Kanggye (Kanggye-si)
Kanggye is the provincial capital of Chagang, North Korea and has a population of 251,971. Because of its strategic importance, derived from its topography, it has been of military interest from the time of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).
In December 1949, Kanggye-myon was promoted to Kanggye-si.
During the Korean War, after being driven from Pyongyang, Kim Il Sung and his government temporarily moved the capital to Kanggye after first moving temporarily to Sinuiju. The city was firebombed in November 1950 on American general Douglas MacArthur's orders after the Chinese People's Volunteer Army turned the course of the war; at least 65% of the city was destroyed. The following month Kim presided over a plenum of the cabinet at Kanggye, where he assigned blame for what he claimed were military failures during the losing phase of the war.
Workers' Party general secretary Kim Jong-il toured facilities at Kanggye and the surrounding area in January 1998 amid the North Korean famine. Impressed by the people's success in building minor power stations and improving factories despite hardships, he urged other provinces to emulate the "Kanggye spirit."
In December 1949, Kanggye-myon was promoted to Kanggye-si.
During the Korean War, after being driven from Pyongyang, Kim Il Sung and his government temporarily moved the capital to Kanggye after first moving temporarily to Sinuiju. The city was firebombed in November 1950 on American general Douglas MacArthur's orders after the Chinese People's Volunteer Army turned the course of the war; at least 65% of the city was destroyed. The following month Kim presided over a plenum of the cabinet at Kanggye, where he assigned blame for what he claimed were military failures during the losing phase of the war.
Workers' Party general secretary Kim Jong-il toured facilities at Kanggye and the surrounding area in January 1998 amid the North Korean famine. Impressed by the people's success in building minor power stations and improving factories despite hardships, he urged other provinces to emulate the "Kanggye spirit."
Map - Kanggye (Kanggye-si)
Map
Country - North_Korea
Flag of North Korea |
In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan. In 1945, after the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II, Korea was divided into two zones along the 38th parallel, with the north occupied by the Soviet Union and the south occupied by the United States. Negotiations on reunification failed, and in 1948, separate governments were formed: the socialist and Soviet-aligned Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north, and the capitalist, Western-aligned Republic of Korea in the south. The Korean War began in 1950, with an invasion by North Korea, and lasted until 1953. The Korean Armistice Agreement brought about a ceasefire and established a demilitarized zone (DMZ), but no formal peace treaty has ever been signed.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
---|---|---|---|
KPW | North Korean won | â‚© | 2 |
ISO | Language |
---|---|
KO | Korean language |