Arch of Triumph, Triumphal arch in Moranbong District, North Korea.
The Arch of Triumph is a triumphal arch of white granite in the Moranbong district of Pyongyang, standing 60 meters high and 52.5 meters wide at the foot of Moran Hill. Its four vaulted gateways are each 27 meters high, and the outer faces carry the years 1925 and 1945 in gold numerals. Inside are dozens of rooms, balustrades, observation platforms and elevators.
The arch was completed in 1982 on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Kim Il-sung. Its construction was meant to recall the years between 1925 and 1945, when Korea was under Japanese rule.
The name refers to the armed resistance against Japanese occupation and the role of the communist movement during that period. Visitors today see inscriptions of revolutionary songs on the inner walls that tell of the daily life of fighters and their supporters.
Visitors can reach the interior through an elevator or stairs and see Kim Il-sung Stadium and Moranbong Park from the platforms. Access is only possible as part of guided tours, where an official escort organizes the visit.
The arch stands on Triumph Return Square, a roundabout where Kwangbok Street meets Chilsongmun Street; only the north–south road passes beneath it, changing name from Kwangbok to Chilsongmun at the arch. Kaeson metro station sits at the square's southeast corner. The 25,500 granite blocks are said to match the days of Kim Il-sung's life up to his 70th birthday.
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