ing was one
of the finest buildings in Pyongyang. The Soviet Armed Forces assigned it
as their headquarters and allotted City Hall to North Korean
officials, while the Communist Party's headquarters were assigned to the
Revenue Office. It became the de facto capital of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea at its establishment in 1948. At that time, the Pyongyang
government aimed to recapture Korea's official capital at that time, Seoul.
Pyongyang was again severely damaged in the Korean War, during which it
was briefly occupied by South Korean forces. In 1952, it was the target of the
largest aerial raid of the entire war, involving 1,400 UN aircraft. After the
war, the city was quickly rebuilt with Soviet aid, with many buildings built in Socialist
Classicism. The rebuilt city featured extensive parks, broad boulevards, and
high-rise apartments. Pyongyang became the political, economic, and transportation center
of North Korea. In 1962, the city had a population of 653,000. The population
grew to 1.3 million in 1978 and to more than 3 million by 2007.
There are numerous newer hotels and office buildings that
stand empty as a result of the country's economic isolation. Vehicles are a
rarity, and some roads are in a poor condition
