Pyongyang, << PYAWNG yang >> (pop. 2,581,076), is the capital and largest city of North Korea. The city is also the cultural, economic, industrial, and military center of the country. Pyongyang lies in west-central North Korea, along the Taedong River (also called the Daedong River).
The North Korean Workers’ (Communist) Party, which controls the government of the country, has its headquarters in Pyongyang. Party leaders in Pyongyang make all decisions affecting North Korea’s political, cultural, economic, and social programs and see that they are carried out.
Modern apartment and office buildings line Pyongyang’s wide avenues. Pyongyang is the home of Kim Il-sung University. One of the city’s principal structures is the large government assembly building, which houses the Supreme People’s Assembly, North Korea’s legislature. The annual National Fine Arts Exhibition is held in Pyongyang.
Most of the people of Pyongyang work in government offices in the city or in the factories on the outskirts of the community. Factories in Pyongyang produce industrial goods, such as farm tractors and electric locomotives.
Pyongyang was founded about 3,000 years ago. It was the capital of ancient Korea. The Chinese invaded the city in 108 B.C. and ruled it until A.D. 313. After that, a series of small kingdoms controlled the Pyongyang area. In 427, Pyongyang became the capital of Koguryo (also called Goguryeo), a Korean kingdom that also ruled part of southern Manchuria. Chinese armies destroyed Pyongyang in 668. However, the Korean kingdom of Koryo (also called Goryeo) rebuilt the city during the 900’s.
After World War II ended in 1945, Pyongyang served as the headquarters of the Soviet occupation army, which supported the Korean Communists. In 1945, Korea was divided into two parts. Two states, North Korea and South Korea, were established in 1948. Pyongyang became the capital of Communist North Korea. Much of the city was destroyed during the Korean War (1950-1953). However, the city was later rebuilt.
