JUCHE TOWER
It is a must in the city and even in country as it is its symbol. The fact that the Tower bears the name of the country's guiding ideology is important.
Juche Tower (in Korean 주체사상탑), or the monument Ideas of Juche, dominates Pyongyang from the top of its 170 meters. Located on the banks of Taedong River, it was built in 1982 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Kim Il-Sung, the creator of the Juche philosophy. The main granite structure, where the word Juche is inscribed, is topped by a red flame of nearly twenty meters, which illuminates at night like a torch. The base of the Tower, near the entrance, is covered with engraved marble slabs of gratitude addressed to the country or to Kim Il-Sung that were sent by associations or groups of study of the philosophy of the Juche around the world. Those who have enough time-and patience will be able to look for the one sent by the French group!
In front of the Tower, on the side of the river stands a statue that was inspired by another monumental statue, "the Worker and the Kolkhozienne" which is today in Moscow. Completely made up of bronze, it measures exactly 30 meters and stages three individuals: an intellectual carrying a brush, a peasant with his sickle and a worker with a hammer in his hand. These three individuals represent the union of the social classes that work together to develop the country towards the Socialist ideal by following the principles of the Juche. The three tools, hammer, sickle and brush are the symbols of the Workers Party and are frequently represented.
The top of the tower is one of the best viewpoints where you can admire Pyongyang at 360 degrees: as the other constructions are sufficiently low, the base of the flame therefor dominates the capital. Do not forget to bring your camera as it is one of the few places where you can see the whole city and take beautiful panoramic photos.
It is common on Friday evenings, especially in summer, to see young people gather around the monument to dance and relax. Finally, at every major celebration of the regime, fireworks are fired from this place demonstrating not only its ideological importance, but also its ideal location in the centre of Pyongyang.
A reproduction of the tower was built in 2010 on the occasion of the Shanghai World Exposition. You need to pay a few euros to be able to use the elevator of the tower.
Visitors who travel to the top of the tower should bring a sweater; the wind is strong at the top of the tower.
Once you are back at ground level of the tower, do not hesitate to walk along the docks of Taedong River, if only for the view that is worth a visit.