Among the national cultural heritage items created by the Korean ancestors are monuments inscribed with characters on well-trimmed stones for the purpose of recording certain events or facts to convey them to posterity. They include monuments to fortress.
A stone monument to fortress carries the records about the construction, repair and restoration of the fortress concerned and various structures in and around it.
From olden times, the Korean people who are strongly patriotic attached great importance to building fortresses across the country to repel foreign invasion. They inscribed the whole courses related with the fortresses on monuments to hand them down to the coming generations.
The records inscribed on the monuments are of substantial help to the study of the history of the Korean people’s struggle to defend the independence of their country and nation from foreign aggression. They serve as hard data for correctly explaining the Korean ancestors’ high architectural skills of building fortresses and the years and processes of their construction.
The monument was built in or near the fortress, but when the fortress was repaired several times, a monument was sometimes built separately.
One of the most typical monuments in the DPRK is found in Nyongbyon, North Phyongan Province.
The monument stands near the Chonju Temple on the hillside southeast of Yaksandongdae west of Chorong Fortress.
It was erected in 1684. Characters meaning chorongbi are inscribed on the upper part of the face, and below them comes the fact that the fortress was built and repaired several times.
According to the records, a legion of soldiers and civilians were mobilized to build and repair the fortress from 1416 to 1684. In addition, over 200 different cannons were made by casting molten iron, and the sound of gunfire went as far as 40 kilometres.
Similar monuments still remain in the country.
Kim Hyon
More From Naenara (En)
Enlarged plenary meetings of the Party committees of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Land and Maritime Transport, the
March 09, 2026
Enlarged plenary meetings of the Party committees of the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Land and Maritime Transport, the
Mass rallies took place in cities and counties of the DPRK on March 6 and 7 to vow to implement the decisions of the Ninth
March 09, 2026
Mass rallies took place in cities and counties of the DPRK on March 6 and 7 to vow to implement the decisions of the Ninth
Janggo is a traditional Korean percussion instrument with a long history.Dating back to the period of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668), the
March 09, 2026
Janggo is a traditional Korean percussion instrument with a long history.Dating back to the period of Koguryo (277 BC–AD 668), the
New greetings cards reflecting the best wishes, respect, love and affection for women have been produced in the DPRK on the occasi
March 09, 2026
New greetings cards reflecting the best wishes, respect, love and affection for women have been produced in the DPRK on the occasi
The physical constitution institute of Koryo Medicine General Hospital has applied AI technology to develop a new constitution
March 09, 2026
The physical constitution institute of Koryo Medicine General Hospital has applied AI technology to develop a new constitution
Officials and members of the women’s union met with winners of the Communist Mother Honor Prize at the Hall of Women on March 6 i
March 08, 2026
Officials and members of the women’s union met with winners of the Communist Mother Honor Prize at the Hall of Women on March 6 i
Enlarged plenary meetings of Pyongyang municipal and provincial committees of the Workers’ Party of Korea were held on March 5
March 08, 2026
Enlarged plenary meetings of Pyongyang municipal and provincial committees of the Workers’ Party of Korea were held on March 5
Sports and amusement games of women’s union officials and members in the DPRK took place at the Taekwon-Do Palace on March 5 and 6
March 08, 2026
Sports and amusement games of women’s union officials and members in the DPRK took place at the Taekwon-Do Palace on March 5 and 6
When March 8 International Women’s Day was instituted in 1910, Korea was a complete colony of Japan and the Korean women were
March 08, 2026
When March 8 International Women’s Day was instituted in 1910, Korea was a complete colony of Japan and the Korean women were
Pomhyanggi (spring scent) has become a household word in the DPRK. It is a famous brand name of cosmetics. That’s why it reminds
March 08, 2026
Pomhyanggi (spring scent) has become a household word in the DPRK. It is a famous brand name of cosmetics. That’s why it reminds
March 8 International Women’s Day seems to be the day closely related to flowers.On this day flowers and bouquets are prepared acr
March 08, 2026
March 8 International Women’s Day seems to be the day closely related to flowers.On this day flowers and bouquets are prepared acr
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to To Lam, general secretary of the Central
March 07, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a reply message to To Lam, general secretary of the Central
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at
March 07, 2026
Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at
Women agricultural workers met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at the Hall of Culture in Wonhwa-ri, Phyongwon
March 07, 2026
Women agricultural workers met with winners of the Communist Mother Honour Prize at the Hall of Culture in Wonhwa-ri, Phyongwon
Military-civilian meetings took place in North Phyongan, South Hwanghae, Kangwon and North Hamgyong provinces and Nampho and
March 07, 2026
Military-civilian meetings took place in North Phyongan, South Hwanghae, Kangwon and North Hamgyong provinces and Nampho and
The Korean people have a long tradition of developing the ceramic industry. They began to make and use a wide selection of
March 07, 2026
The Korean people have a long tradition of developing the ceramic industry. They began to make and use a wide selection of
Military-civilian meetings took place in South Phyongan, North Hwanghae, Jagang, South Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces and Rason
March 06, 2026
Military-civilian meetings took place in South Phyongan, North Hwanghae, Jagang, South Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces and Rason
There is a scenic spot called Tal Gate in Sea Chilbo, part of Mt Chilbo, which boasts a spectacular seaside landscape.One of the b
March 06, 2026
There is a scenic spot called Tal Gate in Sea Chilbo, part of Mt Chilbo, which boasts a spectacular seaside landscape.One of the b
An enlarged plenary meeting of the Cabinet Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea was held on March 4 to implement the
March 06, 2026
An enlarged plenary meeting of the Cabinet Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea was held on March 4 to implement the
In the DPRK tourism industry helps promote cultural efflorescence and development in relevant regions. It is of long-term
March 06, 2026
In the DPRK tourism industry helps promote cultural efflorescence and development in relevant regions. It is of long-term
More Articles