Juche Tower
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| Juche Tower | |
|---|---|
| Chosŏn'gŭl: | 주체사상탑 |
| Hanja: | 主體思想塔 |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Chuch'esasang-t'ap |
| Revised Romanization: | Juchesasangtap |
The Juche Tower (officially the Tower of Juche Idea) is a monument in Pyongyang, North Korea. Completed in 1982, it is sited on the eastern bank of the River Taedong, opposite Kim Il Sung Square. Its geographic coordinates are . It was made to commemorate Kim Il Sung's 70th birthday. It is claimed that it was designed by Kim Jong-il.
The 170 metre (560') structure is a four sided tapering 150 metre spire (the tallest one in granite) containing 25,550 blocks (365 × 70, one for each day of Kim Il Sung's life, excluding supplementary days), dressed in white stone with seventy dividers and capped with a 20 metre high, 45 ton, illuminated metal torch. It is possible to ascend the tower. It is reported that the tower was built in 35 days and was dressed in 76 days.
Associated with the tower is a 30 metre high statue consisting of three figures—one with a hammer, one with a sickle and one with a writing brush (an idealised worker, a peasant and a "working intellectual"). There are six smaller groups, each 10 metres high, symbolizing other aspects of Kim Il Sung's ideology. Also close to the tower is a wall of 82 friendship plaques, apparently from foreign supporters. Around the tower there are also pavilions and water features. It is claimed that the tower has become a popular site for North Koreans.
The tower is named after the principle of Juche, developed by Kim Il Sung as a blend of autarky, self-reliance, Korean traditionalism, and socialism.
Pyongyong, the capital, often experiences power shortages. The Juche Tower, however, is always brightly lit to preserve symbolic strength.
[edit] Gallery
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 View from tower |
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