City (pop., 1993 est.: 709,000), east-central North Korea.
It was the commercial and administrative centre of North Korea during the Chosŏn dynasty (1392–1910) and developed as a modern industrial city in the 1920s. During the Korean War , most industrial plants in the area were destroyed by U.S. bombing raids, but they were rebuilt. In addition to its manufacturing importance, it is the site of several institutions of learning.