Pyongyang

P'yŏngyang Directly Governed City

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Pyongyang photo

Korean name
McCune-Reischauer P'yŏngyang Chikhalsi
Revised Romanization Pyeongyang Jikhalsi
Hangul 평양 직할시
Hanja 平壤直轄市
Short name P'yŏngyang (Pyeongyang; 평양)
Statistics
Population 2,741,260 (1993)
Area n/a
Government Directly Governed City, Capital of North Korea
Administrative divisions 19 wards (Kuyŏk), 4 counties (Kun)
Region Kwansŏ
Dialect P'yŏngan
Location map
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Map of North Korea highlighting the city

P'yŏngyang (Pyeongyang) is the capital city of North Korea, located in the northwest of the country, situated on the Taedong River. The official population of the city is not disclosed; given as 2,741,260 in 1993, it was reported as 2.5 and 3.8 million in 2002 and 2003 by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, a pro-North Korean organization. Pyongyang is located at 39°2' North, 125°45' East (39.0333, 125.75).

The city was split from the South P'yŏngan province in 1946. 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. Some sources, mostly older and South Korean, refer to Pyongyang as a Special City, but it has been reported that even the South Korean government adopted the Directly Governed City terminology in 1994.

Contents
1 History

1.1 Historic names

2 Administrative divisions
3 Landmarks
4 Transportation
5 Climate
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

History

According to legend, the city was founded in 2333 BC as Wanggŏmsŏng (왕검성; 王儉城). It became a major city under the Go-Joseon Dynasty.

Goguryeo moved its capital here in 427. The Tang Empire and Silla allied and defeated Goguryeo in 668. 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). 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.

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 aims to recapture its official capital at that time of Seoul. It was severely damaged in the Korean War, during which it was briefly occupied by South Korean forces. After the war, the city was quickly rebuilt with Soviet help, with many buildings built in Stalinist architecture.

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. Even today, Pyongyang has numerous willow trees planted everywhere, and many buildings and places are named with "Ryugyŏng", the most notable of all being its uncompleted Ryugyong Hotel. Its other historic names include Kisŏng, Hwangsŏng, Rangnang, Sŏgyŏng, Sŏdo, Hogyŏng, Changan, etc.

Administrative divisions

P'yŏngyang is divided into 19 wards ("Kuyŏk") and 4 counties ("Kun").

Landmarks

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Changgwang Street in Pyongyang

The capital has been completely rebuilt since the Korean War (1950–1953). It is designed as a showcase for the communist revolution, with wide avenues, imposing monuments, and monolithic buildings. The tallest structure in the city is the uncompleted 1,080-foot Ryugyong Hotel. This hotel has 105 floors with a few pavilions for rotating restaurants; however, construction has been stalled since the early 1990s. The building stands now as an empty shell.

Some notable landmarks in the city include the Arch of Triumph (a larger replica of Paris's Arc de Triomphe), 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).

Transportation

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Metro

Pyongyang has a two-line underground metro system which has a length of 22.5 km. There is also a tram and trolleybus service. There are not as many private automobiles as in Western cities, although the state government operates a sizable fleet of Mercedes-Benz limousines for Party bureaucrats. Many residents walk, cycle, or use the subway because of lack of other options for transportation.

Pyongyang is served by Sunan Capital International Airport, which has weekly flights to Beijing (PEK), Shenyang (SHE), Vladivostok (VVO) and several other cities. There are occasional chartered flights to Macau (MFM), Bangkok (BKK), Incheon (ICN), Yangyang County (YNY) and several Japanese cities. The city also has regular international train service to Beijing and Moscow. A journey for Beijing taking about 24 hours; Moscow, 6 days.

Climate

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Climate diagram of Pyongyang


Climate diagram of Pyongyang

References

See also

External links


Administrative divisions of North Korea Missing image
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Flag of North Korea

Directly Governed Cities
P'yŏngyang | Rasŏn
Former Directly Governed Cities

Ch'ŏngjin | Hamhŭng | Kaesŏng | Namp'o

Special Administrative Regions
Kaesŏng Industrial Region | Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region | Sinŭiju Special Administrative Region
Provinces
Chagang | North Hamgyŏng | South Hamgyŏng | North Hwanghae | South Hwanghae | Kangwŏn | North P'yŏngan | South P'yŏngan | Ryanggang

See also: Pyongyang, 1896, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1990s, 1993, 2333 BC