late-night restaurants and karaoke.^[104]

The city has water parks, amusement parks, skating rinks, health clubs, a shooting range, and a dolphinarium.^[103]

Retail

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.^[113]

The city also has Hwanggumbol Shop, 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.^[114]

Transportation

Pyongyang is the main transport hub of the country: it has a network of roads, railways and air routes which link it to both foreign and domestic destinations. It is the starting point of inter-regional highways reaching Nampo, Wonsan and Kaesong.^[34] Pyongyang railway station serves the main railway lines, including the Pyongui Line and the Pyongbu Line. Regular international rail services to Beijing, the Chinese border city of Dandong and Moscow are also available.

A rail journey to Beijing takes about 25 hours and 25 minutes (K27 from Beijing/K28 from Pyongyang, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays); a journey to Dandong takes about 6 hours (daily); a journey to Moscow takes six days. The city also connects to the Eurasian Land Bridge via the Trans-Siberian Railway. A high-speed rail link to Wonsan is planned.^[115]

The Metro, tram and trolleybus systems are used mainly by commuters as a primary means of urban transportation.^[34] Cycle lanes were introduced on main thoroughfares in July 2015.^[116] There are relatively few cars in the city. Cars are a status symbol in the country due to their scarcity resulting from import restrictions caused by international sanctions and domestic regulations.^[117] Some roads are also reported to be in poor condition.^[118] However, by 2018, Pyongyang had begun to experience traffic jams.^[104]

State-owned Air Koryo has scheduled international flights from Pyongyang Sunan International Airport to Beijing (PEK), Shenyang (SHE) and Vladivostok (VVO).^[119] The only domestic destinations are Hamhung, Wonsan, Chongjin, Hyesan and Samjiyon. Since 27 July 2025, Nordwind Airlines has served direct flights between Moscow–Sheremetyevo and Pyongyang once a month.^[120]

Citations

Bibliography

• "Corea" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. VI (9th ed.). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1878. pp. 390–394..
• "North Korea – A Country Study" (PDF). Library of Congress Country Studies. 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 December 2010.

Pyongyang at night

• Pyongyang at Night on 15 April 2012 on YouTube
• Pyongyang at Night River View DPRK on YouTube