The Juche Tower is a monument in Pyongyang, North Korea. The tower is named after the principle of Juche, developed by Kim Il Sung as a blend of autarky, self-reliance, isolationism, Korean traditionalism, and Marxism-Leninism.

Completed in 1982, it is sited on the eastern bank of the River Taedong, directly opposite Kim Il Sung Square which is situated on the other side of the river. It was made to commemorate Kim Il Sung’s 70th birthday. Kim Jong-il is officially credited as the tower’s designer; however, interviews with former North Korean officials contradict this assertion.

The 170-meter (560 ft) structure is a four sided tapering 150-meter (490 ft) spire (the tallest one in granite) containing 25,550 blocks (365 × 70, one for each day of Kim Il Sung’s life, excluding supplementary days), dressed in white stone with seventy dividers and capped with a 20-meter (66 ft) high, 45 ton, illuminated metal torch. It is possible to ascend the tower. It is presumed to be modeled on the Washington Monument, which it surpasses in height by less than a meter.

Associated with the tower is a 30-meter (98 ft) high statue consisting of three figures—one with a hammer, one with a sickle and one with a writing brush (an idealized worker, a peasant and a "working intellectual", inspired by Worker and Kolkhoz Woman; the combination of symbols recalls the flag of the Workers’ Party of Korea). There are six smaller groups, each 10 meters (33 ft) high, symbolizing other aspects of Kim Il Sung’s ideology. Also close to the tower is a wall of 82 friendship plaques, apparently from foreign supporters. Around the tower there are also pavilions and water features. It is claimed that the tower has become a popular site for North Koreans.

Pyongyang, the capital, often experiences power shortages; however, the Juche Tower is always brightly lit to preserve symbolic strength.

A number of North Korean support groups – and the Gabonese president and North Korea ally Omar Bongo – have supported the construction of the tower and are awarded plaques on the base of the tower.

Other Information

• Also known as : Tower of Juche Idea
• Location : Pyongyang, North Korea
• Developer : Kim Il Sung

Tags: Kim Il Sung, Towers in North Korea

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 3:20 pm and is filed under Towers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.