Pyongyang is a big city.
It is in North Korea. The city sits by a river. It has many tall buildings.
It is a very old place. Do you want to see it?
Pyongyang is a large city.
It is the capital of North Korea. The city sits on the Taedong River. Its name means "flat land."
This city is very old. Long ago, it was a home for kings. It was the capital for two kingdoms.
The city was hurt in a big war. Later, people helped to rebuild it. Now, many new buildings are going up.
Many people live and work here. It is a center for trains and big offices. It is a very busy place to be.
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea.
It is a very large city. More than 3 million people live there. The city sits on the Taedong River. Its name means "flat land." This name fits the smooth ground of the area.
Pyongyang is one of the oldest cities in Korea. Legend says it was founded a long time ago. It was once the capital for two ancient kingdoms.
The city was hurt during the Korean War. After the war, the Soviet Union helped rebuild it. Many buildings were made in a special style.
Today, Pyongyang is a center for power and travel. It is where the main government offices are.
Many new projects are happening now. Workers are building many new homes for people. They have built large streets for scientists. There are also new water parks and hospitals. The city is always changing with new buildings.
Pyongyang is the capital and largest city of North Korea.
It sits on the banks of the Taedong River. This river flows about 109 kilometers toward the Yellow Sea. The name Pyongyang means "flat land" in Sino-Korean. This name describes the smooth, level ground of the area.
The city is a very important center for politics and industry. It is also a major hub for transport in the country. More than 3 million people lived there in 2008.
The city has a very long and busy history. Legend says it was founded in 1122 BC. It was the capital for the kingdoms of Gojoseon and Goguryeo.
Later, it served as a secondary capital for the Goryeo kingdom. In the past, it was even called the "Jerusalem of the East." This was because it had many Christian missionaries and churches. By 1890, the city had about 40,000 people living in it. By 1938, that number grew to 235,000.
Many big changes happened during the 20th century. After the establishment of North Korea in 1948, it became the capital. However, the city was badly damaged during the Korean War.
In 1952, the city faced a very large aerial raid. After the war, the city was rebuilt very quickly. The Soviet Union helped with this massive rebuilding project. Many buildings were built in a style called Stalinist architecture. The 1972 Constitution officially named it the capital.
Today, the city is seeing a lot of new building work.
Under Kim Jong Un, there has been a construction boom. Many new homes have been built for different groups. For example, scientists have their own special streets. In 2017, workers finished the large Ryomyong Street complex. This project had 4,804 new units for people to live in. There are also new places like the Munsu Water Park.
Pyongyang is a place where many important things happen. It is home to the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Most people living there are linked to the ruling party. The city also has major government institutions in its complexes. You can see large monuments and modern high-rise buildings here.
The city continues to grow with new hospitals and airports. It remains the most important heart of North Korea.
Pyongyang is the capital and largest city of North Korea.
It is a directly administered city, which means it has a status equal to a province. The city sits on the banks of the Taedong River. This river flows about 109 kilometers upstream from its mouth at the Yellow Sea. The name Pyongyang comes from Sino-Korean words meaning "flat land."
This name describes the smooth, level terrain found in the area. In native Korean, the city was once called "Buruna," meaning "Land of the field."
The city serves as the political, industrial, and transport center of the nation. It is the home of major government institutions. The Workers' Party of Korea, or WPK, keeps its headquarters in Government Complex No. 1. Most people living in the city are connected to the ruling party. It is estimated that 99% of residents are members, candidate members, or dependents of WPK members.
This makes the city the central hub for the country's leadership and administration.
Pyongyang has a history that stretches back thousands of years. Legend says it was founded in 1122 BC. It was the capital for the ancient kingdoms of Gojoseon and Goguryeo.
It also served as a secondary capital for the Goryeo kingdom. In the early 20th century, the city was known as the "Jerusalem of the East." This was because it was a major stronghold for Protestant Christianity. By 1880, the city held more Protestant missionaries than any other city in Asia.
The 20th century brought massive changes and destruction to the city. After North Korea was established in 1948, Pyongyang became the de facto capital. However, the Korean War caused severe damage to the urban area. In 1952, the city was the target of a massive aerial raid. This raid involved 1,400 UN aircraft.
Despite this devastation, the city was rebuilt quickly after the war ended in 1953.
Reconstruction was a massive project aided by the Soviet Union. Architects used a style known as Stalinist architecture for many new buildings. The Moscow Architectural Institute helped design a comprehensive construction plan in 1951. This plan was officially adopted in 1953. The city was transformed into a modern space with a unique arrangement. Some newer buildings were also influenced by the work of Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. The 1972 Constitution officially declared Pyongyang as the capital.
In recent years, the city has experienced a significant construction boom. This growth has happened under the leadership of Kim Jong Un. Many large residential projects have been completed for specific groups of people. For example, Unha Scientists Street and Wisong Scientists Street each hold over 1,000 units.
In 2017, the Ryomyong Street complex was finished. This single project provided 4,804 residential units. Other new sites include the Munsu Water Park and the renovated Sunan International Airport.
Pyongyang continues to develop through various modernizing programs. The Ministry of Capital City Construction Development was added to the Cabinet in 2001. Recent projects include the Pyongyang General Hospital, which began construction in 2020.
The city also features large public spaces and landmarks. These include the Arch of Triumph and the Mansudae People's Theatre. From its ancient roots to its modern high-rises, Pyongyang remains the most vital part of North Korea.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (42)
+ 30 more
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.