Tourist Attractions and Resources

What tourist resorts are there and what are the prospects of their development?

Tourists resorts as well as scenic sports have been built up in many places of the country. Typical of them are Mt. Paekdu, Mt. Chilbo, Mt. Kumgang, Mt. Myohayang, Kaesong, Nampo and Wonsan. Among them Mt. Myohyang and Mt. Kumkang are the most popular tourist resorts.These resorts are visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year. The state is now making a huge investment in tourist industry and building up Many new tourist resorts.
Although 80% of its terrain is mountainous, DPR Korea has a diversity of tourist attraction. The capital Pyongyang, is naturally the political, economic and cultural centre of the country and has any number of attractions like museums, sports facility, entertainment centers and handcrafts production centers.  DPR Korea has rows of mountains enveloping like a screen in the north-west, a number of rivers flow through the country forming a number of lakes en route before merging themselves with the sea.  Many historic remains have been discovered during the last two three decades. The beaches on the eastern coast have fine sand and friendly sea waves.  These coupled with the totally unpolluted atmosphere of the whole country help in making DPR Korea an excellent tourist product particularly for those who are looking for virgin destinations.

Grand Study House

What is the history of Pyongyang?

The Pyongyang area which has been populated from the primitive ages is one of the cradles of culture. A small city took shape in the area 2,000 years ago in the time of Kojoson.  At the time of speedy transition to class society Kojoson was a considerably developed slave-owning state. It had made the Rangnang area, the suburbs of today's Pyongyang, one of its centers.
Pyongyang became the capital of Koguryo (277 B.C to 668 A.D.) which was founded in the wake of Kojoson and developed into a big city.
Walls were built around the Taesong District of today's Pyongyang and it was made capital of Koguryo in 427. Pyongyang was built magnificently and solidly in the 6th century. Koguryo undertook to build walls around Chung and Pyongchon Districts of today's Pyongyang in 552 and completed them in 42 years.
The name Pyongyang itself means a flat land or a “cozy place”. It is situated north-west of the peninsula but south-west of DPR Korea and blends harmoniously with the surrounding hill, rivers and fields.  In and around Pyongyang the archaeologists have discovered the remains of a society which existed almost a million years ago. Apart from having the single international airport of the country, Pyongyang also possesses some of the finest Hotels, conference facilities, entertainment infrastructure, sports stadium and museums.
Since Pyongyang was totally devastated in the War of Fatherland Liberation, most of the facilities in the capital are man-made.
The following deserve a special mention.

The MANSUDAE Hill:  This is a low hill in the heart of Pyongyang and now houses a number of monuments important to the country. This include Mansudae Grand Monument, the Korean Revolution Museum, the Chollima Statue, the Mansudae Assembly Hall, the Mansudae Art Theatre, the Mansudae Fountain Park, the Sungyong and Sugin Temples and the Pyongyang Students and children’s palace.

KUMSUSAN MEMORIAL PALACE: During one year after the death of its leader Kim Il-sung in July 8, 1994, the state restructured a building in downtown Pyongyang, which president Kim Il-sung had used as his presidential office, into the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to place his embalmed body in it. The opulent palace, dedicated on July 8, 1995 is the most sacred site in DPR Korea, to which most Pyongyang citizens as well as all Koreans leaders must visit on all national holidays. The appearance of the palace was accompanied by the slogan, “Great Suryong, Comrade Kim Il-sung Will Always Be with US.”

The GRAND PEOPLE'S STUDY HOUSE: The Grand People’s Study House standing on Namsan Hill is an imposing structure constructed in traditional Korean style. It is a ten-storey building comprising ten blocks, with a total floor space of 100,000 square meters and stocks 30 million books with a seating capacity of over 5,000.

TOWER OF JUCHE IDEA: The Tower of the Juche Idea is composed of a torch, the tower body, a group sculpture of three people and 6 subsidiary group sculptures. The Tower is 170meters high, the height of the tower being 150 meters and that of torch, 20 meters.  The torch with its saucer base weight 45 tons. The Juche Idea is the guiding principle of the Korean revolution and means that the masses are the real masters and also the motive force of revolution and construction.

THE TAEDONG GATE: The Taedong gate is the eastern gate of the inner fort of the Walled City of Pyongyang. It was erected in the mid-6th century. The present gate was rebuilt in 1635. The gate consists of the substructure built with faced granite blocks and the gate-tower. It is 19 meters high. The tower-gate is hung with a plaque with inscription “uphoru”, which means a pavilion facing a clear stream.

PYONGYANG BELL:  The pavilion for the Pyongyang Bell stands between the Taedong Gate and the Ryongwang Pavilion. Originally the bell had been hung on the gate-tower of the Taedong Gate but was cracked in a fire in 1714. The present Pyongyang Bell was cast in 1726. The bell is 3.1 meters high, 1-6 meters in diameter at its mouth and weights 13,513 kilograms. It is made of bronze and was used for informing the residents of Pyongyang of time of the day and a state of emergency until the 1890s.

THE RYONGWANG PAVILION: The Ryongwang Pavilion on stands near the Taedong Gate and the pavilion for the Pyongyang Bell. From olden times the Ryongwang pavilion has been frequented by people as one of the eight beautiful sights of western Korea. The seat of the present Ryongwang pavilion was the eastern command post in the inner fort of the Walled City of Pyongyang in the period of Koguryo dynasty, when the walls of Pyongyang were repaired in the period of Koryo,, a new pavilion was built in 1111 on the present site and named “Sansujong”. Later it was called “Ryongwangjong”(pavilion commanding a good view), “Cheilludate” or “Manhwaru”. The present pavilion was built in 1670.

MONUMNET TO FALLEN SOLDIERS:  This monument was erected in 1959 to honour the memory of the officers and men of the People’s Army who fell in heroic battles during the Liberation War. The Monument stands 24.13 meters high and the statue is 6.13 meters tall. On the fa?ade of the monument are carved in relief a KPA cap badge and inscription “Monument to the Fallen Soldiers of the People’s Army”.

THE ARCH OF TRIUMPH:   Situated in the heart of Pyongyang and forming an important traffic junction, the Arch of Triumph was erected to commemorate the triumphal return home of President Kim Il-Sung after the achievement of national liberation.  The Arch was built with more than 10500 well-cut grnite blocks. It is 60 meters high and 52.5 meters wide. The gateway of the arch is 27 meters high and 18.6 meters wide.

USS PUEBLO: The US armed spy ship PUEBLO equipped with super-sensitive radar facilities was seized by the navy of KPA on January 23, 1968. The Daedong river is where USS General Sherman was sunk about 140 years ago..

Taedongang Brewery Korea has been brewing one of the highest quality beers on the peninsula for several years and Taedong-gang beer is one of several brews. The Taedong-gang beer began in 2000 when it started talks with Britain's Usher Brewery about acquiring its Trowbridge, Willshire plant that had closed operations. Korea took apart the brewery that had been producing country ales for about 180 years, shipped it piece by piece to Pyongyang and reassembled it under the brand of its Taedong-gang Beer Factory. Taedong-gang beer has quickly become the top brand, according to foreign visitors or living in Pyongyang.

What amusement facilities are there in Pyongyang?

Pyongyang has up-to-date amusement facilities at several places. The largest fun fair is in Mangyongdae. The Mangyongdae Fun Fair covers 60 hectares of land and accommodates over 100,000 visitors a day. It is equipped with nearly 50 kinds of up-to-date amusement facilities. Among them are the Double-Loop Jet Coaster which runs up a 36 meter-high incline and then descends turning two loops, the Gondola Lift Cableway crossing and recrossing Songsan Peak, the Monorail Car running a distance of 1,800 meters carrying 108 persons, flight plane, Cyclone Spaceship, the amusement arcade furnished with over 40 amusements including Game Hunting on Horseback and Torpedo Launching, a wading pool capable of catering for over 4,000 people a day.
Near the Kim Il Sung Stadium and Arch of Triumph there is the Kaeson Youth Palace which is of Eastern style and, at the same time, in the nature of fun fair. The park covers an area of over 400,000 square meters and caters for tens of thousands of people a day. It has 11 kinds of amusement facilities - Twister, Spin Chair, Mad Mouse, Merry-Go-Round, Monstrous Octopus, Astro-Fighters, Jump-Ride Autocycle, Wonder Wheel and others.
Mt. Taesong contains many sports and recreation facilities as well as a set of playing facilities which are flanked by the Central Zoo and the Central Botanical Garden. The fun fair covers 180,000 square meters of land which is provided with facilities - Flight Tower, Merry-Go-Round, Shocking Cars, Astro-Fighters, Flower Cups, Tilter Whirl, Super Chairs, Cyclone Spaceship, Flume Ride, Jet Coaster and Mad Mouse.
In addition, in the capital large and small amusement facilities are arranged in all parts of the capital including the Moranbong Youth Palace and the Children's Palace in the vicinity of the Pyongyang Grand Theatre.

What sports facilities have Pyongyang?

Pyongyang has at least 4 huge sports stadiums, and gymnasiums furnished with up-to-date facilities at many places.

The May Day Stadium has newly been built in Rungna Islet remindful of a flower basket floating in the middle of the Taedong River. The stands for 150,000 are covered by a silver-white parachute-shaped roof which has an area of over 90,000 square metres. In the ground with an area of 22,500 square meters various field games can be held simultaneously and its indoor stadium are available for boxing, judo, weight lifting, table-tennis, badminton, heavy gymnastics and others.

The Changgwang Health Complex located on the bank of the Potong River is a modern cultural and welfare service centre. It has a total floor space 38,000 square metres and consists or three sections-a bathhouse, wading pools and a swimming pool.
The bathhouse is a circular four-storey building. On the ground floor are individual bathrooms, a barbershop and a beauty parlor. On the first and second floors are publics bathrooms, and on the third floor, individual and family bathrooms. There is a soft-drink booth on every floor.
The public bathrooms comprise water and supersonic wave massage baths, steam and cold water baths, and showers. There are rest rooms where one can take massage after taking an bath. Before taking a bath one can take various preliminary exercise with the appliances installed in the exercise room. The water and supersonic wave massage devices installed at the bottom and sides of every bathtub vibrate the water and this massages the bather’s bodies pleasantly.
There are buttons situated at various points around the bathhouse for summoning first aid in an emergency.
The temperature of the steam bath can be raised to 120 degrees C, so the bathers can adjust the temperature as they please. Every steam bathroom is fitted with an oxygen supply device. After a steam bath one can take a coldwater bath. The bathhouse which is operative 16 hours every day can accommodate 16,000 people daily.
The wading pools are classified into two kinds - indoor and outdoor. The water temperature of the outdoor wading pool can be adjusted to allow all year round use.
Around the swimming pool are over 2,000 seats for spectators. There is a large swimming pool and a diving pool. The diving pool is equipped with springboards at heights of 1,3,5,7,5 and 10 meters and a lift. The swimming pool often provides the venue for national and international activities.

Nampo Spa : water rich in minerals from the Sindok spring

Taekwondo Palace: the DPRK government pays close attention to the development of Taekwon-do, orthodox Korean martial art. Taekwon-Do is the martial art to protect oneself with hands and feet from the opponent’s attack. It consists of more than 3,200 movements and is good to mental development and discipline. The martial art is practiced regularly at industrial establishments, farms and schools across the country.

Kim Il Sung Stadium :The stadium lies at the foot of Moran Hill, Pyongyang, the historic place where the great leader President Kim Il Sung made his first public appearance and delivered a historic speech before the people on his triumphant return home after liberating the country.
Originally, it was called Moranbong Stadium built on a site of about 20 hectares, with seats for over 70,000 spectators.
On the occasion of the 70th birthday of the great leader President Kim Il Sung, the stadium was reconstructed on a larger scale to present an entirely new appearance blending with the scenic beauty of Moran Hill. The stadium, associated with a glorious revolutionary event, was opened on April 11, 1982, under the new appellation of Kim Il Sung Stadium christened after the name of the great leader. Ti has stands with seats for 100,000 spectators covered with almost 30-metre wide canopies, and various modern sports facilities. It has a background stand which is capable of showing large wide scenes.  It is ample in size possesses a fine architectural form and is equipped with the finest amenities.
The stadium harmonizes with the newly erected Arch of Triumph against the background of Moran Hill crowned with Ulmil and Choesung Pavilions, enhancing the beautiful landscape of its environs. It permits grand mass gymnastic displays and a variety of sports events, as well as international athletic contests.

 The Pyongyang Indoor Stadium located on the bank of the potong River was inaugurated on April 8, 1973. Its total floor space is 70,000 square metres. It can accommodate over 20,000 spectators. It has a field 85 meters long and 53.8 meters wide. It is sufficiently versatile to be used for 18 kinds of sports including basketball, volleyball, table tennis, boxing, wrestling, weight lifting, judo and gymnastics.
The indoor stadium has training facilities for over ten different kinds of sports and a players' rest room plus various service facilities.
On both sides of the playing field are scoreboards 3.9 meters high and 1.5 meters wide, clocks and other automatic devices for games. On both sides on the second floor are simultaneous interpretation relay boxes for nine languages, a TV broadcasting room, a radio relay broadcasting room and a cable broadcasting room. There is a massage room, a clinic and a little film projection room for the players. The indoor stadium is also fitted with large film projectors for the spectators. There is a salesroom and dining room for the spectator's convenience.

The Ice Rink is a structure unique in style with a cone-shaped roof supported by hugs inclined beams. Viewed from a distance it reminds one of a skater and so its architecture matches its function as an ice skating facility. The Ice Rink's total building area is 26,200 square meters. It has a seating capacity of 6,000. The ice field on the first floor is 61 meters long and 30 meters wide and is surrounded by tiers of seats. Ice can be formed or melted at any time.
The Ice Rink is designed primarily for figure skating and ice hockey. When necessary, however, it can be adapted for volleyball, basketball, tennis and ice stunts. The basement has rest room and a training ground for the players, a skate repair room, a room for drying outfits, a steam bath and other facilities.
Large numbers of skates are available for the general public's use and so students can come and skate collectively. There is a call signal connection between the players' restroom and the game steering board on the first floor, so players can be called out to the playing field at any time.
National and international ice tournaments are held herd.
In addition, the indoor stadium of Kim Il Sung University and other gymnasia are under construction is some districts of the capital.
Over 3,700 sports circles are run in Pyongyang, involving a large number of working people, young people and children. Reserves of athletes are in over 130 sports clubs.
There are many sports facilities in Chollima Street which stretches along the Potong River and a football stadium has also been erected in Yanggak Islet.

What museums are there in Pyongyang?

There are many museums in Pyongyang. Typical of them are Korean Revolution Museum, Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, Korean Central History Museum, Korean Folklore Museum, Korean Art Gallery. The National Central Liberation Struggle Museum, was set up on August 1, 1948. It was renamed the Korean Revolution Museum on January 13, 1961. The Korean Revolution Museum on Mansu Hill was opened in April 1972.  The relics and materials on display extensively show the course of the glorious revolutionary history of president Kim Il Sung and the history of struggle of our people from the end of 19th century up to date. The museum has huge cycloramas including ones portraying the historic Pochonbo Battle fought during the glorious anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle and the battle on Height 1211 which struck a deadly blow at the US troops during the Fatherland Liberation War, and ten small and medium-sized ones.
The total length of display is 4.5 kilometers.

The Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum was opened in August 1953 under the name of Fatherland Liberation War Memorial. The present museum was opened in April 1974. The Museum has an enormous panorama showing the battle for liberation of Taejon, which is 15 meters high and 132 meters round.

The Korean Central History Museum was inaugurated on December 1, 1945. Over 100,000 historical relics are preserved there. On display there are over 2,100 excellent art works of the past and the present in Korea. It has a total space of 10,429 square meters. The museum preserves over 100,000 relics from primitive days to the modern age. In addition, Pyongyang there are many other museums including Party Founding Museum, revolutionary museums of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, the Ministry of Railway, the Ministry of Culture and Art and Kim Il Sung University.

The Korean Folklore Museum: It was opened in February 1965. The museum stands near the Taedong Gate on the River taedong. It has an exhibition space of 1,800 square meters; 2,100 folklore items and other materials are exhibited in seven rooms.

The Korean Art Gallery: This stands opposite the Korean central history museum. It has a total floor space of 11,000 square meters.  On display and preserved in the gallery are works of art ranging from murals from the tombs before the 4th century to modern Korean paintings, oil paintings, prints, sculptures, handworks, embroideries and industrial works of art.

When was the Pyongyang Metro built?

The Pyongyang Metro was opened is September 1973. The metro has two lines and cross at Chonu and Chonsung Stations. The name of stations has a profound meaning. It reflects the history of the place, aspiration, desire, struggle and life of our people. Such are all the names of stations - Kaeson (triumphal return), Ponghwa (beacon), Sungni (victory), Tongil (reunification),  Hyoksin (innovation), Hwanggeumbyol(golden field), Konsol (construction), Nakwon (paradise), Konguk (state-building), youngkwang (glory), puhung (revival) and so forth. Underground stations differ in size, composition and form. The broad walls and pillars of stations are decked with mosaics, large-sized murals, sculptures or reliefs. Pictures made of small pieces of baked tiles of fast colors attract the attention of passengers for their rich and bright colors and large size. The mosaic in Konguk Station is 30 meters long and is inlaid with over 10,000 small pieces per square meter. The ornamental murals, sculptures, and relieves depict the course of struggle traversed by the Korean people and their future with a high level of artistic skill. The Pyongyang Metro is continuously extended in keeping with urban construction.

What historical relics are there in Pyongyang?

Pyongyang which was established as a city over 2,000 years ago, with a long history. So, Pyongyang abounds in historical relics.
Typical of historical relics of the primitive society are the remains found in Komunmoru, Sangwon County, in Teahyon-dong, Ryokpo District and in Mandal-ri, Sungho District At Komunmoru in Hugu-ri, Sangwon County were found the fossilized bones of animals the Homo erectus or early men ate and stone implement they used. They were proved to be 400,000-600,000 years old. The fossilized bones of Neanderthal men aged 7 to 8 and those of animals where discovered in Teahyon-dong, Ryokpo District, Pyongyang. In addition, the fossilized bones of Homo sapiens aged 25 to 30 were found in Mandal-ri, Sungho District, Pyongyang. Forts and wall gates are typical of the historical remains after the formation of the state.

MANGYONGDAE

Mangyongdae is 12 km west of the heart of the capital. From olden days the place has been called Mangyongdae, a scenic spot which commands a fine view. Mangyongdae is the historic place where President Kim Il-Sung was born and spent his childhood. Here the President’s birthplace, the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Museum, and the tombs of his family can be found. There is also a large fun fair in the town.

TOMB OF TONGMYONG

The Tomb of King Tongmyong, the founder of Koguryo, the first feudal state in Korea, lies 25 kilometers east of the center of the capital.The tomb was moved here when its capital was transferred to Pyongyang from Jian. One side of the lower part of the tomb is 22 meters long and its heights is 8.15 metres. The tomb was built with stone blocks and has chambers with murals and an aisle. Around the tomb of the king there are 20 other tombs. Near the tomb of the king are located the site of the Chongnung Temple and museum.

WEST SEA BARRAGE

The West Sea Barrage is 15km from Nampo city. It was built across the 8 kilometers wide estuary of the River Taedong. It was completed in five years and is an extremely impressive achievement. The barrage helped solve the problems of water for irrigation as also industrial and drinking purposes besides opening a sea route and help in developing a beach resort.

MYOHYANG MOUNTAINS

The place can be approached by rail or road but the tourists mostly prefer to travel by buses which are very comfortable. The features of these mountains are singular and their ridges and valleys are laden with a pleasant fragrances, so from olden times they have been called the Myohyang Mountains(mountains of singular fragrance). Here one can find ancient Pohyun Temple, built in the 11th century, and stone pagoda, as well as other relics. There are excellent facilities for boarding and lodging available.

The International Friendship Exhibition: The corners of eaves and walls of the building are adorned with Kimilsungia, kimjongilia, magnolia and azalea patterned paintings, while its pillars with tigers from Mt. Paekdu, symbol of Korean spirit. The front gate is made of copper, which weights as much as nine tons, with Kimjongilia sculptured in relief.  The exhibition consists of some 40 halls.  On display there are 42,153 pieces of gifts from 155 countries. Among them over 1,000 pieces are from heads of party and state. The statue of the great leader Kim Jong Il stands in the center of the entrance hall.

PIRO PEAK: This is the highest peak in the Myohyang Mountains. It is 1,909 meters high. Some 5.5km drive from Hyangsan Hotel will bring the tourist to the approach to the route to Piro Peak. It is 2.3 kilometers from there to Habiro Hermitage originally built before the 17th century. In close proximity there are ISONNAM waterfalls and water spa.

MT. PAEKDU

Mt. Paekdu is 385 kilometers from Pyongyang.  Travel to Mt. Paekdu can be made by a variety of means, but air travel is most convenient. The Pegaebong and Samjiyon Hotels both very good, are located in the town of Samjiyon. Many lodges lie along the shore of Lake Samji. Mt. Paekdu, the ancestral mountain which rises at the northern tip of Korea, has been worshipped by the Korean people from time immemorial. It is covered with the white pumice and capped with while snow all the year around. Hence  its name Mt. Paekdu (white-topped mountain).
The mountain is an extinct volcano, which was active from one million years ago to the 1700s.  It rises 2,750 meters above sea level and the area and the area of the lava plateau around Mt. Paekdu is 5,350 square kilometers. Since the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army led by General Kim Il-Sung based itself around the mountain when waging war for the liberation of Korea, Mt. Paekdu is important for understanding various nuances of the Revolutionary struggle of the Korean people. . Also the Koreans have kept the log cabin which is ‘the birthplace of chairman Kim Jong Il’. If time and money allows we can add a flight to Chilbo mount which is a very relaxed visit - virtually no foreigners visit this beautiful coastal range. It is ideal for hiking and it is now possible to stay overnight there in the only home-stays in North Korea. . If you have the time and money and can get a group of fifteen upwards we can arrange an internal charter flight to the sacred MOUNT PAEKDU.

LAKE CHON: Lake Chon, located at a height of 2,190 meters above sea level, covers a large area, and the like of it is rarely seen in the world. The lake is 384 metres deep at maximum and 213.3 meters deep on average.  It is 4,640 meters long at maximum, 3,550 meters wide and has an impoundment of 1,955,000,000 cubic meters. The lake is also supposed to be the mother source of at least two important rivers.

LAKE SAMJI: Lake Samji (three lakes) was formed as a result of the lava flow, which blocked a river, when a volcanic eruption took place a million years go.  The lake, 4 kilometers east of the seat of Samjiyon County, is 4.5 kilometers in circumference, has an area of 0.476 square kilometers and is 3 meters deep. A grand monument, lodges and a hall lie on the shores of the lake. A visit to Lake Chon and Lake Samji is a part of visit to Mt. Paekdu.  The area also offers excellent facilities for winter sports like skiing, ice hockey and of course, trekking, mountaineering etc.

KUMGANG MOUNTAINS

On account of its twelve thousand peaks and the feelings one has at the sight of them the Kumgang Mountains have been given different names from time immemorial, according to the season. Kumgang san for spring, Bongrae-san for Summer, Poongak-san for Autumn and Gaegol-san for winter. The highest peak of the mountains is Piro Peak(1639 meters). This area of famous sights is spread over 40 kilometers from east to west and 60 kilometers from north to south and has many attractions, the more significant ones are Manmulsang, Kuryong Falls and Kuryong Pool, Samil Lagoon, Lake Sijung.

KAESONG

Kaesong was the capital of Koryo dynasty between 918 and 1392 A.D., the first unified state on the Korean peninsula. The city retains many historical relics and sites of Koryo dynasty including Manwoldae, the site of the royal palace. Kaesong is close to Panmunjom and the Demilitarised Zone(DMZ).  Kaesong is widely known as the home of Koryo ‘Insam’(ginseng). There are convenient rail and road services to Kaesong. The city was spared devastation of the Korean War and, therefore, is also famous for various buildings in traditional Korean architecture. Other important sites near Kaesong are:

KING’S TOMB:  The tomb of the 31st King of Koryo, Kongmin, and the tomb of his queen lying side by side are about 11 kilometers west of Kaesong. They were built during the lifetime of the king. King Kongmin, who lived to the age of 44, saw to it that they were built following his wife’s death; Each tomb is fringed with granite blocks bearing the cloud patterns, and 12 guardian gods and are fine examples of the tomb architecture of Koryo Dynasty. Stone sculptures of sheep and tigers are placed alternatively in the compound of the tombs.

PANMUNJOM:  Panmunjom, 8 kilometers southeast of Kaesong, is a small village on the de facto border between Kaesong and Seoul. In bygone days a board-framed shop was built for travelers frequenting Kaesong and Seoul and called Panmunjom(board-framed shop), and this later became the name of the locality. The town is now known internationally as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between north and south Korea passes through the places. Panmunjom is the site where the Armistice was signed which ended (july 27, 1953) the victorious fatherland liberation War. Today North meets South to resolve military, economic, and political problems at Panmunjom in an attempt to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. On the Demarcation Line there is a meeting hall for the Military Armistice Commission and one for the Mutual Supervisory Commission. The posts of the north and south sides face each other with Demarcation Line between them. It is considered one of the last vestiges of the Cold War. The place attracts thousands of foreign and domestic tourists every year.

Meeting Place		left side road (South Korea),right side (North Korea)