Pyongyang, situated in the heartland of the low area in the northwest of Korea, is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It is on average 84 metres above sea level and has an average annual temperature of 9.7°C and an average precipitation of 1,053.3 millimeters. It has distinct four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Blending harmoniously with the surround­ing mountains, hills, rivers and fields, it has been known for centuries as a good place to live in. The Taedong River, one of the five longest rivers in Korea, flows through the city. 

Pyongyang has a history of over 2,000 years since it was formed as a city and of 1,500 years since it was the capital of Koguryo. Koguryo, famous for being a powerful state in the ancient East, had transferred its capital to here in 427. Pyongyang was to remain its capital for 240 years. During the period of the Japanese imperial­ists' colonial rule it was dirty and disorderly and crowded with the unemployed. In the days of national suffering the great leader President Kim II Sung waged the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and achieved the historical cause of national liberation. 

After the country's liberation Pyongyang became the capital of the DPRK. During the three-year-long Korean war (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953) the US imperialists carried out 1,431 bombing raids and dropped 428,748 bombs on the city of Pyongyang, reducing it to ashes. They boasted that Korea would not be able to rise again even in 100 years. Despite this, the Korean people healed the war wounds in the short time of 10 years, not 100 years. Inhabited by two million people, Pyongyang is not only the political center of the country but also the economic, scientific, educational and cultural center which has a powerful heavy industry including the machine-building industry, modern light industry and advanced agriculture. 

The city which spreads eastwards and west­wards with the Taedong River at its centre, is divided into Taedonggangan, Mangyongdae, Potonggang, Moranbong and Taesongsan districts. The Taedonggangan district has the Grand People's Study House and Kim II Sung Square at its center. The Okryu, Taedong, Chungsong, Rungna and Yanggak Bridges over the Taedong River link the east and west of the city. On the west bank of the river, Sungri and Okryu Streets lead to Kim II Sung Square and are linked with Yonggwang and Taedongmun Streets to the south and to the north. 

The city has many monumental buildings. The Grand People's Study House, the Pyongyang Grand Theatre, the Okryu Restaurant and others show the national style of architecture, whereas the Mansudae Art Theatre, Pyongyang Department Store No. 1, the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel and others de­monstrate the unique style of modern archi­tectural beauty. On Mansu Hill, in front of the Korean Revolution Museum stands the statue of the great leader of the Korean people, President Kim II Sung. On the left side of the museum soars the Chollima Statue which symbolizes the heroic mettle of the Korean people in socialist construction. There are also the Korean Central History Museum, the Korean Art Gallery, the Korean Folklore Museum and various other museums. The Taedong Gate, the Ryongwang Pavilion, the Pyongyang Belfry and the mossy Pyongyang rampart stand on the bank of the Taedong River. To the east of the river stretch out Munsu, Juchetap, Tongdaewon, Chongnyon, Saesallim, Taehak, Sanwon, Songyo Kangan, Tapje, and Pangjik Streets. A new street, called Tongil Street, is under speedy construction. In Sanwon Street there is the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital, a comprehensive medical center for women. 

The Government of the DPRK takes good care of the health of the working people and pays close attention to health care. In Pyongyang there are central hospitals, including the Red Cross General Hospital of Korea, municipal and district hospitals and the general clinics in dong residential quarters. Universal free medical care is available in every part of the city. The city has many medical and pharmaceutical companies. The section doctor system operates for the citizens and carries out regular prophylactic treatment. The number of checkups per person is 8 a year. The people's average life expectancy was 38 years in the pre-liberation days, but by 1986 it had increased to 74.3 years, whereas the death rate had decreased to a quarter. 

In Juchetap Street stands the 170 metres high Tower of the Juche Idea. From its ob­servatory one can see the whole of Pyongyang. On the bank of the Taedong River there are the Central Youth Hall and the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre which are of modern architectural beauty. In the Moranbong district there are Chilsongmun, Kaeson, Moranbong and An Sang Taek Streets which blend harmoniously with Moran Hill, an ancient and well-known scenic spot. In this district are also such monumental buildings as the Arch of Triumph, the Chonsung Revolutionary Museum, the Kirn II Sung Stadium and the Kaeson Youth Park as well as old pavilions and gates, includ­ing the Ulmil Pavilion and the Chilsong, Chongum and Hyonmu Gates. On Rungna Islet in theTaedong River stand the 150,000-seat May Day Stadium, which was the venue of the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students, and the Festival Tower. Chollima, Ragwon and other streets have been built along the Potonggang Pleasure Ground. The People's Palace of Culture, the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, the Changgwang Health Complex, the Ice Rink and the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum are also to be found in this district, all of them noteworthy for being monumental buildings of unique architectural style. 

In the Mangyongdae district there are Mangyongdae, where President Kim II Sung was  born and spent his childhood, and Kwangbok and Chongchun Streets. Kwangbok Street, whose main road is six kilometers long and 100 metres wide, is lined with high-storeyed apartment houses. On the same street there are the Pyongyang Circus and the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace, both built in a unique and distinctive style to form a harmonious whole with the various types of housing. The Pyongyang Circus is a polygonal acro­batic center with a floor area of over 70,000 square metres and a 3,500-seat capacity. Ryanggang and Chongnyon Hotels have been built in different styles and in good harmony with the topographical conditions and the beautiful scenery of the area. In Chongchun Street there are a great number of sports facilities, including the Sosan Football Stadium, the Athletics, Weight Lifting, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Badminton and Table-Tennis Gymnasiums. Pyongyang has physical culture and sports guidance organizations. There are over 3,700 sports circles for all events and at all levels at factories, enterprises and schools. Through these circles promising sportsmen are trained to maximize their ability and to develop their potential. 

In the Taesongsan district there are the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery, many his­torical relics, including the Fort on Mt. Taesong (an old fort of Koguryo) and the site of the Anhak Palace. There are also the Central Botanical Garden and the Central Zoo. Kim II Sung University, the first university for the educational development of the country, is in Taesong District. Before the country's liberation Pyongyang had only primary schools, three middle schools, two specialized schools and a few vocational schools. Today it has about 40 universities, many scientific research insti­tutions, over 40 colleges, hundreds of senior middle schools and various study-while-working educational establishments. Students receive a free education at schools of all levels. Pyongyang is called a city in parks. 

More than 80 percent of the city is covered with greenbelts, pleasure grounds and parks. The amount of green space per head of population is about 70 square metres. Pyongyang has many heavy industry fac­tories and enterprises, including machine-building, fuel, power and building-materials, the light-industry plants which produce fab­rics, foodstuffs and daily necessities and all branches of advanced agriculture, including vegetable, fruit growing and stock farming which meet the demands of its inhabitants. The main means of traffic in Pyongyang is the trolleybus, bus and metro. Many barrages have been built on the Taedong River, which have allowed the passenger and freight traffic to steadily increase. International airlines and trains also center on Pyongyang. Today Pyongyang is thriving as an inter­national city which strengthens the ties of friendship and solidarity with the peace loving people throughout the world.