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
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
December 11, 2025
Proud entities visually showing the rapid development of the socialist countryside flourishing day by day are being built one
There was the second-day sitting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on
December 11, 2025
There was the second-day sitting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
December 11, 2025
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of China urged Japan to fulfil its obligation as a defeated nation at a press conference
December 11, 2025
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of China urged Japan to fulfil its obligation as a defeated nation at a press conference
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
December 11, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, No Kwang Chol, minister of National
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the Korean
December 11, 2025
The secretary office of the premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on December 10 informed the Korean
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
December 11, 2025
Pak Jong Chon and Jo Chun Ryong, secretaries of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jae Ryong, department
Amid the growing joy of the macrobians leading a blessed life under the socialist system of the DPRK, Yonha-dong of Sinuiju City,
December 11, 2025
Amid the growing joy of the macrobians leading a blessed life under the socialist system of the DPRK, Yonha-dong of Sinuiju City,
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on December 9.
December 11, 2025
The provincial building materials exhibition-2025 opened with due ceremony at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang on December 9.
A potato farina production factory was newly built and inaugurated in Jangjin County, South Hamgyong Province. The factory has a
December 11, 2025
A potato farina production factory was newly built and inaugurated in Jangjin County, South Hamgyong Province. The factory has a
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
December 10, 2025
Developing countries are paying close attention to education, regarding it as a crucial issue for achieving national prosperity.
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
December 10, 2025
The Hungarian minister of foreign affairs and trade opposed a plan of the European Union to ban the import of Russian energy throu
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
December 10, 2025
Japan continues to contaminate the sea with successive discharge of nuclear waste water.On December 4 the Tokyo Electric Power Com
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
December 10, 2025
Agricultural workers moved with pleasure into the modern houses newly built in farm villages of Jagang Province as part of the
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
December 10, 2025
The Samjigang Farm in Jaeryong County of South Hwanghae Province has overfulfilled its state grain production plan this year, too.
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
December 10, 2025
The Kangso Sprayer Factory has produced a lot of backpack sprayers to send them to the socialist countryside this year. Among the
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
December 10, 2025
A delegation of the Ministry of Disaster Management headed by Vice-Minister Ri Ki Chol left Pyongyang on December 8 by air to
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
December 10, 2025
The Enlarged Meeting of the 13th Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was convened on
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
December 09, 2025
Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of condolence to Sergei
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
December 09, 2025
Bearing in mind the noble soul and spirit of the revolutionary forerunners, youth and students successfully made a study tour of
More Articles
