Monument to Party Founding, Political monument in Pyongyang, North Korea.
The Monument to Party Founding stands on Munsu Street in Pyongyang's Taedonggang District, on the bank of the Taedong River. Three clenched fists hold a hammer, sickle and calligraphy brush atop a 50-metre granite structure, encircled by a belt of 216 blocks with a 50-metre outer and 42-metre inner diameter. Bronze reliefs line the belt's interior, and two red flag-shaped buildings flank the site.
Designed by the Mansudae Art Studio, the monument was completed on 10 October 1995 for the party's 50th anniversary. An earlier monument to the founding had stood since 10 October 1975 at the Party Founding Museum. The monument appeared on stamps in 1995 and 2005 and on the 50 won banknote.
Three large bronze reliefs inside depict the party's origins, the unity of the people, and the future development of North Korean society. These artworks tell a story of collective effort and progress as imagined by those who created the monument.
Access to the monument is controlled by military personnel, and visitors must follow designated paths. Tourists should stay close to their assigned guides and follow all on-site instructions.
The belt's 216 blocks and 42-metre inner diameter encode 16 February 1942, the birth date attributed to Kim Jong Il; he was actually born on 16 February 1941 in the Soviet Union. The 70-metre circular base refers to the roughly 70 years since the Down-With-Imperialism Union.
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