The Walled City of Pyongyang lying in Central and Phyongchon districts of Pyongyang was the capital of Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668). It was also called Jangan castle.
Koguryo, which had used Kungnae castle in Ji’an, Jilin Province of China, as its capital, moved the capital to Pyongyang with more favourable conditions in 427.
At that time, like in Kungnae castle, the Koguryo people built a royal palace (Anhak Palace) on flatlands with a mountain fortress (Taesongsan Fort) nearby so that in case of emergency all inhabitants could go into the fort to resist invaders.
As its national strength grew, Koguryo built between 552 and 586 the large-scale Walled City of Pyongyang encompassing the whole of the city in order to defend the capital against the enemy’s invasion more effectively.
The Koguryo people erected the walled city as a combination of flatland and hill forts on the basis of their experience in war.
The walled city occupied a long terrain extending north and south at the point where the Taedong and Pothong rivers join.
The terrain was a favourable place adequately covering fields and hills in the Pyongyang peneplain and the walled city was advantageous as they surrounded both flatlands and hills. The Taedong and Pothong rivers surrounding the city on three sides served as natural moats greatly contributing to strengthening the defence capability of the city.
The walled city was about 16km in circumference.
The inside of the city was partitioned by walls into inner, middle, outer and northern forts. The walls of the city were approximately 23km in total length including those of the four forts.
The inner fort was for the royal palace, the middle one for the government offices and the outer one for residential quarters.
There were seven commanding posts in the walled city.
Typical of them are the Ulmil Pavilion in the inner fort and the Choesung Pavilion in the northern one.
The Walled City of Pyongyang showcases the history and culture of Koguryo, the form of the walled capital city in its late period and its development and the resourcefulness and talents of the Koguryo people.
More From Pyongyang Times
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that they would mount a decisive counterattack against Israel by enlisting all
November 08, 2024
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry warned that they would mount a decisive counterattack against Israel by enlisting all
Officials and working people in North Hamgyong Province have built standard pharmacies in its cities and counties. The Hoeryong
November 08, 2024
Officials and working people in North Hamgyong Province have built standard pharmacies in its cities and counties. The Hoeryong
A national wheat flour food show is going on after it started at the Chongchun Restaurant in Pyongyang on November 5. The show has
November 08, 2024
A national wheat flour food show is going on after it started at the Chongchun Restaurant in Pyongyang on November 5. The show has
Agricultural workers of the Taedae Vegetable Farm and the Ryongnam Farm in Waudo District of Nampho have moved into new houses at
November 08, 2024
Agricultural workers of the Taedae Vegetable Farm and the Ryongnam Farm in Waudo District of Nampho have moved into new houses at
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and her party returned home on November 6 after
November 08, 2024
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and her party returned home on November 6 after
South Hamgyong Province is expanding the capacity of its finishing building materials production bases amid the dynamic efforts
November 08, 2024
South Hamgyong Province is expanding the capacity of its finishing building materials production bases amid the dynamic efforts
Rim Kum Dan is a Kim Il Sung Prize winner and war veteran who is still devoting her all to the creation of juvenile literature.The
November 08, 2024
Rim Kum Dan is a Kim Il Sung Prize winner and war veteran who is still devoting her all to the creation of juvenile literature.The
The commander-in-chief of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps criticized the US and Israel at a rally in Tehran on
November 07, 2024
The commander-in-chief of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps criticized the US and Israel at a rally in Tehran on
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, denounced the external policies of the West in an interview with
November 07, 2024
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, denounced the external policies of the West in an interview with
The Ministry of Defence of Russia released on October 29 a video showing the launches of different intercontinental ballistic
November 07, 2024
The Ministry of Defence of Russia released on October 29 a video showing the launches of different intercontinental ballistic
DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, on an official visit to the Russian Federation, met with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,
November 07, 2024
DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, on an official visit to the Russian Federation, met with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin,
The Ryongsong District Commercial Agency in Pyongyang has a pride in having taken first place in the national art festival.
November 07, 2024
The Ryongsong District Commercial Agency in Pyongyang has a pride in having taken first place in the national art festival.
New modern villages have also appeared at the Ryongchon Farm in Hwangju County, North Hwanghae Province. Present at the ceremony
November 07, 2024
New modern villages have also appeared at the Ryongchon Farm in Hwangju County, North Hwanghae Province. Present at the ceremony
The teqball technical innovation tournament took place at Pyongyang Municipal Sports Village. The contest, divided into six
November 07, 2024
The teqball technical innovation tournament took place at Pyongyang Municipal Sports Village. The contest, divided into six
The 15th Commodity Exhibition at Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 closed in the DPRK. During the exhibition, the participants
November 07, 2024
The 15th Commodity Exhibition at Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 closed in the DPRK. During the exhibition, the participants
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the workers, technicians and officials at
November 07, 2024
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the workers, technicians and officials at
Members of the Paektusan Hero Youth Shock Brigade, service personnel and other builders, who are writing a new history of sea
November 06, 2024
Members of the Paektusan Hero Youth Shock Brigade, service personnel and other builders, who are writing a new history of sea
DPRK player Son Su Rim came first at the 2024 IBA Youth World Boxing Championships held in Montenegro. The championships brought
November 06, 2024
DPRK player Son Su Rim came first at the 2024 IBA Youth World Boxing Championships held in Montenegro. The championships brought
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, warned the US and Israel against their anti-Iran moves at a meeting with
November 06, 2024
Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of Iran’s Islamic revolution, warned the US and Israel against their anti-Iran moves at a meeting with
In the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the DPRK team took the first place and lifted the World Cup for the second time this year
November 06, 2024
In the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the DPRK team took the first place and lifted the World Cup for the second time this year
More Articles
