How North Korea’s warped history puts Pyongyang at the center of everything



Columns How North Korea’s warped history puts Pyongyang at the center of everything Children in DPRK learn that treasonous southerners collaborating with a foreign power led to division a millennia ago Andrei Lankov August 1, 2022 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A North Korean student reading a book on a bench in Kangwon province \| Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2012) When North Korean state media proudly talk about national traditions in Korea, they single out two ancient states which are seen as an embodiment of this old glory: Goguryeo and Koryo. Often, the very word “Koryo” is a stand-in for everything authentic and national in the DPRK: Eastern medicine is known is called Koryo medicine, the national flag carrier is called Air Koryo and the second university established in the country — after Kim Il Sung University, of course – is called Koryo Songyungwan. In 1980, Kim Il Sung suggesteda confederacy system with North and South Korea could be © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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How North Korea’s warped history puts Pyongyang at the center of everything

Children in DPRK learn that treasonous southerners collaborating with a foreign power led to division a millennia ago

Andrei Lankov August 1, 2022

How North Korea’s warped history puts Pyongyang at the center of everything

A North Korean student reading a book on a bench in Kangwon province | Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 2012)

When North Korean state media proudly talk about national traditions in Korea, they single out two ancient states which are seen as an embodiment of this old glory: Goguryeo and Koryo.

Often, the very word “Koryo” is a stand-in for everything authentic and national in the DPRK: Eastern medicine is known is called Koryo medicine, the national flag carrier is called Air Koryo and the second university established in the country — after Kim Il Sung University, of course – is called Koryo Songyungwan. In 1980, Kim Il Sung suggesteda confederacy system with North and South Korea could be

How North Korea’s warped history puts Pyongyang at the center of everything

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Andrei Lankov

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