Kaesong, Special administrative city in southwestern North Korea
Kaesong is a special administrative city in southwestern North Korea, positioned between the Songak and Osong mountain ranges. The old town includes medieval sites while modern districts follow flat valleys and gentle hills.
The city served as the capital of the Goryeo dynasty from 935 to 1392 and played a central role in medieval Korean trade. After the Korean War in 1953, it fell within North Korean territory, though just a few kilometers from the demarcation line.
The city takes its name from the Goryeo dynasty and holds several Buddhist temples and royal palace ruins that visitors can explore today. In some neighborhoods, traditional Korean hanok houses with curved roofs stand alongside Soviet-era apartment blocks.
Only organized tour groups with state-assigned guides can enter the city, and visits require special clearance from North Korean authorities. During tours, groups view selected monuments and memorials, with no freedom of independent movement.
Twelve medieval sites in the city received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2013, making them the first such recognition in North Korea. The industrial special zone that brought together South Korean and North Korean workers closed in 2016 after political tensions between the two governments.
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