Pyongyang
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Pyongyang (Korean pronunciation: [pçɔɲaŋ], literally: "Flat Land") is the capital of North Korea, located on the Taedong River. According to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, it has a population of 3,255,388.[1]
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.
Etymology
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 have been written about these willows. 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.
Its other historic names include Kisŏng, Hwangsŏng, Rakrang, Sŏgyŏng, Sŏdo, Hogyŏng, Changan, etc. During the Japanese rule, and in the Japanese language, it was also known as Heijō, which is simply the Japanese reading of the Chinese characters 平壌 making up the name Pyongyang.
History
A large ancient village in the P'yŏngyang area called Kŭmtan-ni was excavated in 1955 by archaeologists who found prehistoric occupation from the Chŭlmun and Mumun pottery periods.[2]
North Koreans associate Pyongyang with "Asadal" (아사달; 신시), or Wanggŏmsŏng (왕검성; 王儉城), the first capital of Gojoseon according to Korean history books, notably Samguk Yusa. Many South Korean historians dispute this association, because other Korean history books place Asadal around the Liao River located in western Manchuria. Nevertheless, Pyongyang became a major city under Gojoseon.
No relic from the era of Western Han has been found around Pyongyang. It is likely that the area of Pyongyang ceded from disintegrating Gojoseon and belonged to another Korean kingdom by the time of the fall of Wiman Joseon, the longest lasting part of Gojoseon, at the hands of Han Dynasty of China in 108 BC. Relics from Later Eastern Han (25-220) periods from the Pyongyang area seems to suggest Han dynasty subsequently made short-lived successful military advances into the Korean peninsula, including the area of Pyongyang.
The area around Pyongyang was called Nanglang-state during the Former Eastern Han periods. As the capital of Nanglang-guk (낙랑국; 낙랑),[3] Pyongyang remained an important commercial and cultural outpost until Lelang was destroyed by the expanding Goguryeo in 313.
Goguryeo moved its capital here in 427; according to Christopher Beckwith, Pyongyang is the Sino-Korean reading of the name they gave it in their language, Piarna 'level land.'[4] Tang Dynasty China 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 aimed 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—the only time in history that a communist capital fell to enemy forces. In 1952, it was the target of the largest aerial raid of the entire war, involving 1,400 UN aircraft. After the war, the city was quickly rebuilt with Soviet help, with many buildings built in Socialist Classicism.
Geography
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Pyongyang is located in west-central North Korea; the city lies on flat plains about 30 miles (48 km) east of Korea Bay, an arm of the Yellow Sea. The Taedong River flows westward through the city towards Korea bay.
Climate
The climate of Pyongyang is a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dwa). In Winter, cold winds can blow from Siberia, making conditions in winter very cold; the temperature is usually below freezing between November and early March. The winter is generally much drier than summer with snow falling thirty-seven days on average. The most unpleasant feature of the weather and climate is undoubtedly the extreme cold and frequent wind chill in winter; warm clothing is necessary at this time.[5]
The transition from the cold, dry winter to the warm, wet summer occurs rather quickly between April and early May, and there is a similar rather abrupt return to winter conditions in late October. Summers are generally hot and humid, with the East Asian monsoon taking place from June until August; these are also the hottest months, having an average temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) to 29 °C (84 °F) with higher temperatures possible.
| Climate data for Pyongyang | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.8 (30.6) |
2.4 (36.3) |
8.9 (48.0) |
17.1 (62.8) |
22.6 (72.7) |
26.7 (80.1) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.9 (84.0) |
24.7 (76.5) |
18.2 (64.8) |
9.4 (48.9) |
1.7 (35.1) |
15.7 (60.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.7 (12.7) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
4.9 (40.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
16.5 (61.7) |
20.7 (69.3) |
20.5 (68.9) |
14.3 (57.7) |
6.7 (44.1) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
5.6 (42.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 12.2 (0.48) |
11.0 (0.43) |
24.7 (0.97) |
49.9 (1.96) |
72.2 (2.84) |
90.3 (3.56) |
275.2 (10.83) |
212.8 (8.38) |
100.2 (3.94) |
39.9 (1.57) |
34.9 (1.37) |
16.5 (0.65) |
939.8 (37.00) |
| Average precipitation days | 5.2 | 4.2 | 5.1 | 6.7 | 8.1 | 8.7 | 14.4 | 11.0 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 5.9 | 89.9 |
| Source: World Meteorological Organisation [6] | |||||||||||||
Administrative divisions
P'yŏngyang is divided into 19 wards (ku- or guyŏk) (the city proper) and 4 counties (kun or gun).[7]
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Foreign media reports in 2010 stated that Kangnam-gun, Chunghwa-gun, Sangwŏn-gun, and Sŭngho-guyŏk had been transferred to the administration of neighbouring North Hwanghae province.[8]
Culture
Landmarks
The capital has been completely redesigned since the Korean War (1950–1953). It is designed with wide avenues, imposing monuments, and monolithic buildings. The tallest structure in the city is the uncompleted 330-metre (1,083-foot) Ryugyŏng Hotel. This hotel has 105 floors, encloses 361,000 square metres (3,885,772 square feet) of floor space, and was planned to be topped by seven revolving restaurants.
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 Rungrado May Day Stadium). Pyongyang TV Tower is a minor landmark. Other visitor attractions include the Korea Central Zoo and the large golden statues of North Korea's two leaders. 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.
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Juche Tower, a reminder to the North Korean people of the philosophy of Juche (self-reliance). -
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Arch of Reunification, a symbolisation of the goal of a reunified Korea. -
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Workers Party of Korea Monument
Cuisine
Pyongyang was the provincial capital of Pyongan province until 1946.[9] Therefore, Pyongyang cuisine shares with the general culinary tradition of Pyongan province. The most famous local food is Pyongyang naengmyeon, or also called mul naengmyeon or just simply naengmyeon. Naengmyeon literally means "cold noodles", while the affix, mul, refers to "water" because the dish is served in a cold soup. Naengmyeon consists of thin and chewy buckwheat noodles in the cold broth mixed with a meat broth, and dongchimi (watery kimchi) and topped with a slice of sweet Korean pear. Pyongyang naengmyeon was originally eaten at home built with ondol (traditional underfloor heating) during the cold winter, so is also humorously called "Pyongyang deoldeori" (shivering in Pyongyang). Pyongyang locals sometimes enjoyed it as a haejangguk, which is any type of food eaten as a hangover cure while commonly a warm soup in form.[10]
Another representative Pyongyang dish is Taedonggang sungeoguk, meaning "trout soup from the Taedong River". The soup is made with trout, which are abundant in the Taedong River, along with black peppercorns and salt.[11] It is served as a courtesy for important guests visiting Pyongyang. Therefore, the question, "How good was the taste of the trout soup?" is commonly used to greet people returning from Pyongyang. In addition, Pyongyang onban (literally "warm rice of Pyongyang") is a local specialty. It is a rice dish made with freshly cooked rice topped with sliced mushrooms and chicken, and a couple of bindaetteok (pancakes made from ground mung beans and vegetables).[10]
Famous restaurants in the city include Okryugwan and Ch'ongryugwan.[12]
Transportation
Metro and rail
The Pyongyang Metro is a two-line underground metro system which has a length of Template:Km to mi. The Hyoksin line serves Kwangbok, Konguk, Hwanggumbol, Konsol, Hyoksin, Jonu, Jonsung, Samhung and Rakwon stations. The Chollima line serves Puhung, Yonggwang, Ponghwa, Sungni, Tongil, Kaeson, Jonu and Pulgunbyol stations.
There is also a Template:Km to mi long Pyongyang Tram and Template:Km to mi trolleybus service, but tourists have heard that few locals use them due to the high and frequent hazard of electrocution.[13] The trolley bus-stops are fairly full. The incidence of use of the underground is difficult to gauge, as tourists are only permitted to travel between two designated stops with a guide.
Automobiles
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.
Air transportation
State-owned Air Koryo has scheduled flights from Sunan Capital International Airport to Beijing (PEK), Shenyang (SHE), Vladivostok (VVO), Macau (MFM), Bangkok (BKK), Khabarovsk (KHV) and Shenzhen (SZX). There are occasional chartered flights to Incheon (ICN), Yangyang County (YNY) and several Japanese cities.
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 a regular service between Beijing and Pyongyang.
Intercity trains
The city also has regular international train services to Beijing and Moscow. 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.
The city also connects to the Eurasian Land Bridge via the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Sister cities
See also
Notes
- ^ United Nations Statistics Division; Preliminary results of the 2008 Census of Population of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted on 1–15 October 2008 (pdf-file) Retrieved on 2009-03-01.
- ^ National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. 2001. Geumtan-ri. Hanguk Gogohak Sajeon [Dictionary of Korean Archaeology], pp. 148–149. NRICH, Seoul. ISBN 89-5508-025-5
- ^ Nanglang-state is different from Lelang Commandery. Lelang Commandery was one of the four commanderies that Western Han instituted in the occupied territory of Wiman Joseon around the Liao river in western Manchuria in 108 BC.
- ^ Christopher I. Beckwith, Empires of the Silk Road: A History of Central Eurasia from the Bronze Age to the Present (Princeton University Press, 2009: ISBN 978-0-691-13589-2), p. 104.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "World Weather Information Service - Pyongyang".
- ^ "행정구역현황 (Haengjeong Guyeok Hyeonhwang)". NK Chosun. Retrieved 10 January 2006. Also Administrative divisions of North Korea (used as reference for hanja)
- ^ "Pyongyang now more than one-third smaller; food shortage issues suspected", Asahi Shinbun, 17 July 2010, retrieved 19 July 2010
- ^ "평양시 平壤市" (in Korean). Nate/Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "닮은 듯 색다른 매력을 간직한 북한의 음식 문화" (in Korean). Korea Knowledge Portal. 19 June 2009.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|trans_title=(help) - ^ Ju, Wan-jung (주완중) (12 June 2000). "'오마니의 맛' 관심" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ Lankov, Andrei (2007), North of the DMZ: Essays on daily life in North Korea, McFarland, pp. 90–91, ISBN 9780786428397
- ^ "殺入北韓 (Translation: Entering North Korea) (NOTE: Subscription required)" (in Traditional Chinese). 壹週刊 (Next Magazine). 19 October 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ "International relations". Kathmandu City website. Retrieved 10 January 2006.[dead link]
Further reading
- Chris Springer, Pyongyang: The Hidden History of the North Korean Capital. Saranda Books, 2003. ISBN 963-00-8104-0.
- Robert Willoughby, North Korea: The Bradt Travel Guide. Globe Pequot, 2003. ISBN 1-84162-074-2.
Pictorials
- Christian Kracht, Eva Munz, Lukas Nikol, "The Ministry Of Truth. Kim Jong Ils North Korea", Feral House, Oct 2007, 132 pages, 88 color photographs, ISBN 978-932595-27-7
External links
- North Korea Uncovered, (North Korea Google Earth), a comprehensive mapping of North Korea, including all of the locations mentioned above, on Google Earth
- Holidays in Pyongyang