22 Facts About Pyongyang

1.

Pyongyang is a directly administered city with equal status to North Korean provinces.

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2.

Pyongyang is the political, industrial and transport center of North Korea.

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3.

In 1955, archaeologists excavated evidence of prehistoric dwellings in a large ancient village in the Pyongyang area, called Kumtan-ni, dating to the Jeulmun and Mumun pottery periods.

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4.

Pyongyang was founded in 1122 BC on the site of the capital of the legendary king Dangun.

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5.

In 668, Pyongyang became the capital of the Protectorate General to Pacify the East established by the Tang dynasty of China.

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6.

Pyongyang was left abandoned during the Later Silla period, until it was recovered by Wang Geon and decreed as the Western Capital of Goryeo.

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7.

Pyongyang became the de facto capital of North Korea upon its establishment in 1948.

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8.

At the time, the Pyongyang government aimed to recapture Korea's official capital, Seoul.

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9.

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.

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10.

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.

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11.

The plans for the modern city of Pyongyang were first displayed for public viewing in a theatre building.

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12.

Pyongyang is in the west-central part of North Korea; the city lies on a flat plain about 50 kilometres east of the Korea Bay, an arm of the Yellow Sea.

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13.

Pyongyang has a hot-summer humid continental climate, featuring warm to hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters.

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14.

Major government and other public offices are located in Pyongyang, which is constitutionally designated as the country's capital.

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15.

Pyongyang is the seat of all major North Korean security institutions.

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16.

Structures in Pyongyang are divided into three major architectural categories: monuments, buildings with traditional Korean motifs and high-rises.

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17.

The most prominent building on Pyongyang's skyline is Ryugyong Hotel, the seventh highest building in the world terms of floor count, the tallest unoccupied building in the world, and one of the tallest hotels in the world.

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18.

Pyongyang has a rapidly evolving skyline, dominated by high-rise apartment buildings.

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19.

Pyongyang served as the provincial capital of South Pyongan Province until 1946, and Pyongyang cuisine shares the general culinary tradition of the Pyongan province.

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20.

Pyongyang raengmyon was originally eaten in homes built with ondol during the cold winter, so it is called "Pyongyang deoldeori" .

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21.

Until the late 2010s Pyongyang still experienced frequent shortages of electricity.

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22.

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.

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