The Arch of Triumph () is a
triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road, and usually standing alone, unconnected to other buildings. In its simplest form, a triumphal ...
in
Pyongyang
Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...
,
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...
. It was built to commemorate the
Korean resistance to Japan from 1925 to 1945. It is the second tallest
memorial arch in the world, after
Monumento a la Revolución in
Mexico
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
, standing high and wide.
Built in 1982 on the Triumph Return Square at the foot of
Moran Hill
Moranbong () or Moran Hill forms a park located in central Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Its summit is the location of the Pyongyang TV Tower.
There are multiple monumental structures located on Moran Hill. They include the Arc ...
() in the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang, the monument was built to honour
Kim Il Sung
Kim Il Sung (born Kim Song Ju; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean politician and the founder of North Korea, which he led as its first Supreme Leader (North Korean title), supreme leader from North Korea#Founding, its establishm ...
's role in the military resistance for
Korean independence. Inaugurated on the occasion of his 70th birthday, each of its 25,500 blocks of finely-dressed white
granite
Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phanerite, phaneritic) intrusive rock, intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly coo ...
represents a day of his life up to that point.
[McCormack, Gavan, ''Target North Korea: Pushing North Korea to the Brink of Nuclear Catastrophe'', p. 59. Nation Books, 2004, .]
Design
The structure is modeled after the
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, often called simply the Arc de Triomphe, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Plac ...
in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, but is taller. The arch has dozens of rooms, balustrades, observation platforms and elevators. It also has four vaulted gateways, each high, decorated with
azalea
Azaleas ( ) are flowering shrubs in the genus ''Rhododendron'', particularly the former sections ''Rhododendron sect. Tsutsusi, Tsutsusi'' (evergreen) and ''Pentanthera'' (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in the spring (April and May in the temperate ...
carved in their girth. Inscribed in the arch is the revolutionary hymn "
Song of General Kim Il Sung", and the year 1925, when North Korean history states that Kim set out on the journey for national liberation of the country from
Japanese rule.
Also depicted on the arch is the year 1945, when Korea was liberated.
The arch is illuminated at night and has its own single cylinder
diesel generator
A diesel generator (DG) (also known as a diesel genset) is the combination of a diesel engine with an electric generator (often an alternator) to generate electrical energy. This is a specific case of an engine generator. A diesel compress ...
in case of main power failure.
Gallery
File:0643 - Nordkorea 2015 - Pjöngjang - Triumphbogen (22781888920).jpg
File:Arch of Triumph (Pyongyang) 06.JPG
File:Arch of Triumph (Pyongyang) 03.JPG
File:L9998918-2.jpg
See also
*
Korean architecture
Korean architecture () refers to an architectural style that developed over centuries in Korea.
Throughout the history of Korea, various kingdoms and royal dynasties have developed a unique style of architecture with influences from Korean Buddh ...
*
Tourism in North Korea
*
''Juche'' Tower
*
Kaeson Revolutionary Site
*
Monument to Party Founding
The Monument to Party Founding () is a monument in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea.
The monument is rich in symbolism: its hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush symbolize the workers, farmers and intellectuals. It is 50 meters high to sym ...
*
Memorial gates and arches
Notes
References
* ''Korean Central News Agency of DPRK''
link– last accessed on January 19, 2006.
External links
Satellite image from Google Maps''Arch of Triumph'' picture book
at Naenara
Naenara () is the official web portal of the North Korean government.
History
Naenara was the first website in North Korea, and was created in 1996.
Usage
Naenara carries publications such as '' The Pyongyang Times'', ' magazine, '' Korea ...
Video from the top
Video from inside
360° Virtual Tour of Arch of Triumph
{{coord, 39, 2, 40, N, 125, 45, 10, E, region:KP_type:landmark, display=title
Buildings and structures completed in 1982
Terminating vistas
Pyongyang
Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...
Monuments and memorials in North Korea
Buildings and structures in Pyongyang
1982 establishments in North Korea
20th-century architecture in North Korea
Military history of Pyongyang