Symposium on History and Culture of Koguryo Held

A symposium on the history and culture of Koguryo took place at the Sci-Tech Complex on December 18.

Present there were officials concerned, researchers, teachers, writers, journalists and editors in the fields of science, education, literature and the arts, media and protection of national heritage.

Speakers stressed it was an event of weighty significance in the development of Korea's history in the age of Three Kingdoms that Koguryo moved its capital to Pyongyang in 427, adding:

Koguryo set Pyongyang as its capital as it was the birthplace of King Tangun, the ancestral father of the nation, and it was associated with the soul of the Korean nation as the birthplace of Ancient Korea, and its position was geographically favourable in the struggle for unifying Three Kingdoms.

In this context, Pyongyang's position was completely secured as the sacred area of the nation and it became the centre and powerful base for accomplishing the cause of unifying the kingdoms and the country's external prestige was further enhanced.

The recently unearthed mural paintings in Posong-ri, Rangnang District, Pyongyang, proved that Koguryo was a powerful country with strong military muscle in the first half of the third century and the condition favourable for the move of its capital to Pyongyang was created through its boosted political and military control over the area.

In view of Taesongsan Fort, the metropolitan fort of Koguryo in the early 5th century, and the scale, formation, arrangement and architectural methods of Anhak Palace and defense system of the fort, Koguryo had the capital as befitting the power in the East both in name and reality.

Speakers added that the customs of Koguryo peculiar to the Korean nation which had a great impact on neighbouring countries for many years are, indeed, the precious heritage of the Korean nation.

KCNA