March 05, 2026Mar 05, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Walled City of Pyongyang

Date: 08/11/2024 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

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

Day of Defenders of Motherland commemorated in Russia

Day of Defenders of Motherland commemorated in Russia

Russia commemorated the Day of Defenders of the Motherland on February 23. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a wreath at

March 03, 2026

Russia commemorated the Day of Defenders of the Motherland on February 23. Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a wreath at

DPRK players successful at World Cup diving tournament

DPRK players successful at World Cup diving tournament

DPRK divers Jo Jin Mi and Kim Mi Hwa finished runners-up in the women’s 10-metre platform synchronized diving event of

March 03, 2026

DPRK divers Jo Jin Mi and Kim Mi Hwa finished runners-up in the women’s 10-metre platform synchronized diving event of

Senior city and county officials visit Samgwang Livestock Farm

Senior city and county officials visit Samgwang Livestock Farm

The chief secretaries of city and county committees of the Workers' Party of Korea and the chairpersons of city and county

March 02, 2026

The chief secretaries of city and county committees of the Workers' Party of Korea and the chairpersons of city and county

Russian president refers to bio-economic development

Russian president refers to bio-economic development

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the issue of bio-economic development as he addressed the future technology forum on

March 02, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the issue of bio-economic development as he addressed the future technology forum on

China denounces groundless criticism by US and Japan

China denounces groundless criticism by US and Japan

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the groundless criticism by the US at a press conference on February 25.

March 02, 2026

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the groundless criticism by the US at a press conference on February 25.

Sangwon Cement Complex fulfils its February plan

Sangwon Cement Complex fulfils its February plan

The Sangwon Cement Complex fulfilled its production plan for February. The complex made the employees engage in technical

March 02, 2026

The Sangwon Cement Complex fulfilled its production plan for February. The complex made the employees engage in technical

Foreign personages pay congratulatory visits to DPRK missions

Foreign personages pay congratulatory visits to DPRK missions

Foreign personages paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries on the occasion of the 84th birth

March 01, 2026

Foreign personages paid congratulatory visits to the DPRK missions in their countries on the occasion of the 84th birth

Science and technology festival of Kim Il Sung University held

Science and technology festival of Kim Il Sung University held

The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Il Sung University took place from February 25 to 27. Presented to the festival on

March 01, 2026

The 39th Science and Technology Festival of Kim Il Sung University took place from February 25 to 27. Presented to the festival on

Pyongyang military-civilian meeting and public procession held

Pyongyang military-civilian meeting and public procession held

A Pyongyang municipal military-civilian meeting and a public procession for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of

March 01, 2026

A Pyongyang municipal military-civilian meeting and a public procession for implementing the decisions of the Ninth Congress of

Short course given for participants in Ninth Congress of WPK

Short course given for participants in Ninth Congress of WPK

There took place a short course for the participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, the

March 01, 2026

There took place a short course for the participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, the

2026 National Winter Games closes

2026 National Winter Games closes

The 2026 National Winter Games closed at the ice hockey gymnasium in the Paektusan area sports village in the City of Samjiyon,

March 01, 2026

The 2026 National Winter Games closed at the ice hockey gymnasium in the Paektusan area sports village in the City of Samjiyon,

To bring medical service closer to people

To bring medical service closer to people

Medical workers are conducting dynamic outreach medical service activities in major sites of socialist construction. According to

March 01, 2026

Medical workers are conducting dynamic outreach medical service activities in major sites of socialist construction. According to

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un presents gifts to major cadres

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un presents gifts to major cadres

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's

February 28, 2026

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's

Intl community decries reckless remark of US ambassador

Intl community decries reckless remark of US ambassador

The international community is strongly denouncing the US ambassador to Israel for his reckless remark that Israel has the right

February 28, 2026

The international community is strongly denouncing the US ambassador to Israel for his reckless remark that Israel has the right

Slovakia warns: Power supply to Ukraine would be stopped

Slovakia warns: Power supply to Ukraine would be stopped

The Slovak prime minister on February 21 warned that Slovakia would stop the power supply to Ukraine. Saying that Ukrainian

February 28, 2026

The Slovak prime minister on February 21 warned that Slovakia would stop the power supply to Ukraine. Saying that Ukrainian

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sends birthday spread to centenarian

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sends birthday spread to centenarian

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Pang Kum Sun, a centenarian living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 32,

February 28, 2026

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Pang Kum Sun, a centenarian living in Neighbourhood Unit No. 32,

Top 10 coaches of DPRK for 2025 (1)

Top 10 coaches of DPRK for 2025 (1)

Football coach wins World Cup Merited Athlete Pak Song Jin is a football coach of the April 25 Sports Team. He cut a conspicuous

February 28, 2026

Football coach wins World Cup Merited Athlete Pak Song Jin is a football coach of the April 25 Sports Team. He cut a conspicuous

More Articles