One of the most well-known landmarks in Pyongyang is the Liberation Monument, which commemorates soldiers from the Red Army who died in the Soviet-Japanese war of 1945.

This monument is something of an unofficial symbol for North Korean relations with Russia and is regularly visited by Russian officials and diplomats.

It is, however, not widely known that, originally, the monument looked different from what it is now – and this piece is dedicated to its history.

The Monument in a four-sided stela placed on a base. It was erected on May 1, 1947 on the Moran hill near Panwol island